By Rebecca Wallwork
What is the coastal Florida village of Bal Harbour without its lushly landscaped retail haven of shops? Sixty years ago, it took a bold vision to assess the site of a derelict World War II army barracks and imagine something much more glamorous. That vision—and the wherewithal to carry it out—belonged to Stanley Whitman, who moved to Bal Harbour in 1946 and had been involved in the village’s development. Defying naysayers, who claimed he could never lure high-end fashion brands to the open-air site, Whitman went on to create an iconic destination that continues to evolve. Now under the stewardship of his grandson, Matthew Whitman Lazenby, the current president and CEO of Whitman Family Development LLC oversees Bal Harbour Shops and also helped develop Miami’s Brickell City Centre.
Stanley Whitman believed in taking smart, calculated—but never reckless—risks, says his grandson. “When he was in his 90s, he told me he used to play bridge and poker, but once he got into real estate development, he couldn’t gamble anymore, because the stakes just weren’t high enough.”
A milestone for the fledgling Bal Harbour Shops came in 1971, when Whitman persuaded Neiman Marcus to open its first location outside Texas. “My grandfather’s will was unstoppable,” says Lazenby. “He was repeatedly rejected—turned away from boardrooms at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s—but he was dead-set on building a center anchored by Neiman on one end and Saks on the other. At the time, that was considered impossible: Neiman had vowed never to leave Texas, and Saks had promised never to enter it. But he convinced Neiman to break that agreement and Saks followed in 1976.”
The tropical allure of Bal Harbour Shops also attracted luxury designer boutiques that could previously only be found in New York City or Paris. By 2006, it featured America’s highest concentration of luxury jewelry and watch brands, with outposts of Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard and Tiffany & Co., among others.
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bal Harbour Shops, a lavish celebration honoring its history is planned for November, with more initiatives planned throughout the year. Advancing Stanley Whitman’s vision is also key to this milestone. A retail expansion will open in April 2026, and plans for a hotel, office and residential components are currently under consideration. “We’re evolving into a true 24/7 destination—where people don’t just shop, but live, work and stay. That’s the full realization of Stanley’s vision, even if it’s something my children or grandchildren may be the ones to complete,” says Lazenby.
While this ongoing development is rooted in keen business acumen, it’s something much more personal that brings fashionistas and diners back to Bal Harbour Shops again and again. “It’s the emotional connection,” says Lazenby. “People have grown genuinely attached to it. My grandfather used to say you could build a moat around it and fill it with alligators, and people would still come.”
balharbourshops.com