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The Mall at Wellington Green's Empty Nordstrom Could Become 620 Apartments

By Wellington List staffPublished 5 min read
The Mall at Wellington Green's Empty Nordstrom Could Become 620 Apartments

The Nordstrom at The Mall at Wellington Green has been dark since 2019. Now a Wellington-based developer wants to tear it down and build 620 apartments in its place. Here is what has been proposed, where it stands, and what it could mean for the mall and the neighborhood around it.

The proposal at a glance

Site
The former Nordstrom and surrounding parking at The Mall at Wellington Green, Forest Hill Blvd and State Road 7
Size
About 18.4 acres
Applicant
Bainbridge Companies, a Wellington-based real estate and apartment firm
What is proposed
620 apartments, described in reports as three seven-story buildings
Filed
March 31, 2026
Status
In village review; still needs advisory board and Village Council approval

What is being proposed

Bainbridge Companies filed an application with the Village of Wellington on March 31, 2026 to demolish the vacant Nordstrom, one of the mall's original anchor stores, and replace it with a multifamily apartment community of about 620 units. The filing lists the project address as 10324 Forest Hill Blvd and asks to allow the residential units within a pod of the mall's approved master plan. Reports describe the design as three seven-story buildings on roughly 18.4 acres that are currently the store and its surrounding parking lot.

The property owners listed on the application are Spinoso Real Estate Group and TM Wellington Green Mall LP. Spinoso manages the mall today.

The $36 million sale

Reporting from the South Florida Business Journal and others says the developer has the former Nordstrom portion of the mall under contract for roughly $36 million from a court-appointed receiver, with the sale pending court approval. For context, Starwood Capital Group paid $341 million for the entire mall in 2014, a sign of how much enclosed malls have changed over the past decade.

Why apartments, and why now

Malls across the country have struggled to replace department store anchors, and Wellington Green is no exception. The application argues that redeveloping the empty anchor is an investment in the long-term health of the mall, and points to the strong demand for housing in Florida.

The village has floated the idea of a more mixed-use mall before. An earlier redevelopment plan was withdrawn in 2020, and at a 2024 workshop, village leaders acknowledged that adding more apartments near the mall would be a sensitive subject for residents.

What about traffic?

According to the traffic study submitted with the application, replacing the Nordstrom's retail space with apartments would actually reduce the total number of vehicle trips compared with the store's approved retail use. That will likely be one of the most debated points as the plan goes through review, since many residents already consider Forest Hill Blvd and State Road 7 congested.

What residents and the village are saying

Reaction has been mixed. Some longtime residents have said the area around the mall already has plenty of apartment complexes. Village Manager Jim Barnes has said additional development near the mall can benefit the stores that remain, and noted that several of the mall's anchors continue to perform well.

The mall today

The Mall at Wellington Green opened in October 2001 at the southwest corner of Forest Hill Blvd and State Road 7. It spans about 1.2 million square feet across two levels with more than 160 retailers, restaurants and entertainment concepts, including Macy's, Dillard's, Apple, CMX Wellington and Kids Empire. In July 2026, the mall announced a 13,000 square foot Arcade Time entertainment venue, part of a broader push toward dining and entertainment. You can find it in our directory listing for The Mall at Wellington Green.

What happens next

The proposal is still early. It must go through village staff review, Wellington's advisory boards and the Village Council before any demolition or construction could begin, and the property sale still needs court approval. We will update this article as hearings are scheduled.

Our take

Between this plan and Village Landing at K-Park just down State Road 7, the corridor around the mall is about to change more in the next few years than it has in the last twenty. The key questions for residents are traffic, school capacity and whether new residents translate into the restaurants and shops people actually want nearby.

Frequently asked questions

What is replacing the Nordstrom at The Mall at Wellington Green?

Bainbridge Companies has proposed demolishing the vacant Nordstrom and building about 620 apartments, described as three seven-story buildings on roughly 18.4 acres.

Has the Nordstrom apartment project been approved?

Not yet, based on the latest reporting. The application was filed March 31, 2026 and must go through village staff review, advisory boards and the Wellington Village Council. The property sale also needs court approval.

When did the Nordstrom at Wellington Green close?

The Nordstrom store at The Mall at Wellington Green closed in 2019 and has been vacant since.

Who owns The Mall at Wellington Green?

The application lists Spinoso Real Estate Group and TM Wellington Green Mall LP as the property owners of record. Spinoso manages the mall.

Sources

Details on developments and schools can change. We update this guide as new information is announced. Spot something out of date? Send us a tip.

Written by the Wellington List team, an independent local guide covering Wellington, Florida.

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