Crews began taking down portions of the Indian River Mall this week to make way for a revitalization project for the shopping center. Joseph Scarfone, the project manager working on the redevelopment project, said crews are working on the first phase, taking down the Macys and soon the area where the Sears used to be.
Vero Beach neighbor Mary Alice Stopyra said she is happy the mall is being torn down. Mark Manera from Vero Beach said he has been coming to the mall for years and has watched it decline year after year.
Scarfone said the site will be transformed into a new sleek and modern indoor and outdoor shopping center with around 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and possible residential spaces. Manera said the change brings new life, new jobs and new opportunity.
Scarfone said he hopes the first phase can be done by 2027. The project team is still working on permitting for the rest of the project.