Seminole Towne Center mall portion closes for good, as redevelopment begins

Seminole Towne Center mall portion closes for good

The mall inside the Seminole Towne Center closed for good Friday night. While the anchor stores, Dick's Sporting Goods; JC Penney; Dillard's and Elev8 Fun will remain, the rest of the mall is slated for redevelopment. Shop owners were given until Jan. 31 to clear out.

SANFORD, Fla. - The mall portion of Seminole Towne Center officially closed its doors on Friday night, ending a chapter for local businesses and shoppers.

End of an era

What we know:

While anchor stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, JC Penney, Dillard's, and Elev8 Fun remain, the rest of the mall is slated for redevelopment.

Shop owners were given until Jan. 31 to clear out their spaces, with some choosing to retire or close their shops permanently. The redevelopment plan includes a mix of shops and apartments, with the potential addition of a Costco.

What we don't know:

Details about the specific timeline for the redevelopment project remain unclear, including when construction will begin or when the new mixed-use development will be completed. It’s also uncertain how the transition will affect surrounding businesses or the community long-term. The final plans for the new stores and amenities have not been fully disclosed.

The backstory:

Seminole Towne Center opened in 1995 and, at its peak, drew large crowds, including over 100,000 visitors on its grand opening day.

Over time, however, the mall struggled, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant decline in foot traffic. Many businesses never recovered from this dip, and some longtime tenants, like John Shin’s John's Heel & Sew, were among the last to close.

Big picture view:

The closure of the Seminole Towne Center’s mall portion reflects broader trends in the retail industry, where malls are increasingly being repurposed or shuttered as consumers shift toward online shopping and demand for traditional retail spaces decreases. It also signals the changing dynamics of local commerce, with new developments likely to alter the area's commercial landscape.

What they're saying:

John Shin, who closed his shop on the final day, reflected, "[I’m] sad but pretty happy," acknowledging both the end of an era and the opportunity for change.

Visitors like one man from Marion County expressed nostalgia for the old mall.

"I have so many memories," he said.

"With all the different amenities and all the things close to it, to kind of just fizzle out is just kind of hurtful," another shopper told us.

Why you should care:

The closure of the Seminole Towne Center marks the end of a significant local landmark, representing a shift in both retail trends and community spaces. For longtime residents and shoppers, the closure may feel like the end of an era, but the proposed mix of new developments could potentially reshape the local economy.

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