MID-CENTURY MALLING
Before long, DeBartolo was flying around the Midwest, picking out potential sites for prospective strip shopping plazas. By mid-1961, the DeBartolo Corporation had developed forty-one. In September 1961, DeBartolo went the next step further and opened Mentor, Ohio's GREAT LAKES MALL. ERIE CENTRAL MALL, in Erie, Pennsylvania, soon followed.
Before long, DeBartolo was flying around the Midwest, picking out potential sites for prospective strip shopping plazas. By mid-1961, the DeBartolo Corporation had developed forty-one. In September 1961, DeBartolo went the next step further and opened Mentor, Ohio's GREAT LAKES MALL. ERIE CENTRAL MALL, in Erie, Pennsylvania, soon followed.
Eventually, there were malls going up in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Melbourne, Florida, and Findlay, Akron and Lima, Ohio. The DeBartolo Corporation was a fully-integrated -"concept to completion"- company. There were departments for legal, finance, engineering, architecture, real estate, construction, maintenance and promotion. Every bureau or office necessary to conceive, build and operate a new shopping center was provided by DeBartolo.
In 1972, Forbes Magazine named "Mr. D" the nation's top mall builder. By late 1973, the DeBartolo Corporation had malls operating in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Indiana, New York, Tennessee and New Jersey. The Sunshine State became a primary focus of DeBartolo's mall development.
By 1980, there were also DeBartolo malls in Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Washington State and California. By the mid-1980s, the Corporation was the nation's largest mall owner-operator.
In substantial debt by the early 1990s, DeBartolo sold majority interest in several malls. He used profit from the transaction to buy shares in a new REIT (real estate investment trust). The DeBartolo Realty Group was formed in September 1993.
MEDALS OF MERIT
Delving into other areas of endeavor, DeBartolo opened the Toledo Foreign Trade Zone, purchased several horse racing parks and regional department stores. He also bought the San Francisco 49ers football and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey franchises.
Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. was given the Italian government's Order of Merit in 1981 and received his highest honor when Ronald Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1988. DeBartolo died on December 19, 1994.
MEDALS OF MERIT
Delving into other areas of endeavor, DeBartolo opened the Toledo Foreign Trade Zone, purchased several horse racing parks and regional department stores. He also bought the San Francisco 49ers football and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey franchises.
Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. was given the Italian government's Order of Merit in 1981 and received his highest honor when Ronald Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1988. DeBartolo died on December 19, 1994.
DEBARTOLO-DEVELOPED MALLS 1961-1996:
A list of malls developed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation between the early 1960s and mid-1990s, with some being joint ventures. Those
indicated in green have been inducted into the Mall Hall of Fame. The property indicated in blue is on exhibit at the Shopping Mall Museum site.
1. GREAT LAKES MALL, Mentor, OH (September 1961)
2. ERIE CENTRAL MALL-ERIE CENTRAL OUTLET MALL-NORTHGATE COMMONS, Erie, PA (October 1961)
3. FORT FINDLAY VILLAGE CENTER-FORT FINDLAY VILLAGE MALL, Findlay, OH (August 1962)
4. AKRON SQUARE PLAZA, Akron, OH (August 1962-June 1994)
5. GLEN BURNIE MALL-CENTRE AT GLEN BURNIE, Anne Arundel County, MD (February 1963)
6. BREVARD MALL-FLORIDA MARKETPLACE & CONVENIENCE CENTER, Melbourne, FL (March 1963)
7. KOKOMO MALL-KOKOMO TOWN CENTER, Kokomo, IN (October 1963)
8. CALUMET CENTER, Munster, IN (August 1964)
9. MANSFIELD SQUARE-KINGSGATE CENTER, Mansfield, OH (October 1964)
10. SUMMIT MALL, Fairlawn, OH (October 1965)
11. LIMA MALL, Allen County, OH (November 1965)
12. RICHMOND SQUARE-RICHMOND MALL, Richmond, IN (May 1966)
13. RICHMOND MALL-RICHMOND TOWN SQUARE, Richmond Heights, OH (September 1966)
14. PALM BEACH MALL, West Palm Beach, FL (October 1967-January 2010)
15. LAFAYETTE SQUARE, Marion County (Indianapolis), IN (August 1968-August 2022)
16. WOODVILLE MALL, Northwood, OH (April 1969-February 2013)
17. DAYTON MALL, Montgomery County, OH (March 1970)
18. SOUTHERN PARK MALL, Mahooning County, OH (March 1970)
19. NORMANDY MALL, Jacksonville, FL (November 1970-March 1994)
20. CHAUTAUQUA MALL, Chautauqua County, NY (April 1971)
21. RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL, Memphis, TN (August 1971-April 2011)
22. UPPER VALLEY MALL, Clark County, OH (August 1971-June 2021)
23. EASTERN HILLS MALL, Erie County, NY (November 1971)
24. CASTLETON SQUARE, Indianapolis, IN (September 1972)
25. SECURITY SQUARE, Baltimore County, MD (September 1972)
26. TYRONE SQUARE, St. Petersburg, FL (October 1972)
27. BRUNSWICK SQUARE, Middlesex County, NJ (April 1973)
28. DESOTO SQUARE, Brandenton, FL (August 1973)
29. WASHINGTON SQUARE, Indianapolis, IN (April 1974)
30. ALTAMONTE MALL, Altamonte Springs, FL (August 1974)
31. UNIVERSITY SQUARE-UNIVERSITY MALL-UPTOWN, Hillsborough County, FL (August 1974)
32. VOLUSIA MALL, Daytona Beach, FL (October 1974)
33. RED BIRD MALL-SOUTHWEST CENTER MALL, Dallas, TX (June 1975)
34. AURORA MALL-TOWN CENTER AT AURORA, Aurora, CO (August 1975)
35. OCEAN COUNTY MALL, Ocean County, NJ (July 1976)
36. RANDALL PARK MALL, North Randall, OH (August 1976-March 2009)
37. EAST LAKE SQUARE, Tampa, FL (August 1976-September 1997)
38. PINELLAS SQUARE-PARKSIDE, Pinellas Park, FL (April 1977-June 2004)
39. RICHARDSON SQUARE MALL, Richardson, TX (October 1977-December 2005)
40. REGENCY MALL, Augusta, GA (July 1978-March 2002)
41. UNIVERSITY PARK MALL, St. Joseph County, IN (March 1979)
42. CENTURY III MALL, West Mifflin, PA (October 1979-October 2020)
43. ALDERWOOD MALL-ALDERWOOD, Snohomish County (Lynnwood), WA (October 1979)
44. MISSION VIEJO MALL-THE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO, Mission Viejo, CA (October 1979)
45. GULF VIEW SQUARE, Pasco County, FL (March 1980)
46. PADDOCK MALL, Ocala, FL (August 1980)
47. BAY PARK SQUARE, Ashwaubenon, WI (October 1980)
48. BOYNTON BEACH MALL, Boynton Beach, FL (October 1980)
49. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL MALL, Doral, FL (August 1982)
50. MELBOURNE SQUARE, Melbourne, FL (October 1982)
51. AVENTURA MALL, Dade County (Aventura), FL (April 1983)
52. CORAL SQUARE, Coral Springs, FL (October 1984)
53. THE FLORIDA MALL, Orange County, FL (March 1986)
54. RIVERCENTER MALL-SHOPS AT RIVERCENTER, San Antonio, TX (February 1988)
55. LAKELAND SQUARE MALL, Lakeland, FL (March 1988)
56. TREASURE COAST SQUARE, Martin County, FL (March 1988)
57. NEW ORLEANS CENTRE, New Orleans, LA (August 1988-August 2005)
58. PORT CHARLOTTE TOWN CENTER, Port Charlotte, FL (August 1989)
59. CHESAPEAKE SQUARE, Chesapeake, VA (October 1989)
60. ASHLAND TOWN CENTER, Ashland, KY (October 1989)
61. BILTMORE SQUARE MALL- Buncombe County (Asheville), NC (October 1989-January 2014)
62. NORTHFIELD SQUARE MALL, Bourbonnais, IL (August 1990)
63. THE AVENUES, Jacksonville, FL (September 1990)
64. CRYSTAL RIVER MALL, Crystal River, FL (October 1990-August 2022)
65. MALL OF THE MAINLAND, Texas City, TX (March 1991-January 2014)
66. COOLSPRINGS GALLERIA, Williamson County, TN (August 1991)
67. VIRGINIA CENTER COMMONS, Glen Allen, VA (October 1991-October 2022)
68. PEMBROKE LAKES MALL, Pembroke Pines, FL (October 1992)
69. BRANDON TOWN CENTER-WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN BRANDON-WESTFIELD BRANDON-BRANDON MALL, Hillsborough County, FL (February 1995)
70. INDIAN RIVER MALL, Vero Beach, FL (November 1996)
NOTE: Redeveloped or acquired properties are not included on this list.
2. ERIE CENTRAL MALL-ERIE CENTRAL OUTLET MALL-NORTHGATE COMMONS, Erie, PA (October 1961)
3. FORT FINDLAY VILLAGE CENTER-FORT FINDLAY VILLAGE MALL, Findlay, OH (August 1962)
4. AKRON SQUARE PLAZA, Akron, OH (August 1962-June 1994)
5. GLEN BURNIE MALL-CENTRE AT GLEN BURNIE, Anne Arundel County, MD (February 1963)
6. BREVARD MALL-FLORIDA MARKETPLACE & CONVENIENCE CENTER, Melbourne, FL (March 1963)
7. KOKOMO MALL-KOKOMO TOWN CENTER, Kokomo, IN (October 1963)
8. CALUMET CENTER, Munster, IN (August 1964)
9. MANSFIELD SQUARE-KINGSGATE CENTER, Mansfield, OH (October 1964)
10. SUMMIT MALL, Fairlawn, OH (October 1965)
11. LIMA MALL, Allen County, OH (November 1965)
12. RICHMOND SQUARE-RICHMOND MALL, Richmond, IN (May 1966)
13. RICHMOND MALL-RICHMOND TOWN SQUARE, Richmond Heights, OH (September 1966)
14. PALM BEACH MALL, West Palm Beach, FL (October 1967-January 2010)
15. LAFAYETTE SQUARE, Marion County (Indianapolis), IN (August 1968-August 2022)
16. WOODVILLE MALL, Northwood, OH (April 1969-February 2013)
17. DAYTON MALL, Montgomery County, OH (March 1970)
18. SOUTHERN PARK MALL, Mahooning County, OH (March 1970)
19. NORMANDY MALL, Jacksonville, FL (November 1970-March 1994)
20. CHAUTAUQUA MALL, Chautauqua County, NY (April 1971)
21. RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL, Memphis, TN (August 1971-April 2011)
22. UPPER VALLEY MALL, Clark County, OH (August 1971-June 2021)
23. EASTERN HILLS MALL, Erie County, NY (November 1971)
24. CASTLETON SQUARE, Indianapolis, IN (September 1972)
25. SECURITY SQUARE, Baltimore County, MD (September 1972)
26. TYRONE SQUARE, St. Petersburg, FL (October 1972)
27. BRUNSWICK SQUARE, Middlesex County, NJ (April 1973)
28. DESOTO SQUARE, Brandenton, FL (August 1973)
29. WASHINGTON SQUARE, Indianapolis, IN (April 1974)
30. ALTAMONTE MALL, Altamonte Springs, FL (August 1974)
31. UNIVERSITY SQUARE-UNIVERSITY MALL-UPTOWN, Hillsborough County, FL (August 1974)
32. VOLUSIA MALL, Daytona Beach, FL (October 1974)
33. RED BIRD MALL-SOUTHWEST CENTER MALL, Dallas, TX (June 1975)
34. AURORA MALL-TOWN CENTER AT AURORA, Aurora, CO (August 1975)
35. OCEAN COUNTY MALL, Ocean County, NJ (July 1976)
36. RANDALL PARK MALL, North Randall, OH (August 1976-March 2009)
37. EAST LAKE SQUARE, Tampa, FL (August 1976-September 1997)
38. PINELLAS SQUARE-PARKSIDE, Pinellas Park, FL (April 1977-June 2004)
39. RICHARDSON SQUARE MALL, Richardson, TX (October 1977-December 2005)
40. REGENCY MALL, Augusta, GA (July 1978-March 2002)
41. UNIVERSITY PARK MALL, St. Joseph County, IN (March 1979)
42. CENTURY III MALL, West Mifflin, PA (October 1979-October 2020)
43. ALDERWOOD MALL-ALDERWOOD, Snohomish County (Lynnwood), WA (October 1979)
44. MISSION VIEJO MALL-THE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO, Mission Viejo, CA (October 1979)
45. GULF VIEW SQUARE, Pasco County, FL (March 1980)
46. PADDOCK MALL, Ocala, FL (August 1980)
47. BAY PARK SQUARE, Ashwaubenon, WI (October 1980)
48. BOYNTON BEACH MALL, Boynton Beach, FL (October 1980)
49. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL MALL, Doral, FL (August 1982)
50. MELBOURNE SQUARE, Melbourne, FL (October 1982)
51. AVENTURA MALL, Dade County (Aventura), FL (April 1983)
52. CORAL SQUARE, Coral Springs, FL (October 1984)
53. THE FLORIDA MALL, Orange County, FL (March 1986)
54. RIVERCENTER MALL-SHOPS AT RIVERCENTER, San Antonio, TX (February 1988)
55. LAKELAND SQUARE MALL, Lakeland, FL (March 1988)
56. TREASURE COAST SQUARE, Martin County, FL (March 1988)
57. NEW ORLEANS CENTRE, New Orleans, LA (August 1988-August 2005)
58. PORT CHARLOTTE TOWN CENTER, Port Charlotte, FL (August 1989)
59. CHESAPEAKE SQUARE, Chesapeake, VA (October 1989)
60. ASHLAND TOWN CENTER, Ashland, KY (October 1989)
61. BILTMORE SQUARE MALL- Buncombe County (Asheville), NC (October 1989-January 2014)
62. NORTHFIELD SQUARE MALL, Bourbonnais, IL (August 1990)
63. THE AVENUES, Jacksonville, FL (September 1990)
64. CRYSTAL RIVER MALL, Crystal River, FL (October 1990-August 2022)
65. MALL OF THE MAINLAND, Texas City, TX (March 1991-January 2014)
66. COOLSPRINGS GALLERIA, Williamson County, TN (August 1991)
67. VIRGINIA CENTER COMMONS, Glen Allen, VA (October 1991-October 2022)
68. PEMBROKE LAKES MALL, Pembroke Pines, FL (October 1992)
69. BRANDON TOWN CENTER-WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN BRANDON-WESTFIELD BRANDON-BRANDON MALL, Hillsborough County, FL (February 1995)
70. INDIAN RIVER MALL, Vero Beach, FL (November 1996)
NOTE: Redeveloped or acquired properties are not included on this list.
