By the mid-1980s, the official name of the retail hub had been shortened to simply BOCA MALL. The complex, which was never fully-leased, had been in a pronounced state of decline since the opening of the glitzy TOWN CENTER AT BOCA RATON, in October 1980. 

Graphic from S P A (Smathers, Plapinger & Aronowitz) Properties

The prevailing wisdom is that BOCA MALL had been a bad idea from the start. It was located in downtown Boca Raton, when development of far-flung western suburbs was the order of the day. It was also a considerable distance east of Interstate 95 (when that expressway opened to traffic in 1976). Lastly, the mall's middle-market focus wasn't a good fit in such an affluent locale.

Graphic 1 from S P A (Smathers, Plapinger & Aronowitz) Properties

Graphic 2 from the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency

BOCA MALL bit the proverbial dust in August 1989. MIZNER PARK, an open-air -and substantially upscale- lifestyle venue, held its official dedication in January 1991.
Photo from www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties