Countryside Mall - Clearwater, FL

In today’s blog post, we will head out to Clearwater for a look at the Countryside Mall!

US 19 overpass on top, State Road 580 on the bottom!

An example of an FDOT sign (MUTCD) for State Road 580.

What used to be a Sears store from 1975 until 2018. This store was remodeled and downsized to make way for a Whole Foods, which opened in 2014.

One of the former entrances to the vacant Sears space.

Sears and Kmart were merged in 2005 as a company to form Sears Holdings. That lasted until 2019, when a new company called Transform SR Brands was created.

Countryside Mall

27001 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL

Opened on September 8, 1975 and consisted of two department store anchors: Maas Brothers and Sears. Robinson's and JCPenney opened 1 year later.

These signs must have been added after the 2009 remodels.

Dillard's was originally Robinson's of Florida from 1976 until 1987, and later became Maison Blanche (White House) from 1987 until 1991. Dillard's later purchased the 8 MB locations across Florida in that same year.

A typical interior design for Dillard's stores like these.

This is the second floor part of Dillard's. You have to take an elevator to the right, or an escalator that is either to the left or straight ahead.

In order to take the elevator via the second floor, you have to pass by gift wrap first, followed by a corridor that will lead you to the Schindler elevator.

Welcome to the magic of Macy's, formerly Burdines! In Countryside Mall, Burdines opened in 1991 after Maas Brothers stores were sold to Federated Department Stores (former owner of Burdines). Maas Brothers opened in 1975. Later became a Macy's in 2005.

These photos were taken around Christmas time, so you might notice some products for the holidays.

Let's take this elevator down to the first floor!

Here we are at the first floor, with a look at an actual ice skating rink!

You can clearly see the second floor of Countryside Mall from the first floor as shown here.

Straight ahead is another Schindler elevator that will take you to the Cobb movie theater.

And here is the movie theater, which was added in 2011 on the second floor of Countryside Mall. The blank space that you see on your right used to be the main entrance into Sears from 1975 to 2014.

One of Countryside Mall’s tenants is this pastry shop.

LensCrafters with the company's former logo.

Marble Slab Creamery is a chain of franchised locations that was founded in 1983. This is the store inside Countryside Mall.

XXI Forever (Forever 21) on the top, Journeys shoe store on the bottom!

JCPenney is an original tenant to Countryside Mall, and opened in 1976.

Here is our final interior photo of this Westfield mall. You enter on the second floor, which is an incline via pedestrian walkways.

Red Robin was added in 2012 as a part of Restaurant Row.

You can see the Macy's building in the background. I took this picture specifically because of the sculpture.

BJ's Restaurant was also a 2012 addition to Countryside Mall.

The former south entrance to Sears, which closed in July 2018. The exterior was renovated in 2014 due to Whole Foods taking up 40,000 square feet of the Sears space.

And now for a peek inside the former Sears store.

Stop here for Whole Foods, which will be coming up next!

Whole Foods - Clearwater

27001 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL - Plaza at Countryside

Opened on September 24, 2014 in a part of the former Sears store. This Whole Foods is only one floor, as opposed to the two stories used by Sears.

The welcome sign is located at the produce department.

Seafood and meats are located in this section at the side of the store.

Aisle 4, which is home to oils and vinegar.

Approaching the cheese counter, with aisles 10 to 12 being on the right side.

The store's cheese counter. There is another sign that depicts US Highway 19, but that is not pictured.

Beer and wine take up aisles 14 to 16.

Whole Foods has a pizza station!

From our kitchen to your table, here is the deli department.

The Whole Foods Bakery is located to the right of the deli.

The 10 checkouts in the store. Lanes 1 to 6 are regular lanes, while 7 to 10 are express.

The customer service counter is located in between the entrance and exit doors.

Let's head outside for a look at the Nordstrom exterior!

Nordstrom Rack is two floors tall, while the Sears Auto Center only had one.

The rear of the Nordstrom building.

Now for some various pictures of US 19, which includes the 12-mile freeway...

...and this US 19 road sign!