Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency Explores Concept to Create Outdoor-Oriented Pedestrian Merritt Square Mall

Opened In 1970, Merritt Square Mall was Brevard County's first major retail center

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Merritt Square Mall on Merritt Island, which opened in 1970, was the economic and social center of central Brevard County for 50 years, but is now in decline due to shifts in buying habits and the opening of more modern outdoor shopping venues such as The Avenue Viera.

In 1970, Merritt Square Mall was Brevard County’s first major retail center with more than 810,000 square feet of shopping, common areas, a food court and six-screen movie theater.

Currently the mall features four anchor stores, including JC Penney, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and the 16-screen CMX Cinemas.

The 82-acre tract that the mall sits on is still among the best locations in central Brevard County as it is on the main route between the mainland and the Atlantic Ocean – which is why the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency (MIRA) has sponsored a study on redesigning the mall as a mixed-use venue that would consist of not only shopping, dining and entertainment components in an outdoor setting, but would also include residential units.

The Merritt Square Mall property is well located on the State Road 520 corridor, which will soon include the adjoining planned amphitheatre that will be built on the grounds of, and adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Park, and will include 1,700-square-feet of concession and restroom facilities.

In March, Health First officials broke ground on the new Cape Canaveral Hospital and Medical Office Building, which will be located directly across State Road 520 from the Merritt Square mall property. Expected to cost approximately $410 million, construction is slated to finish by the end of 2026 and the hospital will officially open to the public in early 2027.

MIRA, along with Brevard County and the St. Johns River Water Management District, have created a catalyst for more cost-effective redevelopment of the aging commercial center.

The Fortenberry Regional Stormwater Treatment System provides an important economic incentive and will allow the mall, as well as surrounding commercial properties, which include smaller strip malls and other business properties, to redevelop without subtracting a significant percentage of their parcel area for on-site storm water retention.

Learn more about the Fortenberry Regional Stormwater Treatment System and Stormwater Tie-In Credits here.

MIRA has engaged design consultants to create concept plans currently available for study, as developers consider the direction and support infrastructure that accompanies this opportunity and the plans are currently being reviewed by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners.

The study includes the possibility of realigning or creating new streets, and creating an outdoor-oriented pedestrian mall concept.

MIRA officials say the organization does not own the mall property, nor intends to acquire it and these concepts only represent a potential vision for the Merritt Square Mall area.

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