Brandon Exchange

Brandon Exchange is a regional shopping mall in the suburban community of Brandon, Florida, approximately eight miles east of Tampa. The property sits between State Road 60 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and has direct access to Interstate 75, giving it a large automobile-oriented trade area across the eastern Tampa metropolitan region. Although the property is now branded Brandon Exchange, it has operated under several earlier names, including Brandon Town Center, Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon, Westfield Brandon, and Brandon Mall. The development was conceived in the late 1980s on land previously associated with Carey Cattle Company, which operated a cattle farm at the site. It opened in early 1995 as Brandon Town Center with approximately 974,000 square feet of retail space. The initial anchor lineup consisted of Sears, JCPenney, Burdines, and Dillard's. Maas Brothers had also signed on during the planning period, but its bankruptcy and absorption into Burdines occurred before the mall opened. The center attracted substantial early traffic, reportedly serving about one million shoppers during its first seventeen days. Westfield acquired the property in 2002 and renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon, later shortening the name to Westfield Brandon in 2005. The ownership transition brought changes to the physical environment, including the removal of several distinctive fountains decorated with metal Florida-wildlife sculptures and their replacement with vendor kiosks. In March 2005, the Burdines anchor was converted to Macy's after a transitional Burdines-Macy's period. Elements of the former Burdines architectural style, including palm-tree columns, remained visible. A major expansion was announced in January 2006 and completed in spring 2007. The approximately 150,000-square-foot addition expanded the retail and restaurant offer and introduced Dick's Sporting Goods as an anchor. The new wing included national and specialty retailers such as Apple, Books-A-Million, DSW, Fossil, Sephora, Tillys, Torrid, and The Walking Company, along with restaurants and coffee operators including The Cheesecake Factory and Starbucks. The expansion also raised concerns about additional traffic on already congested roads around State Road 60 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The center's anchor portfolio later changed as department-store retail contracted. Sears announced in January 2021 that its Brandon location would close, and the store ceased operations on April 18 of that year. DSW operated as an anchor-level tenant from 2007 until 2023. In May 2023, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the property for $220 million to North American Development Group, a West Palm Beach-based real estate firm. Following the sale, the Westfield identity was removed and the property was referred to as Brandon Mall. In late May 2024, the center adopted the Brandon Exchange name and introduced refreshed branding and a new website. The current anchor lineup includes Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Dick's House of Sport. Dick's Sporting Goods opened its House of Sport concept in the former Sears space on October 31, 2025, while its previous mall location closed. In December 2025, Primark announced plans to open a store in the former Dick's Sporting Goods space in 2026. The property therefore remains an active multi-anchor retail destination whose identity has evolved through ownership changes, rebranding, expansions, department-store closures, and tenant repositioning.

Brandon Exchange developed from a late-1980s proposal for a major shopping center in the rapidly suburbanizing Brandon area east of Tampa. The site had previously been used by Carey Cattle Company as a cattle farm. Its location between State Road 60 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with access to Interstate 75, made it suitable for a large automobile-oriented regional mall serving communities in eastern Hillsborough County and the wider Tampa Bay area. The center opened in early 1995 as Brandon Town Center with approximately 974,000 square feet of retail space. Sears, JCPenney, Burdines, and Dillard's were the original anchors. Maas Brothers had been involved in the development plans, but its bankruptcy and absorption into Burdines took place before construction was completed. The mall attracted about one million shoppers during its first seventeen days, establishing it as a significant retail destination soon after opening. In 2002, the Westfield Group acquired the property and changed its name to Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon. The company later removed the word Shoppingtown in June 2005, leaving the name Westfield Brandon. The ownership transition was accompanied by physical changes, including the removal of several fountains featuring metal sculptures of Florida wildlife and the installation of vendor kiosks. Burdines briefly used the Burdines-Macy's name before becoming Macy's in March 2005. Decorative palm-tree columns associated with Burdines remained in the former department-store structure. Westfield announced a substantial expansion in January 2006. Completed in spring 2007, the project added approximately 150,000 square feet and introduced a Dick's Sporting Goods anchor, new specialty retailers, restaurants, and coffee shops. Stores associated with the expanded wing included Apple, Books-A-Million, DSW, Fossil, Sephora, Tillys, Torrid, and The Walking Company. The expansion increased the center's overall retail footprint and broadened its offer beyond traditional department stores, although the additional development also prompted concerns about traffic congestion around State Road 60 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The property later experienced the tenant changes affecting many American enclosed malls. Sears closed in April 2021 after announcing the closure in January of that year. DSW, which had operated as an anchor-level tenant since 2007, departed in 2023. In May 2023, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the center for $220 million to North American Development Group. The transaction ended the Westfield branding, and the property became known as Brandon Mall. The center was rebranded Brandon Exchange in late May 2024, with a new website and updated visual identity. Its current anchor mix includes Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Dick's House of Sport. On October 31, 2025, Dick's Sporting Goods opened its House of Sport format in the former Sears location and moved from its earlier store. In December 2025, Primark announced a planned 2026 opening in the former Dick's space. These changes illustrate the property's continuing adaptation from a conventional department-store mall into a mixed retail, dining, and experiential destination.

• 2025

  Dick's House of Sport opens

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  Dick's Sporting Goods opens a House of Sport concept in the former Sears location and relocates from its previous mall store.

• 2024

  Brandon Mall becomes Brandon Exchange

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The property launches updated branding and adopts the Brandon Exchange name.

• 2023

  North American Development Group acquires the mall

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The property is sold by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to North American Development Group for $220 million and drops the Westfield brand.

• 2021

  Sears closes

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes on April 18 after being included in a nationwide store-closure program.

• 2007

  Expansion opens

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  A roughly 150,000-square-foot expansion is completed, adding Dick's Sporting Goods, specialty retailers, restaurants, and other tenants.

• 2005

  Burdines becomes Macy's

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The Burdines anchor transitions through a short Burdines-Macy's period before adopting the Macy's name in March.

• 2002

  Westfield acquires the property

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The Westfield Group purchases the center and renames it Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon.

• 1995

  Brandon Town Center opens

  [1]Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opens in early 1995 with approximately 974,000 square feet and Sears, JCPenney, Burdines, and Dillard's as its original anchors.

A large, highway-accessible regional shopping and dining destination serving Brandon and the eastern Tampa Bay suburban market. Its positioning is built around multiple department-store anchors, specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment-oriented visits, and convenient access from major roads.

• Commercial retail property · 1995

  Regional shopping center

  The core offering is a large enclosed regional shopping center combining department stores, specialty retail, food and beverage, and service-oriented tenants. The property is designed for both routine suburban shopping and destination visits from the broader Tampa Bay market.

• Department stores · 1995

  Department-store anchors

  Dillard's, JCPenney, and Macy's provide broad merchandise assortments spanning apparel, footwear, beauty, accessories, home goods, and seasonal products. These anchors form the traditional retail foundation of the center.

• Sporting goods · 2025

  Dick's House of Sport

  Dick's House of Sport is an expanded sporting-goods concept occupying the former Sears space. It replaced the earlier Dick's Sporting Goods location at the property and represents a larger-format, experience-oriented sporting retailer.

• Restaurants and specialty stores · 2007

  Dining and specialty retail mix

  The center's specialty offer has included national retailers such as Apple, Sephora, Fossil, Torrid, Tillys, Books-A-Million, and The Walking Company, as well as restaurants and cafés including The Cheesecake Factory and Starbucks.

• 2024

  Brandon Exchange brand refreshStrategy

  Background

  After the 2023 ownership change and the interim Brandon Mall identity, the property required a new long-term public-facing name.

  Action taken

  The center introduced updated branding, a new website, and the Brandon Exchange name in late May 2024.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating as an active regional shopping center under North American Development Group ownership.

  Source

• 2023

  Sale to North American Development GroupM&A

  Background

  Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the Brandon property as part of a change in ownership of the retail asset.

  Action taken

  North American Development Group acquired the property for $220 million and removed the Westfield identity.

  Aftermath

  The center operated as Brandon Mall before adopting the Brandon Exchange name in 2024.

  Property sale price. $220 million (May 2023)

  Source

• 2006

  Major retail and dining expansionStrategy

  Background

  The center sought to increase its scale and broaden its tenant mix beyond its original department-store anchors.

  Action taken

  Westfield announced and completed an approximately 150,000-square-foot expansion, adding Dick's Sporting Goods, specialty retailers, restaurants, and cafés.

  Aftermath

  The expanded center reached approximately 986,000 square feet of retail space and gained a larger mix of national specialty tenants, while traffic impacts became a local concern.

  Source

• 2002

  Westfield acquisition and rebrandingM&A

  Background

  The shopping center changed ownership as Westfield expanded its portfolio of regional retail properties.

  Action taken

  Westfield acquired the property and renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon, later shortening the name to Westfield Brandon.

  Aftermath

  The center operated under Westfield branding until the property's 2023 sale.

  Source

1. 1Brandon Exchangeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Brandon Exchange official websitebrandonmall.com