WestShore Plaza

WestShore Plaza is an enclosed shopping mall in Tampa's Westshore business district in Florida, United States. Developed by Boston-based real-estate developer Albert L. Manley, the center opened to the public on September 28, 1967, and was promoted as the Tampa Bay area's first fully enclosed and air-conditioned shopping mall. Its development helped establish the Westshore district as an important commercial area and created a retail destination west of Tampa's traditional downtown core. The property began with a department-store-led format. Maas Brothers opened its store at the site on October 28, 1966, nearly a year before the rest of the mall. JCPenney opened in September 1967 and remains the mall's only original anchor still operating. Early tenants also included Woolworth, Walgreens, and Pantry Pride. The center expanded in 1974 with a northeast wing, a parking garage, and an additional department-store anchor. That anchor passed through several retail operators, including Robinson's, Maison Blanche, and Dillard's, before the space was later occupied by Sears. Sears eventually closed the location in 2019. Ownership by the Grosvenor Group beginning in 1990 led to a major renovation. The interior was given a Spanish-Mediterranean design, including a prominent three-story bell tower in the central court. Further changes followed as department-store and entertainment patterns evolved. Saks Fifth Avenue opened in an expansion on November 12, 1998, but closed in 2013; Dick's Sporting Goods subsequently occupied the space in 2014. A later expansion in 2000 moved the food court into the former Pantry Pride area and added a west wing containing a 14-screen AMC Theatres complex. WestShore Plaza's tenant mix has included apparel, accessories, specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, and family-oriented services. Retail examples have included Francesca's Collection, LOFT, New Balance, H&M, Old Navy, and Sunglass Hut. Restaurants cited for the property include P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Irish 31, Maggiano's Little Italy, and Seasons 52. The center has also provided a children's play area near JCPenney, a nursing room, and changing facilities. The mall has faced the broader restructuring of traditional department stores. JCPenney was temporarily included in a 2020 closure plan but was removed from the final list and remained open. Dick's Sporting Goods closed in 2024 and relocated to nearby International Plaza and Bay Street. Macy's announced in January 2025 that its WestShore Plaza store would close, and the store closed on March 23, 2025. The former Dick's space has been associated with a planned gym conversion: an attempted Divine Iron Gym project did not open after its operators ran out of funds, while Wolf Gyms has been reported as planning to complete the space. In 2024, Tampa City Council approved a redevelopment concept for the mall site that could combine housing, offices, lodging, recreation, a Hillsborough Area Regional Transit transfer station, retail, and restaurants. The proposal contemplated retaining Macy's, but that assumption changed after the store's 2025 closure. Washington Prime Group announced in 2025 that it intended to market its properties, including WestShore Plaza, for sale. The reference material also reports a planned management transition to CBRE and a later sale to Third Lake Partners in 2026; these future ownership and management changes should be verified against current property records. WestShore Plaza therefore remains an active retail property while its long-term role may shift toward a mixed-use district.

WestShore Plaza was developed by Albert L. Manley and opened in Tampa's Westshore district on September 28, 1967. It was presented as the Tampa Bay area's first enclosed shopping mall and one of its first fully air-conditioned shopping centers. The site's first department-store component was Maas Brothers, which opened on October 28, 1966, ahead of the main mall. JCPenney opened on September 7, 1967, and became the only original anchor to remain in operation into the modern period. The initial tenant roster also included Woolworth, Walgreens, and Pantry Pride. The property expanded in 1974 with a northeast wing, a north parking garage, and an additional anchor. That department-store space was associated successively with Robinson's, Maison Blanche, and Dillard's. Dillard's later moved to the newly developed International Plaza and Bay Street nearby. Sears took over the space in 2002 after moving from Tampa Bay Center, but announced its closure in 2018 as part of a nationwide store reduction, with the WestShore location closing in 2019. WestShore Plaza was acquired by Grosvenor Group in 1990. The acquisition was followed by a substantial renovation that introduced a Spanish-Mediterranean interior treatment and a three-story bell tower over the center court. Department-store changes continued during the 1990s and 2000s. Saks Fifth Avenue opened on November 12, 1998, as part of a further west-side expansion. It closed in 2013, and Dick's Sporting Goods converted the space into a flagship-format store in 2014. The mall's fourth and most recent expansion, completed in 2000, moved the food court into the former Pantry Pride building and added a west wing with a 14-screen AMC cinema on its second level. Over time, the property developed a mixed tenant base rather than relying solely on department stores. Specialty retailers included Francesca's Collection, LOFT, New Balance, H&M, Old Navy, and Sunglass Hut. Dining options reported for the center included P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Irish 31, Maggiano's Little Italy, and Seasons 52. Family facilities included a children's play area, a nursing room, and baby-changing stations. The center's later history reflects the pressure on enclosed malls from department-store contraction and changing retail patterns. JCPenney was named in a 2020 closure announcement but was removed from the final closure list. Dick's Sporting Goods left in 2024 and relocated nearby. Macy's announced a closure in January 2025 and shut its store on March 23, 2025. A proposed replacement for part of the former Dick's space involved Divine Iron Gym, but that project reportedly stalled after its operators ran out of money. Wolf Gyms was subsequently reported as planning to complete the unfinished conversion. The property's future has also been linked to broader redevelopment. In 2024, Tampa City Council approved a concept allowing residential units, office space, a hotel or motel, recreational facilities, a Hillsborough Area Regional Transit transfer station, retail, and restaurants. The proposal originally contemplated retaining Macy's, an assumption that no longer applied after the 2025 closure. Washington Prime Group announced in April 2025 that it intended to sell its properties, including WestShore Plaza, and that CBRE was expected to assume management of its properties in 2026. The reference material further reports a sale to Third Lake Partners in July 2026. Because that transaction is future-dated relative to the other supplied material, its completion and the current owner should be independently confirmed.

• 2025

  Macy's closes

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Macy's closed its WestShore Plaza store on March 23, 2025.

• 2024

  Mixed-use redevelopment plan approved

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Tampa City Council approved a redevelopment framework for housing, offices, lodging, recreation, transit, retail, and dining.

• 2019

  Sears closes

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed as part of the retailer's nationwide store-reduction program.

• 2014

  Dick's Sporting Goods occupies former Saks space

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  After Saks Fifth Avenue closed in 2013, Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the space in 2014.

• 2000

  Food court and AMC expansion completed

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The food court was relocated and a west wing with a 14-screen AMC Theatres complex was added.

• 1998

  Saks Fifth Avenue expansion opens

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Saks Fifth Avenue opened on November 12, 1998, as part of a west-side expansion.

• 1990

  Grosvenor Group acquires the property

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The property changed ownership and subsequently underwent a major Spanish-Mediterranean-themed renovation.

• 1974

  First major expansion

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A northeast wing, north parking garage, and additional department-store anchor were added.

• 1967

  WestShore Plaza opens

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opened on September 28, 1967, as the Tampa Bay area's first enclosed shopping mall.

• 1966

  Maas Brothers opens ahead of the mall

  [1]WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Maas Brothers opened its WestShore location on October 28, 1966, serving as the site's first department-store anchor before the enclosed mall opened.

A regional enclosed shopping center serving Tampa and the wider Tampa Bay area, combining department-store retail, specialty shops, restaurants, entertainment, and family services.

• Department store · 1967

  JCPenney

  JCPenney opened at WestShore Plaza in September 1967 and is identified as the mall's only original anchor still operating. Its department-store format provides apparel, footwear, home merchandise, beauty products, and related services, although the precise current assortment is subject to change.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2000

  AMC Theatres

  The mall's 14-screen AMC cinema was added as part of the 2000 west-wing expansion. It provides the property's principal large-scale entertainment offering and complements the retail and restaurant mix.

• Fashion and lifestyle retail

  Specialty retail stores

  WestShore Plaza has hosted specialty retailers such as Francesca's Collection, LOFT, New Balance, H&M, Old Navy, and Sunglass Hut. These stores broaden the center beyond department stores through apparel, footwear, accessories, and eyewear.

• Food and beverage

  Restaurants and dining venues

  The property has included national and regional dining operators such as P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Irish 31, Maggiano's Little Italy, and Seasons 52. Restaurant occupancy may change over time.

• Fitness and recreation

  Wolf Gyms conversion

  Wolf Gyms has been reported as planning a gym in the former Dick's Sporting Goods space. The conversion followed an unsuccessful attempt by Divine Iron Gym and was described as under construction in the supplied reference material.

• 2025

  Proposed property saleM&A

  Background

  Washington Prime Group announced that it intended to sell its properties, including WestShore Plaza, amid ongoing changes to the mall's anchor lineup.

  Action taken

  The property was placed within a planned portfolio sale process, with CBRE expected to assume management of Washington Prime Group properties in 2026.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference reports a sale to Third Lake Partners in July 2026, but that future-dated transaction and the resulting ownership should be verified.

  Source

• 2024

  Mixed-use redevelopment frameworkStrategy

  Background

  Changing mall economics and the availability of underused anchor space created an opportunity to reconsider the property's long-term land use.

  Action taken

  Tampa City Council approved a concept allowing housing, offices, lodging, recreation, a transit transfer station, retail, and restaurants on the site.

  Aftermath

  The approval established a potential path toward a mixed-use redevelopment, but the supplied material does not provide a construction timetable or confirmed execution plan.

  Source

• 2014

  Replacement of Saks Fifth Avenue with Dick's Sporting GoodsGeneration change

  Background

  Saks Fifth Avenue closed its WestShore Plaza location in 2013, leaving a major anchor space available.

  Action taken

  Dick's Sporting Goods opened a flagship-format store in the former Saks space in 2014.

  Aftermath

  The property replaced a luxury department-store use with a large sporting-goods tenant, which later closed and relocated in 2024.

  Source

• 2000

  Addition of AMC Theatres and relocated food courtProduct launch

  Background

  The mall sought to expand its entertainment and dining offer while creating additional west-wing retail space.

  Action taken

  The food court was moved into the former Pantry Pride building and a new west wing with a 14-screen AMC Theatres complex was constructed.

  Aftermath

  The project increased the property's entertainment capacity and diversified its tenant mix beyond department-store retail.

  Source

• 1990

  Spanish-Mediterranean renovationStrategy

  Background

  After Grosvenor Group acquired the property, WestShore Plaza required a refreshed identity and updated interior environment to remain competitive as Tampa's retail landscape developed.

  Action taken

  The mall was extensively remodeled with a Spanish-Mediterranean design and a three-story bell tower over the central court.

  Aftermath

  The renovation became a defining architectural feature of the center and supported its repositioning as a regional shopping destination.

  Source

1. 1WestShore Plazaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WestShore Plaza official websitewestshoreplaza.com