Shopping malls across America have been left in a state that not even Paul Blart could save, and the Lakeland area is no exception.
Known as “dead malls,” these abandoned, dilapidated, or mostly vacant shopping centers have become a subject of fascination — especially thanks to the online popularity of liminal space aesthetics.
🛍️ Let’s go to the mall
You likely won’t find much on what was Polk County’s first-ever shopping mall. Lake Parker Mall, once anchored by Montgomery Ward and Woolco, was renamed Lakeland Mall in 1974 before losing its anchors in the 1990s and sitting empty for years. Eventually, the entire mall was purchased by a Southern Baptist church.
Just outside of Lakeland, Winter Haven Mall was once in its heyday. The indoor mall was built in the early ‘70s with anchors such as Sears, Byrons, and Burdines. By the late ‘90s, however, Winter Haven Mall had lost popularity — the mall was torn down and redeveloped into an outdoor shopping area called Citi Centre in the early 2000s.
☄️ Back to the future
Originally known by locals as “Church at the Mall,” the former Lake Parker Mall is now called “Lakes Church” due to the church’s expansion to other locations. The mall is still home to Lakes Church today.
As Citi Centre, the former Winter Haven Mall site now consists of a Lowe’s home improvement store + several other restaurants and shops.
Though these malls have changed, Lakeland still has a number of other thriving shopping centers or districts where you can make like *NSYNC and buy, buy, buy:
- Lakeside Village | This outdoor shopping center is constantly adding new shops and restaurants to its offerings and also regularly hosts events like the Second Sunday Market.
- Lakeland Square Mall | Anchored by tenants like Dillard’s and JCPenney, this indoor mall located off I-4 in north Lakeland has been serving Lakelanders since 1988.
🕰️ Blast from the past
Do you have memories of a local mall from back in the day? Share them with us and we may feature your story: First date at the food court, trying on prom dresses at the department store, hitting up Orange Julius before picking up the perfect graphic tee at Hot Topic — we wanna hear it all. Here’s what a few readers remember.
“The old Lakeland Mall had a theater in it! It was awesome!” — Reader Alison T.
“On Saturdays, my dad and I would go to Winter Haven Mall and play pinball and other games in the arcade called Barrel of Fun. The entrance was a cut out barrel. It was just the two of us making memories and trying to out play the other.” — Reader JL
“The best memories with my grandma and mom having girl’s days and shopping when I was very young.” — @taylormadefloraldesign
“When I first moved to Lakeland in 1980, I worked at Spec’s Music.” — Reader Neva E.
“I remember ordering my class ring (class of 1977) from Zales jewelers. My dad shopped with me as a teenager at Montgomery Ward. I wanted two different sweaters. He bought both of them for me. I still have the white cardigan in my closet! My first job out of high school was at Montgomery Ward. The Army recruiter was located outside the entrance to Ward. I joined the Army, went to Germany and met my soldier husband there. All this happened because of the mall being there!” — Reader Jean B.
