Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Florida

Florida has many beautiful locations whether you visit the eastern or western coast. Bal Harbour Florida is minutes from Miami, on the northern tip of the barrier island called Miami Beach. This area is well known for its rich and famous guests and residents. A bridge links Florida with the island. The island became a masterpiece in the 1920's when Robert C. Graham, Walter Briggs, and CT Fisher owned 245 acres of the land. They decided to develop the island, most particularly the Bal Harbour region. The plans took over 20 years to finish, especially because of World War II.

On Bal Harbour there is one of the top fashion locations called Bal Harbour Shops. This shopping area is unlike any other due to the world renowned designers, tropical setting, and innovative creations to be found there. Bal Harbour Shops was started by Stanley Whitman. This was a man with vision. Today three generations of the Whitman family still run the shops, which opened 40 years ago. Stanley Whitman is unofficially retired, yet he still comes to his office each day to help run the company.

The architecture of Bal Harbour Shops combined with the landscape offers a garden like atmosphere. The outdoor mall has two floors, with lush foliage native to Florida and the tropics surrounding it. Orange trees grace the second level mall with palm trees on the ground floor. In 1974 the mall changed from the 1965 image to one of European influence. It is during this era that the mall grew its fashion sense with labels like Gucci, Cote D'Azur, and many more. There are future plans to expand Bal Harbour Shops further by adding a third floor, a hotel, and more retail space for the younger fashion shoppers.

New stores have been added to Bal Harbour in recent years and months. The stores recently added are 100% Capri, De Beers, DVF, Eie Tchari, Emenegildo Zenga, Custa Barcelona, Barpoint, and Carolina Herrara. These shops just add to the hundred that already exist. A pea in the pod, Addict, Agent Provocateur, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Gap,Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, Lora Piana, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sergio Rossi are a few other shops in the mall.

All of the shops are considered couture and the height of fashion. The entire mall is filled with sophistication, making the shopping experience a truly pleasant one. Restaurants at Bal Harbour Shops range from the typical food court to more elegant dining experiences. The restaurants include Carpaccio, La Goulue, Lea's Tea Room and Bistro, Santa Fe News and Espresso, Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Cafe, and the Newsstand by Books and Books.

Bal Harbour Shops is known as the place to go and be seen. Each year the mall hosts events for their shoppers to enjoy. For example an upcoming event is the Fitness meets Fashion Event with SoBeFit Magazine in attendance, as well as silent auctions, shop grand openings or re-openings, and fundraisers for research. Bal Harbour Shops are continuing to add new shopping experiences each year.