They say shopping malls are a thing of the past. While it is true that over the past several years many American shopping malls are experiencing an exodus of stores due to changes in the economic and retail landscape, the
Oaks Mall and other community stakeholders and have made moves to utilize this property. Rather than simply shutter the space after the closure of anchor stores like Macy's and Sears over the past several years, space has been redeveloped, most recently by UF Health, and turned into medical office and surgical space to better serve the community with specialty care from a world class healthcare brand.
Now open,
UF Health – The Oaks brings three specialty medical practices and an outpatient surgical center to this convenient part of Gainesville and includes centers for ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and audiology. Providing nearly 140,000 square feet of space in the former Sears location, repurposing this former retail space begins the process of reimagining prime real estate of the Oaks Mall into more of a mixed-use concept. In fact, in May of 2019, the Gainesville City Commission approved a land-use change that would permit residential units to be built inside and around Oaks Mall in addition to medical facilities alongside current dining and retail establishments. UF Health - The Oaks is just the beginning of exciting changes on the horizon for the Oaks Mall area.