BREVARD COVID-19 UPDATE: Merritt Square Mall Closes Temporarily Amid Coronavirus Concerns

closure specific to nonessential businesses only

Merritt Square Mall has been a hub for Central Brevard shoppers for the last 50 years

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Managers of Merritt Square Mall on Merritt Island announced Tuesday the mall will be closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 concerns.

“In response to the growing concerns around the COVID-19 global pandemic, and in accordance with the Florida state mandate, ownership has decided to close the shopping center until further notice,” said Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group officials in a release.

The closure is specific to nonessential businesses only – all essential businesses, as defined by the mandate, will remain open.

“We have been closely tracking developments related to COVID-19 and have been following the guidance of authorities, ensuring that above all else, our patrons, merchants, and employees are safe and healthy,” said Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group officials.

“The situation has indeed evolved, and in accordance with the state mandate and with our community in mind, we have temporarily closed all Florida malls until further notice. We sincerely appreciate our diligent team’s work in maintaining a safe and clean environment over the last few weeks, and we hope to re-open as soon as possible.”

Merritt Square Mall, located at 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, has been a hub for Central Brevard shoppers for the last 50 years and currently features five anchor stores, including J. C. Penney, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Sears.

Merritt Square is the oldest mall in Brevard County. Original anchor stores when it opened in 1970 were Jordan Marsh (later Burdines, now Macy’s), Ivey’s (now Dillard’s) and J. C. Penney.

It remained unchanged until 1985 when a renovation plan added 60,000 square feet of retail space. Also part of this expansion was a fourth department store, Sears, which opened in 1989 and replaced an existing store in Rockledge.

The mall was sold to Bayview Malls LLC for $32.7 million in 2002 by previous owner John Hancock Life Insurance Co., before being sold again in 2005 to Thor Merritt Square LLC for $64.4 million.

Glimcher Realty Trust took control of the mall in 2007, ownership later shifting to WP Glimcher with its formation by merger in 2015. In 2016, the mall was foreclosed on and auctioned on while under the ownership of WP Glimcher.

The mall had no bidders. The mall is currently owned by Namdar Realty Group, a privately held commercial real estate investment firm, that owns and manages over 52 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout the United States.

Sports Authority joined the mall in 2013, but closed in 2016 when the chain filed for bankruptcy. An Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opened in the space in 2018.

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR COVID-19 UPDATES

– Wikipedia contributed to this report

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