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Malls in Miami used to look like that? See shopping photos from the 1970s and ’80s

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Looking back at old Miami

Photos and memories of the way South Florida used to look: its streets, stores, events and people.

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Some malls and stores are gone, except in our memories. Others have been renovated and expanded.

What did those South Florida malls look like in the early days?

Let’s take a look through the Miami Herald archives at some old photos of Dadeland, Omni, Cutler Ridge, Westland and Aventura malls.

DADELAND MALL

Shoppers invade Dadeland Mall the day after Christmas looking for bargains.
Shoppers invade Dadeland Mall the day after Christmas looking for bargains. Pedro Portal EL Nuevo Herald File/2000


Dadeland Mall has been serving Miami-Dade County shoppers since it opened in 1962. Above: Shoppers crowd an entrance to Burdines in the Dadeland Mall in 1992.
Dadeland Mall has been serving Miami-Dade County shoppers since it opened in 1962. Above: Shoppers crowd an entrance to Burdines in the Dadeland Mall in 1992. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald File


Dadeland Mall lobby fountain in 1987.
Dadeland Mall lobby fountain in 1987. Brian Smith Miami Herald File


Christmas shoppers cruise through Burdines at Dadeland Mall on the day after Thanksgiving in 1988.
Christmas shoppers cruise through Burdines at Dadeland Mall on the day after Thanksgiving in 1988. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald File
A closed Jordan Marsh department store at Dadeland Mall in 1991.
A closed Jordan Marsh department store at Dadeland Mall in 1991. Michelle Patterson Miami Herald File
In 1983, looking west through the center of the original Dadeland Mall.
In 1983, looking west through the center of the original Dadeland Mall. Bob East Miami Herald File
East end of Dadeland Mall in 1980.
East end of Dadeland Mall in 1980. Bob East Miami Herald File
Dadeland Mall in 1981.
Dadeland Mall in 1981. Bob East Miami Herald File
In 1980, the horse at Dadeland Mall.
In 1980, the horse at Dadeland Mall. Bob East Miami Herald File

AVENTURA MALL

Chicken Kitchen at the old Treats food court at Aventura Mall in 2010.
Chicken Kitchen at the old Treats food court at Aventura Mall in 2010. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald File


Aventura Mall with Lord & Taylor in 1983, the year the mall opened.
Aventura Mall with Lord & Taylor in 1983, the year the mall opened. Miami Herald File
Gino Gaetano plays the piano at the old food court in Aventura Mall on Tuesday evening, Oct. 5, 2010, as a listener dances in the background.
Gino Gaetano plays the piano at the old food court in Aventura Mall on Tuesday evening, Oct. 5, 2010, as a listener dances in the background. Allison Diaz Miami Herald File
Glamour Shots at Aventura Mall in 1996.
Glamour Shots at Aventura Mall in 1996. C.W. Griffin Miami Herald File

WESTLAND MALL

A parking lot at Westland Mall in 1987.
A parking lot at Westland Mall in 1987. Robin Cohen Miami Herald File


A store owner greets customers at Westland Mall in 1998.
A store owner greets customers at Westland Mall in 1998. Miami Herald File.
Westland Mall, near the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah in the 1970s.
Westland Mall, near the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah in the 1970s. John Pineda Miami Herald File

CUTLER RIDGE MALL

The Gap at the old Cutler Ridge Mall in 1983.
The Gap at the old Cutler Ridge Mall in 1983. Battle Vaughan Miami Herald File


Workers in front of the old Cutler Ridge Mall in 1981.
Workers in front of the old Cutler Ridge Mall in 1981. Marice Cohn Miami Herald File


Cutler Ridge Mall’s interior in 1988.
Cutler Ridge Mall’s interior in 1988. Tim Chapman Miami Herald File


OMNI

Omni shopping mall in 1983.
Omni shopping mall in 1983. Bruce Gilbert Miami Herald File

MORE: What did Miami’s Omni mall look like in its heyday? These old pictures tell the story

A shopping corridor at Omni in 1992.
A shopping corridor at Omni in 1992. Bill Frakes Miami Herald File

This story was originally published August 9, 2023 at 8:55 AM.

Profile Image of Jeff Kleinman
Jeff Kleinman
Miami Herald
305-376-3561
Consumer Team Editor Jeff Kleinman oversees coverage for health, shopping, real estate, tourism and recalls/scams/fraud.
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Looking back at old Miami

Photos and memories of the way South Florida used to look: its streets, stores, events and people.

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