The past and present logo of PR's preeminent shopping destination. The graphic depicts the sails of the ships in Christopher Columbus' expedition to the New World; the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.
Graphic from www.plazalasamericas.com
Showing posts with label Puerto Rico's Plaza Las Americas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puerto Rico's Plaza Las Americas. Show all posts
A vintage view of the mall's Main (East) Entrance. The parking lot entry of an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 is seen on the left.
Photo from https://www.noticel.com / "50 años de Plaza las Américas"
The original mall was anchored by one of the largest J.C. Penney operations in the entire chain. It vied for prominence with a store at Concord, California's SUNVALLEY CENTER and was slightly larger than gigantic "Penneys" stores at SOUTHCENTER {Tukwila, Washington} and YORKTOWN CENTER {Lombard, Illinois}.
Photo from http://bibliotecadigital.uprrp.edu / Puerto Rican Digital Library / A. Gonzalez
A circa-'68 interior view, which shows the "Penneys" mallway entrance.
Photo from Nostalgia Sobre Puerto Rico In the '70s & '80s
The mallway entrance of González Padín. This department store anchored the southeast end of the complex.
Photo from Nostalgia Sobre Puerto Rico In the '70s & '80s
We switch to full-color for our next three images. Above, we see the mall's Main Entrance concourse. Going from left to right, the stores are Florsheim Shoes, La Corbala (The Tie Shop), Rohala Photo, Centro de Arte and First Federal Savings.
Photo from TAC / Empressa Fonalledas
This snapshot was taken in the South Wing, in front of the Gonzalez Padin department store. On the left, we see La Tienda de los Ninos (The Children's Store) and La Esquina Famosa (a men's wear shop).
Photo from TAC / Empressa Fonalledas
Our final vintage image shows the Farmacias Gonzalez (a drug store) and the mall's Southwest Entrance.
Photo from TAC / Empressa Fonalledas
Our first PLAZA plan shows the configuration of the mall at the time of its official dedication. In the fall of 1968, PLAZA LAS AMERICAS encompassed approximately 800,000 leasable square feet and contained seventy-nine stores and services. Its surrounding parking area had room for 4,000 autos.
The first of many PLAZA expansions was performed in 1979-1980. Sears was added, which anchored a 3-level North Wing (in medium gray). This new structure included a large Food Court, the first such facility on the island, and a second cinema complex. A parking garage was also built on the northwest corner of the mall.
The second major renovation was done between 1993 and 1994. This project added the 9-floor Torre De Plaza office tower.
Photo from www.plazalasamericas.com
A third major mall makeover was done between 1997 and the year 2000. Interior spaces were refitted with new flooring, ceilings and fountains. Works of art now decorated court areas. These sculptures and medallions were created by Myrna Baez, Nick Quijano, Jo Schneider, Marta Parez Garcia and Antonio Martorell.
Photo from www.plazalasamericas.com
In this aerial view, we see that the mega shopping center is situated at the junction of San Juan's major north-south and east-west expressways. Expreso Las Americas is seen in the lower right. Autopista Jose De Diego runs along the top of the image.
Photo from www.plazalasamericas.com
As previously mentioned, the original J.C. Penney at PLAZA LAS AMERICAS was among the largest in the chain. In 1998, the store was replaced by one having 4 levels and 300,700 square feet. This was -and is- the largest J.C. Penney store in the world.
Photo from www.plazalasamericas.com
A "Grade A," destination-type mall such as PLAZA LAS AMERICAS often stays in a continuous state of renovation and refurbishment. In 2012-2013, 12 million dollars were invested in various improvements. The Main Entrance was rebuilt with an imposing porte-cochère.
Photo from http://jp2architects.com / JP2 Architects
At the same time, the 33-year-old Food Court was given a major makeover. which included new flooring, furnishings, ceilings, column covers and lighting. A skylight now brought additional illumination to the area.
Drawing from http://jp2architects.com / JP2 Architects
Here, we see a newly-renovated shopping concourse.
Drawing from http://jp2architects.com / JP2 Architects
In 2018, the mammoth mall covered around 2,173,300 leasable square feet and housed more than 300 stores and services. Its parking areas accommodated 11,500 autos. A new Marshalls opened in February 2018. This store assumed space built for a Sports Authority in 2014.
PLAZA LAS AMERICAS TENANTS 2018:
J.C. PENNEY (with Styling Salon and Optical Department) / KMART (outparcel) / MACY'S (with Hair Salon and Lenscrafters and Sunglass Hut stores) / MARSHALLS / SEARS (with Beauty Salon, Hearing Aid Center, jewelry & watch repair and freestanding Auto Center) / SEARS BRAND CENTRAL / SEARS HOME IMPROVEMENTS / 5-7-9 Shop ladies' wear / A'gaci / Abercrombie &Fitch apparel / Abercrombie Kids / Adidas shoes / Aerie accessories / Aeropostale apparel / Aldo Collection shoes / Alex & Ani / American Eagle Outfitters / America's Square ice cream / Ann Taylor ladies' wear / Antiques / Applebee's restaurant / Arte Arte (kiosk) / Arte Religioso / A T & T / Attention Attention (kiosk) / Bakers Shoes / Banana Republic apparel / Banco Popular / Bath & Body Works cosmetics / Beachy / Bellapierre cosmetics / Beautiful CIF / Beloved Beloved Salon & Body / Bienlatino / Bose home electronics / Brookstone electronics / Brow Bar / Brown Sugar / Brush Collection / Build A Bear Workshop / Campo Marzio Rome 1933 / Caribbean Cinemas Multiplex 12 / Carolina Herrera / Cartier Jewelers / Casa Febus / Casa Norberto / Champs Sports / Charlotte Russe ladies' wear / Claire's accessories / Clarke's / Cohen's Fashion Optical / Colaito / Collector's House / Communik@rt (kiosk) / Cookies & Company / Corioliss I (kiosk) / Corioliss II (kiosk) / Crocs shoes / Cruciana C (kiosk) / Cybermassage (kiosk) / David's Cookies I / Digital Concepts / Electric / Everything But Water / Exentrix Jewelers / Express ladies' wear / Express Men / Extractos / Eye Center Boutique / Faccio's Pizza / Faconnable / Fashions To Go young ladies' wear / First Bank / Flip Flop Shops / Flores De Rustica / Florsheim Shoes / Foot Locker / Forever 21 young ladies' wear / Forever Crystals / Fossil ladies' wear / Fun & Yummy (kiosk) / Galeria / Gap Body cosmetics / Gap Kids children's Wear / GNC (General Nutrition Center) / Get Fresh / Godiva Chocolatier / Gravity / Guamarine / Guess? apparel / Gymboree children's wear / H & R Block tax accountants / Hairland / Handmade / Holy Metals / Hot Topic ladies' wear / I Love Fuchsia ['"fyu-sha"] / I Love Indigo / Inspirations / Island Ice I / Island Ice II / Journeys Shoes / Journeys Kids / Karen Millen ladies' wear / Kiehl's cosmetics / Kipling handbags / Kiyume men's watches, jewelry & accessories / Kokomo apparel & nautical accessories / Kress ladies' wear / Kuri jewelers / Kury Haute Horlogerie watches / La Patisserie de France soup & salad bar / L'Bel Paris / Lacoste / L'Occitane en Provence cosmetics / Lenscrafters / Leonisa lingerie / Lids hats / Link Collection I (kiosk) / Link Collection II (kiosk) / Loft ladies wear / Lu ladies' wear & accessories / Lugano jewelers / Lunative jewelry boxes (kiosk) / M.A.C. cosmetics / Magritte Chocolatier / Mango apparel / Manicurissma Spa / Marki children's wear / McDonald's hamburgers / Michael Kors ladies' wear / Microsoft Store / Mobilfix PR / Modernica (Apple Retailer) / Mont-Blanc Boutique ladies' wear / Motherhood Maternity / Mr. Pretzels / M.Q. Mundillo De Moca lace clothing & accessories (kiosk) / My Prodigee / Names & Plates (kiosk) / Naturalizer Shoes / Nature Essence (kiosk) / Novus I / Novus II / N Y X cosmetics / O Bag Store / Oceanica@Ecoexploratory - Museum of Science / Oakley men's wear / Of Course I / Of Course II / Old Navy apparel I / Old Navy apparel II / Olive Garden restaurant / Open Mobile / Oriental Bank / Orogold / P.F. Chaing's China Bistro / Pacsun apparel / Pandora accessories / Passports & Services / Passeo Cultural Ricardo Alegria art gallery / Pashminas I (kiosk) / Pashminas II (kiosk) / Pushminas III (kiosk) / Passion / PayLess ShoeSource / Pearle Vision Center / Ponque Factory / Pozzazz handbags & accessories / Preciousa / Pretty Girl infant's wear / Que Pasta Italian restaurant / Ray Ban sunglasses / Red Lobster restaurant / Reinhold Jewelers / Reinhold David Yurman watches & jewelry / Rodeo (kiosk) / Romano's Macaroni Grill restaurant / Santander / ScotiaBank / Sephora cosmetics / Seven By Lu / Shampoo Shop & Beauty Factory / Simply Nuts (kiosk) / Smoke It & More / Soft & Creamy I (in cinema) / Soft & Creamy II / Soma Intimates / Spec's (kiosk) / Sprint / Spy Gallery / Starbucks Coffee I / Starbucks Coffee II (kiosk) / Sugar Rush (kiosk) / Sunglass Hut I / Sunglass Hut II / Sunglass Station / Sunny Planet I (kiosk) / Sunny Planet II (kiosk) / T-Mobile I / T-Mobile II / Taco Maker / The Cheesecake Factory / The Children's Place children's wear / The Disney Store / The Favorite / The Gap arrarel - Baby Gap / The Great Road / The Natural Wagon (kiosk) / The Square in Square - La Placita en Plaza food market / The Ties (kiosk) / Ticket Center / Tiffany & Company / Time Out video arcade / Tobacco Shop / Torrid ladies' wear / Totto handbags & accessories / Tous accessories / Trendy Spot gifts & accessories / Triple-S health insurance agency / Uno de Sol sunglasses / US Post Office / Valija ladies' wear & accessories / Van's skates & accessories / Victoria's Secret lingerie / Vitamin World / Viviana D'Antanon jewelry (kiosk) / Walgreen Drug / West Elm home furnishings / White House - Black Market ladies' wear / W I C - Supplemental Nutrition Pragram / Zapaventura children's shoes / Zara ladies' wear / Zara Man / Zen-Spa (kiosk) / Zumiez apparel
LA TERRAZA FOOD COURT:
Burger King / Burritos / Charley's Grilled Subs / Chilli's Grill & Bar / Church's Chicken / David's Cookies II / Firehouse Subs / Flamers Charbroiled Hamburgers & Chicken / Imperial Chinese / Kelley's Cajun Grill / KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) / Kyoto Japanese Restaurant / Origami -Sushi / Pizza Hut / Sizzler restaurant / Soft & Creamy III / Subway / Taco Bell / The Argentine Grill / The Hot Potato / The Inn / Tierra del Fuego
PR's first -and largest- shopping mall commemorated its Golden Anniversary in September 2018. This commemorative logo ("For 50 More") appeared on the official PLAZA website.
Graphic from www.plazalasamericas.com (website on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
PLAZA LAS AMERICAS
Avenida Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Expreso Las Americas
San Juan (Hato Rey Norte), Puerto Rico
The first fully-enclosed shopping mall in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico -and one of the first in Latin America- was built on a 70-acre parcel, situated 3.6 miles southeast of the San Juan Central Business District.
Acquired by San Juan's Fonalledas Brothers in 1918, the mall site was used for a sugar cane farm and dairy plant between the 1920s and early 1960s. Plans for a regional retail complex, modeled after Atlanta's LENOX SQUARE and Miami's DADELAND CENTER, were being drawn by 1963.
A 35 million dollar shopping mall, encompassing 800,000 leasable square feet, was being developed by Plaza Las Americas, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Empresas Fonalledas, Incorporated. The mall-to-be was designed by the Capacete, Martin & Associates firm, of San Juan, Sacmag of Puerto Rico and Lathrop Douglass, of New York City. Construction commenced in April 1967.
Avenida Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Expreso Las Americas
San Juan (Hato Rey Norte), Puerto Rico
The first fully-enclosed shopping mall in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico -and one of the first in Latin America- was built on a 70-acre parcel, situated 3.6 miles southeast of the San Juan Central Business District.
Acquired by San Juan's Fonalledas Brothers in 1918, the mall site was used for a sugar cane farm and dairy plant between the 1920s and early 1960s. Plans for a regional retail complex, modeled after Atlanta's LENOX SQUARE and Miami's DADELAND CENTER, were being drawn by 1963.
A 35 million dollar shopping mall, encompassing 800,000 leasable square feet, was being developed by Plaza Las Americas, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Empresas Fonalledas, Incorporated. The mall-to-be was designed by the Capacete, Martin & Associates firm, of San Juan, Sacmag of Puerto Rico and Lathrop Douglass, of New York City. Construction commenced in April 1967.
A formal dedication was held on September 12, 1968. Fully climate-controlled, the complex was anchored by a 3-level (261,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, 1-level (76,500 square foot), San Juan-based González Padín ["pa-deen'] and 1-level (22,000 square foot), San Juan-based Velasco ["vay-lahs-koh"].
The PLAZA Penney's was noteworthy for two reasons. It was the chain's first location outside the fifty states and also its second-largest store; the largest being at Concord, California's SUNVALLEY MALL. In October 1971, the PLAZA store moved into the third-largest Penney's position. The 300,000 square foot J.C. Penney at Chicagoland's WOODFIELD MALL was now the chain's largest.
Among the seventy-nine charter tenants at PLAZA LAS AMERICAS were Martha Washington Ice Cream, Gordon's Jewelers, Florsheim Shoes, Zale's Jewelers, Clubman, Marianne Shops, Singer Sewing Center, Rahola Photo, Restaurante Cervantes, Lerner Shops, Thom McAn Shoes and FirstBank.
In addition, there were an in-mall bowling alley, amphitheater, Pueblo supermarket, freestanding Shell gas station and 1-level (48,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 (with Harvest House Cafeteria). The Plaza Theatres (Cines Plaza 1 & 2), which was the first twin cinema on the island, had been dedicated on August 12, 1968.
The PLAZA Penney's was noteworthy for two reasons. It was the chain's first location outside the fifty states and also its second-largest store; the largest being at Concord, California's SUNVALLEY MALL. In October 1971, the PLAZA store moved into the third-largest Penney's position. The 300,000 square foot J.C. Penney at Chicagoland's WOODFIELD MALL was now the chain's largest.
Among the seventy-nine charter tenants at PLAZA LAS AMERICAS were Martha Washington Ice Cream, Gordon's Jewelers, Florsheim Shoes, Zale's Jewelers, Clubman, Marianne Shops, Singer Sewing Center, Rahola Photo, Restaurante Cervantes, Lerner Shops, Thom McAn Shoes and FirstBank.
In addition, there were an in-mall bowling alley, amphitheater, Pueblo supermarket, freestanding Shell gas station and 1-level (48,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 (with Harvest House Cafeteria). The Plaza Theatres (Cines Plaza 1 & 2), which was the first twin cinema on the island, had been dedicated on August 12, 1968.
The shopping center, known to locals as simply "PLAZA," enjoyed a decade-long run as the only major mall in Greater San Juan. In 1978, it faced its first true competitor, PLAZA CAROLINA ["kair-oh-lee-nuh"] {6.5 miles southeast, in Carolina}. By this time, an expansion of PLAZA LAS AMERICAS was underway.
A first phase added the 14-bay La Terraza Food Court, northwest parking garage and over forty inline stores. The addition was anchored by a 3-level (243,200 square foot) Sears, which included a freestanding (36,400 square foot) Auto Center. Sears was dedicated on February 11, 1978. A subsequent construction phase added second and third floors to the existing Velasco building. The Wometco Cines Plaza 3, 4 & 5 multiplex was installed in third floor space (adjacent the new Food Court). When construction dust settled in 1980, the PLAZA mall spanned approximately 1,471,000 leasable square feet, with its retail roster growing to 130.
An interior face lift was completed in 1994, which included an update of the La Terraza Food Court. Moreover, a 9-story medical office tower, the Torre de Plaza, was built atop the North Wing. The mall's parking garage, on its northwest corner, was also enlarged.
By this time, the mall's San Juan-based anchor stores, González Padín and Velasco, were going through various changes. The Velasco chain was acquired by González Padín in December 1991. Arkansas-based Dillard's was poised to purchase the 7-store González Padín chain in July 1995. However, this transaction fell through after Dillard's proposed expansion into Mexico was abandoned. The two anchors at PLAZA were shuttered by the mid-1990s, with their store space repurposed.
In 1996, a 246 million dollar PLAZA renovation was announced. This was to be completed in four phases, with the first consisting of the construction of a new 4-level (300,700 square foot) J.C. Penney. It was built on the west side of the existing store and dedicated on April 15, 1998. Phase Two of the PLAZA renovation entailed repurposing the old Penney's building as 3 levels of inline store and restaurant space. This project was completed in 1999.
Phase Three of the mall expansion was executed during the year 2000. This entailed the addition of a 2-level West Mall concourse. A new theatrical venue, the Caribbean Cinemas Megaplex 10, was also dedicated.
Phase Four consisted of the addition of a new third anchor store. Planned in 1995 to be a branch of Miami-based Burdines, the store wound up sporting a Macy's nameplate. The 3-level (255,000 square foot) unit, the first Macy's outside the fifty states, held its grand opening on October 25, 2000.
The final stage of mall construction entailed a second parking structure, built at the south end of the mall, and a thorough remodeling of existing shopping concourses. With completion of these renovations, the PLAZA encompassed nearly 2 million leasable square feet and housed 250 stores and services.
Renovation continued into the 2010s. The Main Entrance was rebuilt with a dramatic porte-cochère. This structure was adjacent to a new The Cheesecake Factory. This restaurant opened for business on August 28, 2013. The West Wing of the mall and La Terraza Food Court were refurbished. Moreover, the Caribbean Cinemas 10-plex was expanded with two screens.
A first phase added the 14-bay La Terraza Food Court, northwest parking garage and over forty inline stores. The addition was anchored by a 3-level (243,200 square foot) Sears, which included a freestanding (36,400 square foot) Auto Center. Sears was dedicated on February 11, 1978. A subsequent construction phase added second and third floors to the existing Velasco building. The Wometco Cines Plaza 3, 4 & 5 multiplex was installed in third floor space (adjacent the new Food Court). When construction dust settled in 1980, the PLAZA mall spanned approximately 1,471,000 leasable square feet, with its retail roster growing to 130.
An interior face lift was completed in 1994, which included an update of the La Terraza Food Court. Moreover, a 9-story medical office tower, the Torre de Plaza, was built atop the North Wing. The mall's parking garage, on its northwest corner, was also enlarged.
By this time, the mall's San Juan-based anchor stores, González Padín and Velasco, were going through various changes. The Velasco chain was acquired by González Padín in December 1991. Arkansas-based Dillard's was poised to purchase the 7-store González Padín chain in July 1995. However, this transaction fell through after Dillard's proposed expansion into Mexico was abandoned. The two anchors at PLAZA were shuttered by the mid-1990s, with their store space repurposed.
In 1996, a 246 million dollar PLAZA renovation was announced. This was to be completed in four phases, with the first consisting of the construction of a new 4-level (300,700 square foot) J.C. Penney. It was built on the west side of the existing store and dedicated on April 15, 1998. Phase Two of the PLAZA renovation entailed repurposing the old Penney's building as 3 levels of inline store and restaurant space. This project was completed in 1999.
Phase Three of the mall expansion was executed during the year 2000. This entailed the addition of a 2-level West Mall concourse. A new theatrical venue, the Caribbean Cinemas Megaplex 10, was also dedicated.
Phase Four consisted of the addition of a new third anchor store. Planned in 1995 to be a branch of Miami-based Burdines, the store wound up sporting a Macy's nameplate. The 3-level (255,000 square foot) unit, the first Macy's outside the fifty states, held its grand opening on October 25, 2000.
The final stage of mall construction entailed a second parking structure, built at the south end of the mall, and a thorough remodeling of existing shopping concourses. With completion of these renovations, the PLAZA encompassed nearly 2 million leasable square feet and housed 250 stores and services.
Renovation continued into the 2010s. The Main Entrance was rebuilt with a dramatic porte-cochère. This structure was adjacent to a new The Cheesecake Factory. This restaurant opened for business on August 28, 2013. The West Wing of the mall and La Terraza Food Court were refurbished. Moreover, the Caribbean Cinemas 10-plex was expanded with two screens.
Soon after, the PLAZA mall encountered a second potential competitor. MALL OF SAN JUAN {3 miles southeast, in San Juan} featured posh Nordstrom and Saks stores. The complex, officially dedicated in 2015, was hard hit by Hurricane Maria, in September 2017, and by repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic of the early 2020s. As a result, the two MALL OF SAN JUAN anchor stores pulled up stakes.
Meanwhile, a 1-level (44,000 square foot) Sports Authority was built at PLAZA LAS AMERICAS, as part of an expansion of the northwest parking garage. The store welcomed first shoppers on April 5, 2014, but closed -along with the chain- in March 2016. Marshalls set up shop in the vacant space and began business on February 22, 2018.
In the 21st century, PLAZA LAS AMERICAS is still owned and operated by its original developer, the Fonalledas family (under the auspices of Empresas Fonalledas, Incorporated). It is one of the five major malls within United States territory that is still family-owned; the others being SOUTH COAST PLAZA {California}, HILLSDALE CENTER {California}, MERLE HAY MALL {Iowa} and NORTHPARK CENTER {Texas}.
Sources:
The Fort Lauderdale News
Meanwhile, a 1-level (44,000 square foot) Sports Authority was built at PLAZA LAS AMERICAS, as part of an expansion of the northwest parking garage. The store welcomed first shoppers on April 5, 2014, but closed -along with the chain- in March 2016. Marshalls set up shop in the vacant space and began business on February 22, 2018.
In the 21st century, PLAZA LAS AMERICAS is still owned and operated by its original developer, the Fonalledas family (under the auspices of Empresas Fonalledas, Incorporated). It is one of the five major malls within United States territory that is still family-owned; the others being SOUTH COAST PLAZA {California}, HILLSDALE CENTER {California}, MERLE HAY MALL {Iowa} and NORTHPARK CENTER {Texas}.
Sources:
The Fort Lauderdale News
The Record (Hackensack, NJ)
Translations by "Rachel - Winehouse Aesthetics"
Comment posts by "Sings-With-Spirits"
Comment posts by "Sings-With-Spirits"
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"Plaza Las Americas", "Plaza Carolina" and "Mall of San Juan" articles on Wikipedia
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