Gulf View Square
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedGulf View Square is an enclosed shopping mall in Port Richey, Florida, owned by Namdar Realty Group.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Gulf View Square is an enclosed shopping mall in Port Richey, Florida. The property was proposed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation in 1974 and opened in March 1980. It was developed as a regional shopping center serving the northern Tampa Bay area and was initially planned around several major department-store anchors, including Sears, Maas Brothers, Belk-Lindsey, and Robinson's of Florida. At opening, Belk-Lindsey and Montgomery Ward served as the principal anchors, with Maas Brothers joining in August 1981 and Sears following in July 1982. The mall's tenant and anchor composition changed repeatedly as the American department-store sector consolidated. JCPenney occupied a fifth anchor position beginning in 1990, while Burdines eventually entered the property by taking over the Maas Brothers location in 1991. Dillard's acquired the Belk-Lindsey store in 1992 and later relocated into the former Montgomery Ward building in 2001. The former Dillard's building was demolished in 2002, making room for Linens 'n Things and Best Buy. Linens 'n Things later closed in 2008. TJ Maxx opened in 2010 and operated until 2021. The in-line retail mix also evolved over time. Old Navy opened in 2000 but closed in 2009, while a food court was added in 1998. Burdines was rebranded as Burdines-Macy's in 2003 and then Macy's in 2005. JCPenney closed in August 2014 after a 24-year run, and Macy's closed in May 2015. These departures reflected broader retail-industry pressures, including department-store retrenchment and changing consumer shopping patterns. Management changed in 2011, when a new team began operating the mall and announced plans to attract replacement tenants. In February 2017, Washington Prime Group sold Gulf View Square to Namdar Realty Group for a reported $15 million. Sears, another long-standing anchor, closed in March 2019 after Sears Holdings announced a nationwide round of store closures. The mall has continued operating with a smaller anchor base, including Best Buy and a Dillard's Clearance Store, while functioning as a local shopping and services destination rather than as a major national luxury or flagship retail center.
History
Gulf View Square originated in a 1974 proposal by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation for a new enclosed shopping center in Port Richey, Florida. The original development concept anticipated a group of department-store anchors, including Sears, Maas Brothers, Belk-Lindsey, and Robinson's of Florida. The mall opened in March 1980 with Belk-Lindsey and Montgomery Ward as its initial anchors. Maas Brothers joined the center in August 1981, followed by Sears in July 1982. The property expanded its anchor roster in 1990 when JCPenney opened in a fifth anchor location that had originally been intended for Burdines. Burdines nevertheless entered the mall in 1991 by taking over the Maas Brothers building. Dillard's acquired the Belk-Lindsey location in 1992. During the 1990s, several specialty retailers, including Casual Corner, Off The Wall, and Chess King, closed. Gulf View Square added a food court in 1998, reinforcing its role as a combined shopping and social destination. The early 2000s brought major physical and branding changes. Old Navy opened in 2000. In 2001, Dillard's moved from the former Belk-Lindsey building into the former Montgomery Ward space. The vacated Dillard's structure was demolished in 2002, and the site was redeveloped for Linens 'n Things and Best Buy. Burdines adopted the Burdines-Macy's name in 2003 and became Macy's in 2005. Linens 'n Things closed in 2008, and Old Navy closed in 2009. TJ Maxx later opened in 2010 and closed in 2021. A new management team began managing Gulf View Square in 2011 and publicized efforts to bring new tenants to the property. Those efforts occurred during a period when traditional department stores were reducing their physical footprints. JCPenney announced in January 2014 that it would close the Gulf View Square store as part of a nationwide reduction, ending the store's 24-year presence in August of that year. Macy's announced its own closure in January 2015, and the store shut in May 2015. Ownership changed in February 2017, when Washington Prime Group sold Gulf View Square to Namdar Realty Group for a reported $15 million. Sears, another original-era anchor, subsequently announced in December 2018 that it would close the location as part of a nationwide store-closing program; the store ceased operations in March 2019. The mall remains an active retail property, with Best Buy and a Dillard's Clearance Store identified as anchor tenants and with a broader mix of local retail, services, food, and value-oriented shopping uses.
- 2021
TJ Maxx closes
[1]TJ Maxx ended its tenancy at the mall.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]Sears closed its Gulf View Square store in March following a nationwide closure announcement.
- 2017
Acquired by Namdar Realty Group
[1]Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall from Washington Prime Group.
- 2015
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's closed its Gulf View Square store in May.
- 2014
JCPenney closes
[1]JCPenney closed its Gulf View Square location on August 2 after 24 years at the property.
- 2011
Management changes
[1]A new management team began operating the mall and announced plans to attract new stores.
- 2002
Former Dillard's building redeveloped
[1]The former Dillard's building was demolished and replaced by space for Linens 'n Things and Best Buy.
- 2000
Old Navy opens
[1]Old Navy opened at Gulf View Square.
- 1998
Food court added
[1]The property added a food court to broaden its visitor amenities.
- 1990
JCPenney joins the mall
[1]JCPenney opened in the mall's fifth anchor position.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented enclosed shopping mall serving Port Richey and the surrounding northern Tampa Bay market, with value-oriented retail, consumer electronics, department-store clearance merchandise, specialty shops, and services.
Consumer electronics anchor · 2002
Best Buy
Best Buy serves as one of Gulf View Square's principal current anchors, offering consumer electronics, appliances, computing products, entertainment technology, accessories, and related services. Its presence gives the mall a destination retailer beyond apparel and traditional department-store merchandise.
Department-store clearance retail
Dillard's Clearance Store
The Dillard's Clearance Store is identified as one of the mall's current anchor offerings. It focuses on discounted department-store merchandise, including apparel, accessories, footwear, and home-related goods, and supports Gulf View Square's value-oriented positioning.
Dining amenity · 1998
Food court
Gulf View Square added a food court in 1998, expanding the property beyond destination shopping and providing visitors with on-site dining options. Specific current food-court tenants are not established by the supplied reference material.
Brand decisions
2017
Sale to Namdar Realty GroupM&ABackground
Washington Prime Group sold Gulf View Square during a period of department-store closures and pressure on enclosed shopping centers.
Action taken
Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in February 2017.
Aftermath
Namdar Realty Group became the reported owner of the property. The supplied reference identifies the transaction value as $15 million.
Reported acquisition price. $15 million (February 2017)
Sources2 sources
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