Circa-1959 site plan of the PLAZA. The open-air center was one of
-if not the- earliest mall-type centers in the Tampa Bay region.
It was outpositioned by the newer (and larger) DESOTO SQUARE
MALL, which was dedicated in 1973.

CORTEZ PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER
Tamiami Trail / US 41 and Cortez Road
Bradenton, Florida

One of the earliest shopping malls in the Tampa Bay Area was located on a 26 acre tract, 2 miles south of downtown Bradenton. Known as CORTEZ PLAZA, the "mini-mall" was dedicated in 1959.

The open-air center, designed by New York City's Douglas Lathrop, was anchored by Tampa-based Belk-Lindsey and a Publix supermarket.

The PLAZA was overshadowed by the opening of the DESOTO SQUARE MALL in 1973. The new, regional shopping complex had over 600,000 leasable square feet and was built one quarter mile northeast of the older shopping center.

A minor renovation was done to CORTEZ PLAZA in 1978, but the 1950s-era mall was soon considered obsolete. It was torn down and replaced by a 289,000 square foot power center in 1988.

Also known as CORTEZ PLAZA, it was originally anchored by Montgomery Ward (eventually a Burlington Coat Factory) and a Publix supermarket.

The present day center also includes a PetsMart and Circuit City (now shuttered). It was acquired by Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty in February 2007.

Sources:

Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
"Belk" article on Wikipedia
http://www.nreionline.com/
http://www.inlandse.com/
www.simon.com (Desoto Square Mall)

Photos:

From the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection / Repository: United States Library Of Congress Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. / Taken by Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc., November 1959 / Douglas Lathrop - Client / Photographs are in the public domain: no known restrictions on publication / www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html