Clearwater Mall's rebirth celebrated
After 18 months of building, the $100-million open-air retail center is ready for shoppers.
By MEGAN SCOTT, Times Staff Writer
Published November 7, 2003
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[Times photo: Libby Volgyes]
Jaden Harris, 2, County Commissioner Calvin Harris' granddaughter, plays with the microphone after a ceremony for the new Clearwater Mall.
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CLEARWATER - It was 30 years ago almost to the day when the original Clearwater Mall opened with stores such as Montgomery Ward, Gordons Jewelers, Michael Anthony's beauty salon and Bay Area Hearing Aids.
But as the years passed, the mall's anchor stores closed. Other shops shuttered, too. In its last days, the empty mall was a place mostly for echoes.
On Thursday, the Sembler Co. of St. Petersburg and the New Plan Excel Realty Trust of New York celebrated a fully rebuilt Clearwater Mall, a $100-million open-air retail center at one of the most heavily traveled intersections in Pinellas County.
The new complex at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and U.S. 19 features freestanding stores, including SuperTarget, Lowe's, Costco and Ross Dress for Less. Several other stores, such as Famous Footwear and dressbarn, located there because they prefer the draw of a regional shopping center.
Sembler Co. and New Plan Excel began talking to prospective anchors more than two years ago. Construction took about 18 months.
"Fortunately, we were able to convince Costco and SuperTarget and Lowe's to join us here in this project," said Greg Sembler, vice chairman of the development company. "With that lineup, we were also able to steer the top other retailers in their respective categories."
The new Clearwater Mall continues a trend in open-air malls, which are less expensive to operate than enclosed complexes with common areas. Consumers pressed for time also like the convenience of one-stop shopping.
More than 90 percent of the stores in Clearwater Mall are open. The others, such as Linens n Things should open in the next couple of weeks.
"This is a great rebirth and a real center of commerce for the city of Clearwater," Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst said. "You look at this area: It's a remarkable transformation. And it's going to be a very, very successful operation."
The original Clearwater Mall opened Nov. 8, 1973, on what was once the Seville Peacock farm. The logo for that mall was a peacock. Besides Montgomery Ward, the mall also had as anchors Gayfers, Ivey's and Burdine's.
Back then, the grand opening featured a nine-hole putting course and driving range. A ribbon of $20 bills was carefully snipped.
There was no money at Thursday's celebration, but the Clearwater High School marching band performed and several dignitaries spoke.
"I have to confess that I was here 30 years ago when the mall was first born," outgoing County Commission Chairwoman Karen Seel said. "It's nice to be here for its rebirth. This is a proud day for Clearwater and a proud day for Pinellas County."
Clearwater Mall:
Parking spaces: 3,800.
Retail space: 796,000 square feet.
Biggest store: SuperTarget, 185,055 square feet
Other anchors: Costco, Lowe's
Smallest stores: Quality Nails and Solar Flame Tanning, 1,000 square feet
