Those who have visited Bal Harbour Shops will know there’s nowhere quite like it. Teeming with tropical plants and orchids, the exclusive open-air mall has garnered a loyal following since opening its doors back in 1965.
Now, the Miami-based shopping center has launched its first-ever Access Pop-Up, bringing a collection of its luxury brands on a multi-city tour. First stop? The North Hills neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Running through late January in Raleigh, the Access Pop-Up will move across the southeast, stopping for six-week stints at a series of destinations Bal Harbour Shops has identified as lacking high-end shopping experiences. Plans for the next locations include Tequesta in Palm Beach County, Walton County on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast and Greenville, South Carolina.
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Crafted from 30 shipping containers, the 17,000-sq-ft pop-up features covered walkways and a retractable canopy so visitors can shop come rain or shine. Among the upscale boutiques included are Tiffany & Co, Frette, James Perse, and Assouline.
And while shipping containers might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think luxury, the shops are surprisingly spacious with glass fronts filling the custom-built containers with natural light.
Shopping isn’t the only draw either; Bal Harbour Shops’s traveling retail activation is also home to The Whitman – a gourmet fine dining restaurant named after the mall’s founder, Stanley Whitman, complete with a stylish bar and lounge.
In a nod to the Miami flagship destination, the Access Pop-Up has been kitted out with Koi ponds, fountains and lush green plants for an Instagram-worthy vibe.
“We’re excited about bringing the ‘tropical’ luxury shopping and dining experience for which we are known the world over outside of Bal Harbour for the first time in our nearly 60-year history,” said Matthew Whitman Lazenby, president and chief executive officer of Whitman Family Development.
“Our loyal customer expects only the finest and most exclusive retailers, the most up-to-date fashion, and of course, an inimitable al fresco dining experience to enjoy the moment with others.”
The decision to launch the traveling pop-up retail experience comes after Bal Harbour Shops launched a $500m expansion plan that will see the Miami mall double its size.
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