WestShore Plaza, a once-popular shopping mall in Tampa, Florida, is slated for demolition following its $135 million sale to Third Lake Partners. The local investment firm plans to redevelop the 54-acre property into a mixed-use complex featuring apartments, offices, restaurants, retail, medical facilities, and entertainment venues.
The mall, which opened in 1967 as the Tampa Bay area's first fully enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center, has seen declining foot traffic and shuttered storefronts for years. Major anchor stores like Dillard's, Sears, Saks Fifth Avenue, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Macy's have all departed over the past two decades, contributing to the mall's diminished popularity.
Third Lake Partners purchased WestShore Plaza from Ohio-based Washington Prime Group in July. The developer is partnering with St. Petersburg-based Echelon as co-developer for the project. While the framework approved by Tampa officials allows for a broad range of new development, Third Lake Partners has not yet released specific blueprints or announced a demolition schedule or construction timeline.
Merchants operating at the mall are currently in limbo as they await further information about the closure and their future. Some business owners have expressed confusion and stated they are still reminding customers that they remain open for business.
"The story is we're closed, and we're not," said Erik Swope-Wise, who has worked at the Urban Native Store inside the mall for six years. He noted that the loss of anchor stores had already impacted foot traffic and expressed hope to be part of whatever development replaces the mall.
The rezoning approved by Tampa City Council in 2024 permits up to 1,765 apartments alongside the other mixed-use components. However, the approval does not guarantee that all permitted elements will be constructed. Third Lake founder Robert Forsythe described the property as a unique opportunity to create a destination that reflects contemporary living preferences.