The Largest Luxury Pop-Up Ever! Descends on Palm Beach
Often referred to as the “Walt Disney of Retail,” Stanley Whitman had glamour on the mind when he opened Florida’s first exclusive, high-fashion shopping center at the age of 47 in 1965. The strapping Duke University grad and Navy vet was one of 25 people who had originally incorporated what would become the glittering village of Bal Harbour back in 1946. His father,
William Whitman, had owned a highly successful Chicago printing company in addition to real estate properties in the Miami area, and young Stanley grew up in Miami Beach with his mother
Leona, and brothers Bill and Dudley, in a single-family home on the oceanfront side of Collins Avenue at 32nd Street (currently the site of the Faena Hotel Miami Beach).
Stanley F. Whitman and his son, Randall, Chairman of Whitman Family Development, LLC, in 2004 at Bal Harbour Shops in Bal Harbour, Florida. (Photo by Richard Patterson/New York Times)
While at Duke, Whitman met his future bride, Dorothy “Dottie” Stivers Whitman—a skilled athlete and elected May Queen who shared his same birthday—and the young couple were married during the war on August 11, 1942. Upon returning from WW2, Stanley Whitman assumed responsibility for one of the family’s Miami Beach properties on Lincoln Road. In the 1920s that property had been one of the hottest shopping districts, often referred to as the “Fifth Avenue of the South”. Hoping to revive its original spirit of grandeur, Whitman also acquired 16 acres of abandoned Army barracks on the northern tip of Miami Beach for a whopping $2 per square foot (considered a record-high price for retail property at the time he bought it in 1957) for what would become the future location of Bal Harbour Shops. Many doubted the young entrepreneur’s ambitious plans, but Stanley stuck to his vision with Dottie remaining steadfast by his side.
Bal Harbour Shops’ founder, Stanley F. Whitman (left), with his parents and younger brother, Dudley, circa 1926.
(Courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops)
Defying the conventional wisdom of enclosed, air-conditioned malls, Whitman and architect Herb Johnson built a two-story structure with balconies and open-air “streets” surrounded by bight tropical foliage, sculptures, fountains and koi ponds—even including palm trees for shade in parking lots. Whitman wanted to give Bal Harbour Shops the feel of an exclusive private club. While typical “malls” of the time included supermarkets, convenience stores or discount stores, Whitman aimed to achieve something much more high-end. Upon Bal Harbour’s opening in 1965, stores included FAO Schwarz, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Martha’s—one of the most influential international women’s salons known for hosting fashion shows with Valentino and Oscar de la Renta (two designers that would later open their own boutiques at Bal Harbour). In 1971, Neiman Marcus opened its first store ever outside of Texas as an anchor tenant at one end of the BHS complex, and in 1976 Saks Fifth Avenue followed suit at the other end. Early European Designer store openings included YSL, Gucci, Cartier, Versace and Chanel. In 1982 a 100,000-square-foot second level was added to the shopping center to accommodate the demand for more retail space from a multitude of lofty luxury brands.
Open-air dining and shopping at Bal Harbour Shops in Bal Harbour, Florida. (Courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops)
As Bal Harbour Shops continued to expand, Stanley Whitman became well-known throughout Florida for his generosity, philanthropy and contributions to his surrounding community. “The civic stuff is the root of what I’m all about,” he would say, noting his efforts in pushing through the construction of I-95 in the Sixties. Today, this “Shopping Hall of Fame” is home to more than 100 of the world’s most famous and most luxurious fashion and jewelry brands. Bal Harbour remains family-owned, with Stanley Whitman’s son, Randall Whitman, as acting chairman of Whitman Family Development, and grandson, Matthew Whitman Lazenby, at its helm as president and CEO.
Stanley Whitman’s grandson, Matthew Whitman Lazenby, fourth-generation leader of the family-owned business. (Courtesy of Bal Harbour Shops)
Recently, Bal Harbour introduced the idea of offering destination cities a taste of its unique luxury shopping experience with its Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up The largest pop-up ever to be conceived, it is currently located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach at CityPlace from November 15 until January 15, with operating hours 11am-8pm. “The branded pop-up will include covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy, and a fine dining restaurant called The Whitman that will seat 150 people, with a full bar and lounge,” the brand said in its initial statement. “The environment will showcase Bal Harbour Shops’ palm-tree motif and garden-like bright green monstera leaf signature design. Koi ponds, fountains and planters filled with lush greenery, plus piped-in music will help bring the entire tropical, zen-like atmosphere of Bal Harbour Shops to life.”
Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up Tour is the first ever “pop-up “of its size, consisting of 30 individually designed, custom-built boutiques, fashioned in black and white with glass storefronts—each ranging in size from 250- 640 sq. feet. Brands include Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Etro, Assouline, Addict, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Scanlan Theodore and Golden Goose, among others. “We’re thrilled to bring the tropical, luxury shopping and dining experience of Bal Harbour to West Palm for the first time,” said Matthew Whitman Lazenby. “With this roving pop-up, we introduce a new and innovative solution at the crossroads of high-touch personal service and high-tech logistics to deliver on our mission and impact and impress our guests with our distinct level of excellence.”
Léa Rose and Jordan Kanegis (cousin of Gwyneth Paltrow) at a launch party for Kanegis’ Killer Agency at Bal Harbour Pop-Up. (Photo by Emma Trivunovic)
So far the luxury Pop-Up has hosted a number of refined charity lunches, including ones in support of Hope For Depression Research Foundation and What2WearWhere’s Anniversary in support of Red Sneakers for Oakley, in addition to a series of dynamic dinners that have played host to creatives, tastemakers, models and influencers including top model Roos De Kok, podcast host Payton Sartain and Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Joe Ross, among others. Open from 11am-8pm, the Pop-Up will remain at CityPlace until January 15. All are welcoe to visit the shops, and visitors are encouraged to join Bal Harbour’s Access Membership & Rewards program—a complimentary loyalty program providing access to exclusive offerings, benefits and special luxury experiences.
A view of a dinner party at Bal Harbour Shops’ All Access Pop-Up celebrating the launch of Jordan Kanegis’ new talent management company, The Killer Agency, which just opened new offices in West Palm Beach.