University Mall (Tampa, Florida)
Encyclopedia
University Mall, previously University Square Mall, is located near the University of South Florida
, just north of the city limits of Tampa
on Fowler Avenue. It is also accessible from Busch Gardens
and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Presently, the mall is anchored by Sears
, Macy's
, Dillard's
, Burlington Coat Factory
, Old Navy
, and K&G Fashion Superstore.
University Square Mall was officially dedicated August 15, 1974. The first anchor stores, Maas Brothers
and Robinson's of Florida opened along with the mall. JCPenney came inline in October 1974. Sears
, the last of the four original anchors, began business in September 1975. Burdines
was added, as a fifth anchor, in 1983.
Robinson's of Florida was rebranded by Louisiana's Maison Blanche
in 1988. This store, in turn, was rebranded as a Dillard's
in 1991. Dillard's
moved into a newly-built store, built north of the original one, in November 1995. This move was accompanied by a large-scale renovation and expansion of the shopping complex, whereby the vacated Dillard's
was gutted and rebuilt as new inline stores, with an upper level food court. A 16-screen Regal Cinemas
adjoined the new food court. These modifications were completed in August 1996.
Meanwhile, Burdines
had closed in September 1991 and re-opened in the Maas Brothers
store space in October 1991. This store became a Burdines-Macy's in January 2004 and a full-fledged Macy's
in March 2005. The old Burdines
housed a Montgomery Ward
between March 1992 and February 2001. The space re-opened as a Burlington Coat Factory
in October 2001.
Longtime anchor JCPenney closed effective October 1, 2005, as a smaller prototype store opened in nearby Wesley Chapel
. Steve & Barry's
took over the JCPenney spot in 2006. University Mall's tenant space is owned by a joint venture of Somera Capital Management and Rockwood Capital, who acquired the property in June 2007. General Growth Properties
is a third-party managing agent.
In October 2008, the Dillard's location in the mall was changed from a standard retail location to a clearance center.
In January 2009, both Steve & Barry's and Starbucks
closed their University Mall locations. The building that housed Steve & Barry's will eventually be demolished to make way for future retailers.
On April 16, 2009, the mall's manager, General Growth Properties, filled for Ch 11 Bankruptcy protection after failing to reach a deal with its creditors. Mall operations for the meantime, would remain unaffected by this development.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, just north of the city limits of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
on Fowler Avenue. It is also accessible from Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of Blackstone Group. One of the parks is in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other is in Tampa, Florida...
and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Presently, the mall is anchored by Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, and K&G Fashion Superstore.
University Square Mall was officially dedicated August 15, 1974. The first anchor stores, Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers was a leading Tampa, Florida, department store founded by Abe and Isaac Maas in 1886. It grew from a small 23' by 90' store to a chain of 39 stores across the state of Florida...
and Robinson's of Florida opened along with the mall. JCPenney came inline in October 1974. Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, the last of the four original anchors, began business in September 1975. Burdines
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
was added, as a fifth anchor, in 1983.
Robinson's of Florida was rebranded by Louisiana's Maison Blanche
Maison Blanche
.Maison Blanche was a department store in New Orleans and later also a chain of department stores. It was founded in 1897 by Isidore Newman, an immigrant from Germany....
in 1988. This store, in turn, was rebranded as a Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
in 1991. Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
moved into a newly-built store, built north of the original one, in November 1995. This move was accompanied by a large-scale renovation and expansion of the shopping complex, whereby the vacated Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
was gutted and rebuilt as new inline stores, with an upper level food court. A 16-screen Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas is a UK-based cinema chain since the early days of the cinema. In 1928, Regal Cinemas became part of Associated British Cinemas but has retained the name 'Regal Cinemas'....
adjoined the new food court. These modifications were completed in August 1996.
Meanwhile, Burdines
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
had closed in September 1991 and re-opened in the Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers
Maas Brothers was a leading Tampa, Florida, department store founded by Abe and Isaac Maas in 1886. It grew from a small 23' by 90' store to a chain of 39 stores across the state of Florida...
store space in October 1991. This store became a Burdines-Macy's in January 2004 and a full-fledged Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in March 2005. The old Burdines
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
housed a Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
between March 1992 and February 2001. The space re-opened as a Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
in October 2001.
Longtime anchor JCPenney closed effective October 1, 2005, as a smaller prototype store opened in nearby Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census. In 2003, some residents of Wesley Chapel started a movement to incorporate the community...
. Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's was an American retail clothing chain, featuring casual apparel. By mid-2008, the chain operated 276 stores in 39 states. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. The company liquidated all of its stores throughout 2008....
took over the JCPenney spot in 2006. University Mall's tenant space is owned by a joint venture of Somera Capital Management and Rockwood Capital, who acquired the property in June 2007. General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
is a third-party managing agent.
In October 2008, the Dillard's location in the mall was changed from a standard retail location to a clearance center.
In January 2009, both Steve & Barry's and Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
closed their University Mall locations. The building that housed Steve & Barry's will eventually be demolished to make way for future retailers.
On April 16, 2009, the mall's manager, General Growth Properties, filled for Ch 11 Bankruptcy protection after failing to reach a deal with its creditors. Mall operations for the meantime, would remain unaffected by this development.