Business

Here are 7 trends that have shaped South Florida malls in 2025

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

What's new in your mall this year? Lots.

Some stores have closed and others have opened.

Forever 21's bankruptcy has forced store shutdowns in South Florida, marking yet another fast-fashion brand struggling to maintain its presence amid increasing competition and changing consumer preferences.

Meanwhile, Aventura Mall embraces 'Florida firsts' by welcoming new outlets like Tecovas, Eataly and Skims, reinforcing itself as a destination for premier brands.

At Dadeland Mall, the arrival of interactive and experience-focused stores like Dick’s House of Sport illustrates another trend in evolving consumer interests toward engaging retail experiences.

And Brickell City Centre has undergones a significant ownership change with Simon Property Group investing heavily.

Catch up with our mall coverage below.

A Forever 21 store on Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach in a file photo from Oct. 5, 2019.

NO. 1: FOREVER 21’S BANKRUPTCY MEANS SHUTDOWNS AT SOUTH FLORIDA MALLS. SEE THE LIST OF STORES

The fashions were a hit with young shoppers. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

Eataly in downtown New York City. The internationally famous Italian brand is scheduled to come to the Aventura Mall in the spring of 2025. By Pablo Enriquez

NO. 2: HOW ‘FLORIDA FIRSTS’ ARE DEFINING AVENTURA MALL. HERE ARE SOME OF THE NEWCOMERS

Eataly promises the Italian experience in Miami. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

Black Friday shoppers on the move at Dadeland Mall near Lululemon look for bargains on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. By Lex Foderé

NO. 3: NEW STORES ARE COMING TO A BIG MIAMI MALL, AND OTHERS JUST ARRIVED. SEE THE LIST

The new arrivals include restaurants and clothing shops. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

An aerial view of Carsten Höller’s 93-foot glass-and-steel slide and Robert Indiana’s ‘Love’ sculpture are among the art installations welcoming visitors to Aventura Mall on Sept. 25, 2024, in Aventura, Fla. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 4: THIS MIAMI AREA MALL WAS JUST VOTED BEST IN THE COUNTRY. HERE’S WHY IT’S NO. 1

What South Florida favorite destination didn’t make the Top 10? | Published June 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

Brickell City Centre is at 701 South Miami Avenue.

NO. 5: MALL GIANT BETS BIG ON BRICKELL CITY CENTRE, SPENDING HALF-BILLION ON RETAIL COMPLEX

The open-air shopping center is home to the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Apple and Lululemon. | Published June 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by CD Goette-Luciak

TSA agents check in passengers on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. By Pedro Portal

NO. 6: A MAJOR SOUTH FLORIDA MALL ADDS A TSA KIOSK TO SPEED THINGS UP AT THE AIRPORT

Getting through airport security faster can start with your next trip to the mall. | Published August 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cordell Jones

A man walking along Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road Mall is reflected in the window of a vacant shop. By Alexia Fodere

NO. 7: LINCOLN ROAD REVIVAL? MIAMI BEACH HOPES MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MAKEOVER BRINGS BACK CROWDS

After a decade of planning, delay and debate, the city of Miami Beach has broken ground on a scaled-down version of a multimillion-dollar renovation plan for Lincoln Road Mall that aims to restore some of the famed pedestrian promenade’s lost shine. | Published September 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andres Viglucci

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.