ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Orange Park Mall is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades as a staple in the community, employing over 3,000 people and housing 80 small businesses.
While many shops have come and gone, two stores — Zales and Spencer’s — have remained in the same location since the mall first opened in 1975.
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The Orange Park Mall first opened its doors shortly after the Buckman Bridge connected Jacksonville’s Southside to Clay County. But here’s a fun fact: despite its name, the mall is technically outside the official Town of Orange Park, something people enjoyed pointing out to News4JAX while we were completing our research for the story.
Randy Bowman, the mall’s general manager, explained the distinction:
“The town of Orange Park splits off from the county version of Orange Park. The actual dividing line is the railway track. Everything to the right of the track is the town of Orange Park, everything else belongs to the county. The mall is in the part of the county with the Orange Park ZIP code, which is where the name comes from.”
The mall has evolved over the years but remains a go-to shopping destination.
Bath & Body Works Store Manager Cortney McCarter credits strong customer relationships for keeping businesses alive.
“We have a lot of loyal people who keep coming back to the Orange Park Mall,” McCarter said. “I think it partly has to do with our interactions with the customers. We make a great connection, not just in my store, but also with the community in the mall.”
With 187 places to shop, the mall is home to a mix of national chains and local businesses.
One of those locally owned stores is Fashion Dollz Boutique, owned by Stephanie Hoyte, who started her business in her garage before opening a storefront inside the mall.
“I took a leap of faith, and I came to the mall and had my own boutique, Fashion Dollz Boutique,” Hoyte said. “You want your customers to feel special when they walk in. From the designs of the clothing to the smell of the store to the look of the store — it’s everything.”
Hoyte emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses.
“In the mall, there’s diversity. I’m young, I’m a Black business owner, but there are also other business owners in the mall with all different types of businesses,” Hoyte said. “We have to come together more and support each other locally. We travel and buy expensive things, but why can’t we shop with our locals the same way?”
While the mall has been a community hub for decades, it has also seen its share of security concerns, including fights, gunfire incidents, and even evacuations in recent years.
General Manager Randy Bowman says safety remains a top priority.
“We want to protect our tenants, our guests, and the individuals who shop with us,” Bowman said. “We want the over 3,000 employees who work here to feel like, ‘Hey, I’m safe. I can come to work, enjoy it, and leave with no issues.’ We’ve put a lot of resources into making sure people do feel safe.”
A Clay County Sheriff’s officer is stationed outside the mall daily to help maintain security.
The official 50-year milestone for the Orange Park Mall falls on Sept. 24, and the community is invited to celebrate.
The Orange Park High School marching band — which performed when the mall first opened in 1975 — will once again march through the mall to commemorate the occasion. Additional fun activities are planned for shoppers and families.