Whitman Family Development

Our History

Whitman Family Development is a family-owned real estate company specializing in high-end retail, management, and leasing. Our story began in the 1940s when Stanley Whitman and his family moved to the future site of Bal Harbour Shops to assist with the incorporation of Bal Harbour Village, one of the first planned municipalities in South Florida. Over the years, the Whitman family played a significant role in the community, contributing to various improvements such as acquiring a new zip code, traffic plans, landscaping, beach restoration, and more.

Early Years

In the 1950s, Stanley Whitman began studying shopping centers across the United States to understand what would maximize the square footage of the land and what new innovations would make his shopping center unique. He hired top designers and eventually selected Herb Johnson, a Miami-based firm, to design Bal Harbour Shops. The center opened in 1965 as the first all-luxury fashion shopping center, featuring FAO Schwartz, Martha's Maus Hoffman, and Abercrombie & Fitch among its inaugural stores.

Expansion and Success

The 1970s saw significant growth, with Neiman Marcus opening its first location outside Texas and Saks Fifth Avenue joining, making Bal Harbour Shops the first location to have both Saks and Neiman Marcus as anchor stores. The center continued to thrive, introducing European designer boutiques to South Florida and reaching total sales of $300 million by the end of the decade. The 1980s and 1990s saw further expansion, with the addition of new stores and a second level of retail space, further solidifying Bal Harbour Shops' position as a premier luxury retail destination.

Modern Era

In the 2000s, the center underwent a multimillion-dollar redesign, which included setting back new store fronts on the second level to create a spacious promenade and establishing a Barbara Neijna Sculpture garden and fountains. This innovative approach created a unique retail experience and earned Bal Harbour Shops recognition as America's highest concentration of luxury jewelry and watch brands. Today, the center continues to evolve, offering a variety of services and amenities that cater to the needs of its discerning clientele.