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Gulf View Square Mall
Category: Shopping Shopping Centers Shopping Centers [Edit]
9409 US Hwy 19Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 848-3858
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
6 reviews for Gulf View Square Mall
6 reviews in English
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Review from Cher T.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have lived within two miles of this mall for the past 15 years.
Let me tell you how many times I have entered this mall in the past 15 years.
Seven.
Seven times in 15 years.
I do not count going into the department stores as going into the "mall". I have walked into JC Penney's, Dillard's, Montgomery Ward (when it was still there), Sears and Burdine's (RIP), etc., many times from the OUTSIDE of the mall. I have been in the Best Buy and the TJ Maxx they recently tacked on to the outside. I have also been in the Linen's and Things that they literally STOLE from me. Hateful animals.
However, being INSIDE the mall? Yeah. Seven times.
(Can we exclude the times I had to go in there to find my teenagers when they weren't answering their cellphones, because then I would have to say I have been in there at least 22,342 times.)
The mall itself is not hateful. There are decent stores in there like American Eagle (more like American Eating Disorder based on the sizes), and Hollister. Hot Topic is in there...that's always fun for your leather clad desires or need to wear Taylor Swifts face on your chest. However, after living for years in New York City and Miami Beach...I am used to mall's having high end stores like Brookstone, Sharper Image, Tiffany's, Nordstrom's, etc. This mall is definitely a "Teenage Dream". I always have a problem with mall's that contain "dollar stores". A dollar store has no business being in a mall and it sort of sets the tone for the experience. The music stores are all gone. There used to be a Camelot music there and a Sam Ash. I liked those.
The biggest infraction of this mall?
No Sephora in the JC Penney? *gags* THAT is just unfathomable to me.
The main problem with this place is that it is always in a state of flux. There are always stores closing. You never know from week to week what stores are still in there. There is very little foot traffic in this mall. In this economy, malls like this one simply are not going to thrive. They offer nothing special. And, sadly, they took out the one thing that I MIGHT have returned for...and that was the carousel. My grandbabies are now old enough that they would have appreciated the carousel that has been there for ages. Gone. Replaced with this stupid bungee jumping thing.
The food court? Horrific. A Chick Fila (that I have real issues with), a Subway, a Chinese kiosk that has gotten more than one person ill in the past (they have been closed down and reopened at least a dozen times for health code infractions), an A&W...and I don't know what else any more. It's just usually very dirty. And for some reason, people in Pasco County haven't been taught the fine art of going to DUMP YOUR OWN TRAY OUT when you are done eating. They leave the food on the table, get up, walk away...leaving it there to rot. I don't generally see this sort of behavior at other malls. I guess it's just a reflection of the mall itself.
I do miss the first year I came down here...15 years ago. I took my daughter (then 8 years old) and my infant son, (now 16) to see Santa there. It was our first winter in Florida and we were all a little shell shocked from no cold, no snow, and Christmas decorations that included lighted palm trees and Santa's sleigh being pulled by eight tiny...DOLPHIN??? *sobs* But the mall...the mall had lights, snow, music, Santa (with REINDEER!) and made us feel less homesick for New York.
That's the memory I prefer to hang onto. It was festive, beautiful and people were happy and shopping. It was clean, bright and cheery. There were events going on for the children, fund raising gift wrappers and late night shopping opportunities complete with free coffee for weary shoppers.
The mall now? Depressing.
I have long since made the commitment to try to shop local stores, mom and pop places. But if I need a mall fix? Down to International Mall I go. I don't even stop at Countryside, which I find equally as pathetic.
It's a sad reflection of the times when a Jewish woman won't even go into her local mall.
Poor, sad mall. -
Review from Bryan G.
Port Richey, FL
2/8/2012
Gulfview Square Mall has been a part of my life since I was a teenager. I remember the land it sits on being a cow pasture at one time, I remember going there on an almost daily basis to plop quarters into the arcade games and I remember it being "the" place to hang out.
That being said, with the advent of the internet for online ordering, the consoles for playing games at home and the declining economy, Gulfview Square Mall has come in to some tough times. Stores that used to be Old Navy and Musicland have turned into dollar stores and cheap furniture outlets. Even Schnickel Fritz, a little German store and restaurant that had been there since day one closed down after this last holiday season. There are several kiosks that are begging you to sell them your gold. And, unless it's around Christmas time, the place is generally pretty barren, aside from the daily "mall walkers". Add on the fact that a few of their anchor tenants like Sears and Best Buy are going out of business, I see this mall becoming emptier and emptier as time passes on.
They have been trying to drum up business by holding "senior expos" and other events, and that has helped a little. But, as malls were the "thing" in the 80's and 90's, perhaps its time has come to pass. -
Review from Marianne C.
Hudson, FL
10/3/2011
This is pretty much the worst mall I have ever been to. I know the economy is very difficult right now but maybe it would help if some of these big companies like Best Buy put some money into it. Might even make up what they put in and make a profit. It now is a dark, dingy place with very few stores of interest and it has many stores that are closed up. The only time I ever go to this mall is to visit JC Penny and rarely go into the mall section anymore as there isn't anything to draw me in.
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Review from Debi E.
Spring Hill, FL
7/31/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Don't expect much... you won't get much. But it's better than nothing.
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Review from Janene H.
9/10/2008 7 Check-ins Here
This is really a sad, dying mall. I have visited the mall for about 10 years since my parents retired to the area. Even the worst malls in Orlando are better than this one. However, for an area that has little else I guess it is OK. Many of the shops have closed or are closing, and last month the carousel left. Every time I've been, even on weekends, the place looks like a ghost town. On the plus side you never have to worry about a place to park or crowds!!
They have some small department stores and a Best Buy and Linens and Things as anchors. This mall is fine for the retired folks in the area looking to kill time but I'd imagine it would be worth the drive to Clearwater or even the Trinity area if you really want to do some shopping. -
Review from Ahmed H.
Orlando, FL
9/1/2008
The mall is fairly small. Nothing special, a typical mall with a few department stores, best buy, and many small shops. It was interesting to see a bungee swing inside a mall of this size.
