Saturday, February 8, 2014

Rise and fall of the mall: Palm Beach Outlets opens Friday as... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

This piece from the Palm Beach Post presents a good retrospective of Palm Beach County history, especially as it relates to commercial/retail development. Palm Coast Plaza is mentioned as the first major shopping center outside of downtown West Palm Beach. It is a shadow of its former self now, but still houses a Winn-Dixie which many still go to just over the line from Lake Worth. Click title for link.
From the days Clematis Street had the Comeau Building arcade and nearby Harris Building and Via Jardin, shoppers have looked for a variety of stores, some protection from the weather and a snack to keep going. How people live and shop has changed from those days, and the retail establishments built in Palm Beach County reflect those cultural changes.