Malls become experience-driven lifestyle destinations

South Florida lifestyle centers are moving toward a more immersive, driven experience that goes beyond traditional retail.

The most successful lifestyle destinations and malls are those that evolve into immersive gathering places, where the emphasis is as much on community and experience as it is on shopping, said Eric Dinenberg, the chief operating officer of Seritage Growth Properties, behind the newly opened Esplanade at Aventura Mall.

“At Esplanade at Aventura, we’re creating an experience-driven destination that goes beyond traditional retail. Guests today are looking for places where they can spend time, connect, and discover something new with each visit,” he said. “By blending chef-driven dining, fashion, wellness, and entertainment in a walkable, open-air setting, we’re reshaping how people engage with lifestyle destinations in South Florida.”

The 215,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor center is blending shopping, dining, wellness, and culture in a way that feels more like a community hub than a traditional center, Mr. Dinenberg said. Throughout the year, he said, Esplanade will combine family-friendly event activations, top-tier dining, wellness-focused spaces, and, of course, next-level retail offerings.

“The tenant mixture is curated to reflect how people live today, exemplifying this shift and positioning Aventura as a model for how mixed-use destinations can meet the expectations of today’s consumers,” he added.

Puttshack, which offers a tech-infused mini golf experience, will be elevating gameplay with its second location at Dania Pointe in Dania Beach.

With an already well-established location at Brickell City Centre’s top floor, the gaming, entertainment, and dining venue is also seeing how unique experiences are attracting more than just typical shoppers, said Susan Walmesley, board member and CMO of Puttshack.

Along with the Brickell location, the new Dania Beach location reflects what South Florida is all about: vibrant, social, and full of energy, she said.

“We can’t really rely on just retail anymore. Now, lifestyle destinations need to have the retail, food and beverage, and then some sort of entertainment, all in one location,” she added. “The nice thing about being in a development like Brickell City Centre and Dania Pointe is that it’s a destination for people, for retail and entertainment, but also you have people that live right here and could easily walk to our locations. I think we are seeing this in a lot of the malls across the US, actually internationally as well. As retail is shrinking in malls, they’re looking for ways to drive people to their locations, and so it really comes down to entertainment.”

At both locations, Puttshack is also implementing initiatives that are designed to create more engagement and attract a wider range of guests beyond standard mini-golf play.

“There are several plans in place to expand the mini-golf offerings beyond traditional gameplay. We are actively working on introducing tournament and league options,” Ms. Walmesley said. “These strategies reflect a flexible approach, adapting the venue’s offerings to the unique characteristics and preferences of each location’s clientele.”