Bal Harbour Shops Opens 200,000-Square-Foot West Shops Expansion In Bal Harbour

Bal Harbour Shops has opened its 200,000-square-foot West Shops expansion in Bal Harbour, Florida, adding retail and dining space to the open-air shopping destination as it marks its 60th anniversary. Developed by Whitman Family Development, the new wing is fully leased and will accommodate 30 luxury boutiques and flagship stores, with individual store openings scheduled to continue through 2028.

The West Shops expansion introduces new retailers to Bal Harbour Shops, including Tom Ford, KHAITE, Elie Saab, and Boucheron. These brands will join an existing tenant roster that includes Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Brioni. The expansion also provides additional space for existing tenants seeking to relocate into larger storefronts.

Credit: Bal Harbour Shops

The opening comes six decades after the Whitman family established Bal Harbour Shops. According to figures provided by the ownership, the property currently generates between $2,000 and $3,000 in annual sales per square foot, with gross annual sales approaching $1 billion, representing a 35 percent increase since 2020. Customers visit an average of at least 19 times annually and spend approximately two hours on the property per visit, while international visitors have historically accounted for approximately 50 percent of foot traffic.

“Bal Harbour Shops has been defined by a commitment to quality, experience, community, and, above all else, to our customers for more than sixty years. As our customers evolve, we are evolving with them in a way that feels natural and necessary,” said Matthew Whitman Lazenby, president and CEO of Whitman Family Development. “The addition of the West Shops is thoughtful and consistent with how we’ve operated for generations. This expansion is creating opportunity for new brands to join Bal Harbour Shops and making room for existing brands to relocate into larger spaces that reflect the scale and ambition of their businesses. The result is more opportunities for us to connect with our customers on an emotional level.”

Credit: Bal Harbour Shops

The expansion also introduces additional dining establishments, including the return of China Grill, an Asian-fusion restaurant founded by Jeffrey Chodorow. Slim’s, a restaurant concept from Stephen Starr, opened earlier this year. These additions complement existing restaurants such as Carpaccio, Makoto, and Avenue 31 cafe, which collectively contribute to approximately $70 million in annual dining revenue at Bal Harbour Shops.

Whitman Family Development is also pursuing a separate mixed-use expansion that would introduce market-rate residences, a boutique hotel, additional retail space, and hundreds of rental apartments intended for the local workforce. The proposed residential component would serve workers across several sectors, including first responders, teachers, municipal employees, and service, retail, and hospitality workers.

The workforce housing component is being proposed under Florida’s Live Local Act, enacted in 2023 to encourage affordable housing development statewide through zoning incentives and streamlined approval provisions for qualifying projects. The legislation provides a framework for incorporating qualifying affordable housing into developments on eligible properties.

“Our proposed plans for workforce housing at Bal Harbour Shops, reflect the same care, beauty, and architectural intention that define every other square foot of our community,” added Matthew Whitman Lazenby. “Ensuring that people who work in this community can actually afford to live here isn’t just the right thing to do; it is the only way to protect the legacy we’ve spent decades building in the Village of Bal Harbour.”

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