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)
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"Plaza Las Americas", "Plaza Carolina" and "Mall of San Juan" articles on Wikipedia
