(This story was updated to correct a typo.)
Demolition of the Indian River Mall is set to begin June 3, which will clear the way for the mall’s anticipated redevelopment.
Former anchor stores Macy’s and Sears on the mall’s east side will be demolished, along with a chunk of the mall’s interior corridor.
“We’ve been waiting a long time to get to this point,” said Joseph Scarfone, who is working with mall owner DTS Properties.
“No one likes to look at a dead mall,” Scarfone said. “I think it is going to be very exciting when all the new shops start coming in.”
Once the site has been cleared, redevelopment will include construction of five outdoor 250,000-square-foot retail stores and a drive-through restaurant.
“All the big-box tenants are all filled at this point,” he said. “I think everyone will be very excited.”
Much of the mall — including the food court, AMC Theatres, JCPenney and Dillard’s — will be preserved.
“I’ve walked through the mall maybe a thousand times now,” Scarfone said. “You still see some of the shadows of the tenants that used to be there. There’s still some nostalgia there.”
Demolition and redevelopment will cost more than what the mall’s owner paid for it. DTS Properties bought most of the mall for $14.8 million in 2024.
“It’s going to be a lot more,” Scarfone said.
Jack Randall is TCPalm’s economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at jack.randall@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Demolition of Florida mall set to begin, starting with Macy’s store
Reporting by Jack Randall, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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