It’s not trendy; it’s timeless. It’s not of the moment; it’s enduring. Sixty years ago, Bal Harbour Shops debuted an entirely new retail concept—a destination.
It’s our diamond anniversary, and you better believe we’re going to shine bright. Stay tuned as we prepare to celebrate six decades of being unapologetically BHS.
All eyes on Bal Harbour, the little seaside town that proved high fashion could thrive outside of Paris and New York. From the very beginning, founder Stanley Whitman did what no one else would dare to. At a time when open-air luxury retail was unheard of, Bal Harbour Shops set a new standard—combining visionary design, high fashion, and a destination-driven experience. The Shops is a tropical oasis of luxury retail set amongst the palms, where ponds are animated with beloved koi and turtles. Imagine forfeiting revenue-generating square-footage in the name of the client experience? Whitman placed the client first, and that remains his legacy.
By the 1980s, Bal Harbour Shops had become the highest-grossing retail center in the world, proving that high fashion could thrive outside New York and Paris. It redefined the luxury shopping experience, setting the blueprint for future retail destinations and remaining the ultimate symbol of aspirational elegance.
Over the decades, the Shops touted many firsts: the first Neiman Marcus store outside of Texas (1971), the first to house Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus under one roof (1976); when Gucci opened (1977) Bal Harbour Shops was its first “mall” location; and many more boundary-breaking moments.
But, perhaps the feather in the cap moment was in 1984 when, just two weeks after being presented at the Paris collections, 16 leading couture and ready to wear designers—including Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Dior, Guy Laroche, Courrèges, and Kenzo—presented a fashion show at the inaugural Gala Bal Harbour. This was the first time ever that the collections were shown in the US ahead of being shown in New York. “Move Over New York: Couturiers from France Like Bal Harbour” declared the Wall Street Journal, while another headline declared “Bal Harbour Shops had pulled off one of the biggest coups of the year.”
For more on the history of Bal Harbour Shops click the link in bio.
Meet me at Makoto. For decades, people-watching from just the right restaurant perch at Bal Harbour Shops has been a rite of passage—if you can snag the table. Dining at Bal Harbour Shops isn’t merely a meal, it’s an al fresco affair.
With its generations of patrons who have a deeply emotional connection to the Shops, it has been the location of choice for the most memorable moments: proposals, graduations, birthdays, and the almighty power lunch alike. After all, some of our best moments happen around a table; founder Stanley Whitman knew this, too, and for nearly 50 years he had his lunch at the Shops with his son Randy, and eventually grandson Matthew, joined the table.
When you’re dining at the Shops, you linger. Nobody comes here for a quick bite. You engage, you laugh, you indulge. It’s a nearly lost art form, but the languorous lunch is alive and well at Bal Harbour Shops. Celebrities linger unbothered, tastemakers, power brokers, first-timers, and first-name only habitués all have their place here. Yesterday’s Coco’s is today’s Carpaccio.
If our tables could talk… they’d need to sign an NDA!
For more on the history of Bal Harbour Shops click the link in bio.
