1940s
1946
1946 Bal Harbour waterfront lots
Bal Harbour Village was established with just 25 residents living in former WWII Army Barracks that were repurposed as apartments. Bal Harbour Shops Founder Stanley Whitman was among them, and in the coming years, Whitman would be influential in the community, helping to acquire a new zip code, traffic plans, landscaping and beach restoration, and more. Just shy of 20 years later, that same plot of land would become the site of Bal Harbour Shops.
Image credit: Bal Harbour Village sales billboard. Image courtesy of The Miami News Collection, HistoryMiami.
1950s
1954-1962
1954 to 1962 timeline
Founder Stanley Whitman embarks on a cross-country exploration, studying shopping centers to glean what he wanted, and didn’t want, for his Bal Harbour Shops. This included everything from maximizing square footage of the narrow plot of land, to design and innovations that would make his center unique.
Image credit: Some of the shopping centers visited by Founder Stanley Whitman and the Grahams, c. 1950. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1960s
1965
BHS Ground breaking
Bal Harbour Shops ground breaking ceremony takes place on the building site on January 5th, 1965. Founder Stanley Whitman is accompanied by his family. Additional officials in attendance included, Bal Harbour Village founder Robert C. Graham and Willard Webb, the first Bal Harbour Village manager.
Image credit: The Whitman family (left to right): Dottie, Stanley, Leona, Gwen, Barbara, Dolly, and Bill. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1965 billboard
Bal Harbour Shops officially opens on November 26th, 1965 as the first all-luxury fashion shopping center. FAO Schwarz, Martha’s, Maus Hoffman, and Abercrombie & Fitch were among the inaugural collection of stores.
Image credit: A first billboard for Bal Harbour Shops featuring its 1965-1966 leasing campaign: “For the fashion point of view. Visit The Exciting New Fashion Center Bal Harbour Shops”. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1970s
1971
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus opens at Bal Harbour Shops, the department store’s first location outside its native Texas.
Image credit: The Neiman Marcus exterior facade on Collins Avenue. Photo by ©Ezra Stoller/ESTO.
1970s
1972
Man of the year
In February 1972, Founder Stanley Whitman was named Man of the Year for his immense contribution to shaping prosperous growth within the city of Miami. He was awarded at the Interama Chamber of Commerce annual banquet at the Americana Hotel.
Image credit: The Whitman Family (left to right): Randy, Dorothy, Stanley, Leona (Stanley’s mother), and Gwen. Miami Herald article, 1972. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1970s
1974
Randy Whitman
Whitman's son Randy, joins the business as the leasing agent and managing partner. He currently serves as chairman of Whitman Family Development, LLC, the parent company of Bal Harbour Shops.
Image credit: Portrait of Randy Whitman. Photo by Pascal Ollinger.
1970s
1976
Saks Fifth Avenue letter
Saks Fifth Avenue opens, making Bal Harbour Shops the first shopping destination to have both Saks and Neiman Marcus as anchor stores.
Image credit: Left Image: A letter addressed “Dear Genius” to Founder Stanley Whitman from Chess Lagomarsino with words of admiration and congratulations regarding Saks Fifth Avenue opening at Bal Harbour Shops, dated May 20, 1976. Right Image: Shopper strolling in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. Images courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1970s
1977
Gucci boutique
Founder Stanley Whitman signs a deal with Dr. Aldo Gucci on September 15th, 1977 to open Gucci at Bal Harbour Shops—the first Gucci flagship store to be situated inside a “mall.” Gucci has remained a tenant ever since.
Image credit: Sun Reporter article dated September 15, 1977 featuring an image of Stanley Whitman and Dr. Aldo Gucci shaking hands with the headline “It’s a deal...”. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.
1980s
1983
1983 escalator
Bal Harbour Shops adds a second level to the Shops with 100,000 square feet (about the area of a Manhattan city block) of retail space. Randy Whitman introduces numerous European designer boutiques to the South Florida retail market.
Image credit: Escalators to the new second level, 1986. Image courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops Archive Collection.

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If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Miu Miu’s burnt-orange bags, Rene Caovilla’s new Fairy sandals, vibrant scents from Diptyque, and divine pastries from Avenue 31 Café—they’re all here, at Bal Harbour Shops.

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Open post by balharbourshops with ID 18023023403722945
If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Miu Miu’s burnt-orange bags, Rene Caovilla’s new Fairy sandals, vibrant scents from Diptyque, and divine pastries from Avenue 31 Café—they’re all here, at Bal Harbour Shops.

From August 6th to August 27th *Dates subject to change*, the main entrance/exit at 9800 Collins Avenue on the North side of the Shops will be CLOSED (Mon.-Fri. 6:00AM-6:00PM). Please only use the 96th Street parking garage during this time. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Reminder: Fully registered Access members have unlimited complimentary standard valet located on the GREEN LEVEL. Not a fully registered member? Click the link in bio to join and complete your profile today.

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Open post by balharbourshops with ID 18081329956733389
From August 6th to August 27th *Dates subject to change*, the main entrance/exit at 9800 Collins Avenue on the North side of the Shops will be CLOSED (Mon.-Fri. 6:00AM-6:00PM). Please only use the 96th Street parking garage during this time. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Reminder: Fully registered Access members have unlimited complimentary standard valet located on the GREEN LEVEL. Not a fully registered member? Click the link in bio to join and complete your profile today.
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