For nearly six decades, Bal Harbour Shops has stood as the crown jewel of luxury retail — a name synonymous with elegance, exclusivity, and visionary family leadership. Still family-owned and operated, the celebrated open-air shopping destination continues to thrive under Chairman Randall Whitman and President & CEO Matthew Whitman Lazenby, carrying forward the pioneering spirit of founder Stanley Whitman.
What many don’t realize is that Stanley Whitman didn’t just build a luxury shopping center — he invented the concept. When Bal Harbour Shops opened in 1965, the American mall was a completely different world. Shopping centers at the time were filled with hardware stores, dry cleaners, drugstores, and grocery chains. But Whitman had a radical vision, shaped by his early experience managing properties for his mother on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach — then more prestigious than even Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.
He saw what no one else did: that the future of retail would be defined by luxury. Against all convention, he filled Bal Harbour with high-end boutiques and designer names, from Neiman Marcus to Gucci, creating the world’s first truly luxury shopping destination. The success of his model redefined the retail landscape forever, setting the blueprint for every high-end mall that followed — from Rodeo Drive to The Galleria.
Today, the Whitman family continues to honor Stanley’s trailblazing vision. Under Randall and Matthew’s leadership, Bal Harbour Shops remains a benchmark for luxury retail innovation, expansion, and experience — proof that true vision transcends generations.
As Matthew often notes, “Bal Harbour isn’t just a shopping center — it’s the story of a family, a city, and the creation of an entirely new way to experience luxury.”
