Melbourne Square
Melbourne Square is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Melbourne, Florida.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Melbourne Square is an enclosed shopping mall serving Melbourne and the surrounding Brevard County market in Florida. The property opened in 1982 on land that had previously been used as an orange grove, becoming the second major mall in Melbourne after Brevard Mall, which opened in 1962. Its initial development reflected the expansion of suburban retail and the growth of Melbourne as a regional population and commercial center. The mall opened with Ivey's as its first store. Additional anchor tenants were introduced over time, including Jordan Marsh, Burdine's, J. C. Penney, and Belk. The property's anchor lineup subsequently changed through acquisitions, closures, relocations, and redevelopment. Ivey's became Dillard's in 1990, making the store Melbourne Square's first Dillard's location. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991, and its building reopened as Mervyn's in 1992. When Mervyn's later closed, the space was converted into a second Dillard's in 1997, giving the mall two Dillard's anchors. Burdine's was absorbed into the Macy's brand in the early 2000s. The store operated under the transitional Burdines-Macy's name from 2003 until 2005, when it became Macy's. Belk moved to The Avenue in Viera in 2004. The former Belk building was demolished in 2006 and replaced by a retail development that included Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City. After Circuit City exited the market in 2009, its space was used by World Of Decor and later redeveloped for LA Fitness in 2014. H&M also joined the tenant mix in 2014. The mall's current anchor profile includes two Dillard's stores, J. C. Penney, Macy's, and Dick's Sporting Goods, according to the referenced encyclopedia description. The property has also functioned as a community gathering place. An annual Hanukkah menorah parade is held near the mall in association with the local Chabad-Lubavitch organization, extending the site's role beyond conventional shopping and dining. Ownership and management have changed during the property's later history. Washington Prime Group, a major U.S. shopping-center owner and operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2021 and subsequently entered a liquidation process. Reference material states that Melbourne Square was sold to Second Horizon Capital in March 2026, with plans to transform the property. Because that transaction and the proposed transformation are future-dated relative to much historical coverage, the precise scope, timing, and branding of the redevelopment should be verified against current owner or local reporting. Melbourne Square is best understood as a local and regional retail property brand rather than a consumer-goods or financial-services brand.
History
Melbourne Square was developed on a former orange grove in Melbourne, Florida, and opened in 1982. It followed Brevard Mall as the second major mall serving the city. Its opening-era anchor sequence began with Ivey's, while Jordan Marsh, Burdine's, J. C. Penney, and Belk were added as part of the property's original or early anchor configuration. The mall's history is marked by repeated department-store changes. Ivey's converted to Dillard's in 1990. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991, and its location became Mervyn's in 1992, reportedly the chain's first Florida store. Mervyn's later closed, and the building was converted into a second Dillard's in 1997. Burdine's was acquired and rebranded through the Macy's system: Macy's assumed the store in 2003, the location used the Burdines-Macy's name until 2005, and it then became Macy's. Belk departed in 2004 for The Avenue in Viera. The former Belk property was demolished in 2006 for a redevelopment containing Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City. Circuit City left after its 2009 bankruptcy and liquidation. The resulting space later housed World Of Decor and was ultimately used by LA Fitness from 2014. H&M also opened at the mall in 2014. These changes illustrate Melbourne Square's adaptation from a traditional department-store-centered mall toward a more varied tenant mix that included specialty apparel, sporting goods, home furnishings, and fitness. Melbourne Square also hosts or serves as a setting for community activities. An annual Hanukkah menorah parade takes place near the mall in association with the local Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The property has additionally been affected by public-safety incidents, including a January 2015 food-court shooting that caused one death and one injury, and a December 2016 firearm discharge during an attempted parking-lot robbery. In its later ownership history, Washington Prime Group was associated with the property before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2021. Reference material says that the mall was sold to Second Horizon Capital in March 2026 while Washington Prime Group was liquidating, with a proposed transformation of the site. The detailed redevelopment program, implementation schedule, and any future tenant changes are not specified in the supplied sources and require further verification.
- 2026
Sale to Second Horizon Capital
[1]Reference material reports a sale to Second Horizon Capital and proposed plans to transform the property.
- 2016
Parking-lot robbery attempt
[1]A gun is fired during an attempted robbery in the mall parking lot.
- 2015
Food-court shooting
[1]A shooting in the food court kills one person and injures another before the gunman dies by suicide.
- 2014
LA Fitness and H&M join the tenant mix
[1]The former Circuit City space becomes associated with LA Fitness, while H&M opens at the mall.
- 2009
Circuit City exits
[1]Circuit City's collapse leaves its Melbourne Square space available for subsequent reuse.
- 2006
Former Belk building is replaced
[1]The former Belk structure is demolished and replaced by space for Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City.
- 2005
Burdines-Macy's becomes Macy's
[1]The former Burdine's store adopts the Macy's name.
- 2003
Macy's assumes the Burdine's location
[1]Macy's takes over the mall's Burdine's anchor, initially using the transitional Burdines-Macy's identity.
- 1997
Second Dillard's opens
[1]The former Mervyn's building is converted into a second Dillard's store after Mervyn's leaves.
- 1992
Mervyn's opens
[1]The former Jordan Marsh store reopens as Mervyn's and becomes the chain's first Florida location.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Melbourne, Florida, and nearby Brevard County communities through department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods, apparel, fitness, dining, and community events.
Retail property · 1982
Enclosed shopping mall
Melbourne Square's principal offering is an enclosed regional shopping environment combining department stores, specialty retail, services, food-oriented uses, and community activity in one property. Its tenant mix has changed repeatedly as national retailers entered, rebranded, relocated, or closed.
Department stores · 1982
Department-store anchors
The mall has historically been anchored by Ivey's, Jordan Marsh, Burdine's, Mervyn's, Belk, J. C. Penney, Dillard's, and Macy's. The current or recently documented anchor profile includes two Dillard's stores, J. C. Penney, and Macy's.
Specialty retail · 2006
Specialty retail and services
Specialty uses documented at Melbourne Square include Dick's Sporting Goods, H&M, LA Fitness, and earlier occupants such as World Of Decor and Circuit City. Together they broaden the property beyond traditional department-store shopping into apparel, sporting goods, home furnishings, and fitness.
Controversies
2016
Attempted parking-lot robbery
A gun was fired during an attempted robbery in the mall parking lot on December 13.
2015
Food-court shooting
A January 17 shooting at the mall food court killed one person and wounded another. The gunman subsequently died by suicide, and the incident was believed to have a domestic-violence connection.
Marketing campaigns
- Annual Hanukkah menorah parade
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne Square is associated with an annual Hanukkah menorah parade held near the mall in cooperation with the local Chabad-Lubavitch organization.
Outcome. The event provides a recurring community and religious gathering connected with the property.
Brand decisions
2026
Sale and proposed property transformationM&ABackground
Reference material links the transaction to Washington Prime Group's 2021 Chapter 11 filing and subsequent liquidation process.
Action taken
Second Horizon Capital reportedly acquired Melbourne Square and announced plans to transform the property.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not specify the redevelopment concept, schedule, or resulting tenant and brand changes.
2006
Redevelopment of the former Belk siteStrategyBackground
Belk had relocated from Melbourne Square to The Avenue in Viera in 2004, leaving its former anchor building available for redevelopment.
Action taken
The former Belk building was demolished and replaced with retail space for Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City.
Aftermath
Circuit City later left the property, while the space was subsequently used by World Of Decor and LA Fitness.
Sources2 sources
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