Miracle City Mall: Titusville, Florida on DeadMalls.com

MIRACLE CITY MALL: TITUSVILLE, FL

Dan Reigada's Commentary

Posted January 28, 2006 (user submitted)

Miracle City Mall isnt quite completely dead, but it is getting pretty close. I lived in Titusville for a while and now visit family there regularly. When I was going to high school there in the late 1980's, Miracle City Mall was a pretty viable mall, although small. It had 2 anchors (Belk Lindsey and JCPenney) and I think around 50 stores in total. There was an arcade there called 'Barrel of Fun' which was very popular among teenagers back then . . .the arcade entrance was shaped like a barrel. There was a record store, clothing stores, shoe stores, etc. Also, on the outside of the mall were several outlying buildings, one of which housed a Sadie's cafeteria (later Morrison's). I remember that me and my brother both got very ill after eating there in '87 or '88. Another outlying building housed a 2 screen movie theater, and a Radio Shack.

At night, the mall's parking lot was a popular hangout for young people and their custom cars and trucks (back in the late 80s/early 90s).

The mall is now a shadow of it's former self. I visited the mall last month, and Belk Lindsey (later Belk's) has left the mall, leaving only JCPenney's as the lone anchor. The maintenance in the mall has definitely slipped. There appear to be problems with the ceiling, which is very stained and mildewed. Only a few stores are left. . . . including Waldenbooks, a men's clothing store, among just a few others. There's an orange-julius-type stand called "Dave's" in the middle of the mall (which used to be an orange julius back in the day). The remarkable thing is that the same guy has been working at that orange julius (now Dave's) since I first lived in Titusville in 1987. And I've heard hes been there much longer than that too. Seems like a very nice guy and he's been there forever.

All of the outlying stores have been abandonded. Sadies cafeteria is an empty building. . . .and the other building which used to house the movie theater is empty as well. The mall seems empty and neglected. . . . but a good place to go if youre after some peace and quiet.

I believe the mall opened in the 1960s and was named Miracle City because Titusvile was growing so fast back then it was a 'Miracle City'. I always thought they could have picked a better name for it.

What is killing the mall? Wal-Mart probably had a lot to do with it. Wal Mart opened a Super Center in town in 1995, which is always packed. Also, I think that many Titusville area residents prefer to go to places like Orlando for serious shopping. Third, I think that when they opened a 7 screen movie theater in the city's other half-dead mall , Searstown, in 1989, that killed a lot of business at Miracle City Mall(and certainly from its theater).

I'm not sure what the future may hold for Miracle City, or its property. It has a good location right on US 1, with the Indian River right across the street, and a distant view of the space center. So far, the mall's death has been slow and painful.

Tony Evans’s Commentary:

User submitted Dec 2008

As of November 2008, Miracle City Mall is still barely hanging on. The JC Penneys is not doing badly, but the rest of the mall has been pretty much abandoned except for a Waldenbooks, a men's clothing store, and some offices. There are plans to demolish the mall and redevelop the property as a large mixed-use commercial/business/residential complex, but the 2008 property market collapse has put those plans on indefinite hold. The Orange Julius stand referenced in the previous article has been re-named Dave's Hot Dogs, but is still being run by the same guy who has been there since the early 1970s.

Bob Socks’s Commentary:

User submitted Jan 2008

I was the original owner of the Orange Julius (referred to as Dave's) and opened the OJ in November of 1968, leased it to Dave's father Al Curfman in 1971, and Al bought it from me in 1976. It was one of the best deals I ever made. Your comments about Miracle City Mall being named because of the city growing so fast is true, and for a number of years, the mall was thriving. But that has all changed. The competing mall, Searstown Mall, about 1/2 mile to the south, is now 100% full, and just recently, Miracle City Mall lost two more of its tenants, the men's shop and the Art shop (both moved to Searstown Mall). Among our famous visitors over the years, Hubert Humphrey stopped at the mall as he was running for president, and a regular was Johnny Weismiller
of swimming fame (Tarzan) who came to the Walgreens liquor store daily for a bottle of hootch.

I ran the Orange Julius for two years, then got hired away by Walgreens where I worked for 10 years, taking an early out and opening my own retail business away from the mall.

With the real estate market in the tank, I don't see anything happenning at Miracle City for a few years, but the plans they have are very exciting, if one can live that long to see the plans come to fruition.

I have the original prospectus on Miracle City Mall and it makes for interesting reading. I would be happy to share it with anybody interested. Thanks, Bob Socks, Titusville, Fl.

Reig’s Commentary:

User submitted Jun 2006

Here is a picture of an outlying building in the parking lot of Miracle
City Mall in Titusville, FL. This abandoned building used to be a Sadie's
Cafeteria, and then a Morrison's Cafeteria, before closing for good sometime in
the early - mid 1990's. As you can see, the mall has lots of free parking
!

Dan Reigada

Reig’s Commentary:

User submitted Jun 2006

An exterior shot of Miracle City Mall in Titusville, FL. This used to be a
Carvel's circa late - 80s.

Reig’s Commentary:

User submitted Jun 2006

Another interior picture of Miracle City Mall in Titusville, FL. Like I
said, a goodplace to go if you're after some peace and quiet.

Dan Reigada

Reig’s Commentary:

User submitted Jun 2006

Here is a picture of the interior of Miracle City Mall in Titusville FL.
This was taken Memorial Day Weekend, 2006. Believe it or not, the mall was open
when this picture was taken.

Dan Reigada

Reig’s Commentary:

User submitted Jun 2006

Here is a picture of one of the entrances to Miracle City Mall in
Titusville, FL. I'm Dan Reigada.

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Dan Reigada's Commentary

Lynsey Lou’s Commentary:

Daniel Evans’ Commentary:

Tony Evans’s Commentary:

Bob Socks’s Commentary:

Reig’s Commentary:

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