The Oviedo Mall, Then and Now (and What's Actually There)
A first-person look at how our mall went from dead to weirdly alive, and where to grab a bite or shop.
I moved to Oviedo in 2008, when the mall still had a Macy's and a Sears and a food court that wasn't just a Sbarro and a pretzel stand. People actually went there. Then the anchors bailed, one by one, and for a few years the place felt like a ghost town with a movie theater. But something funny happened on the way to becoming a dead mall: it got weird, and kind of great. Here's what you'll find if you bother to go inside.
The Big Empty (and How It Got Filled)
After Macy's left in 2014 and Sears in 2018, the mall could have gone full zombie. Instead, the owners started renting out the old anchor spaces to non-mall things. The old Macy's became a church (yes, Oviedo City Church meets there), a trampoline park (Altitude Trampoline Park), and a Halloween pop-up shop. The old Sears is now a huge fitness center (Club Metro) and a furniture outlet.
It's not a traditional mall anymore, but it's not dead either. You just have to adjust your expectations. It's more of a community center with a food court.
What's Actually Worth Going For
The food court is small but solid: Dũng's Pho & Rolls has the best pho in Oviedo (fight me), and Villa Italian Kitchen makes a decent stromboli. There's also a Sbarro, a Chinese place, and a smoothie kiosk. If you're craving a pretzel, the Wetzel's Pretzels is still there, but I'd skip it.
Beyond food, the indoor playground (called "Kid's Playground" or something) is a lifesaver on hot or rainy days. It's free, fenced, and has those soft foam climbers that toddlers love. Also: there's a surprisingly good retro arcade called "Game Time" with old-school cabinets and air hockey. It's not huge, but it's quiet and cheap.
Oviedo Mall vs. Altamonte Mall
| Factor | Oviedo Mall | Altamonte Mall |
|---|---|---|
| Foot traffic | Light, easy to navigate | Heavy, especially weekends |
| Food court | Small, but local options | Big chain selection |
| Kids activities | Free indoor playground | Small play area, pay-to-play rides |
| Parking | Always easy | Can be a hassle |
| Movie theater | Regal, $6 matinees | AMC, pricier but bigger screens |
The Events Are the Real Draw
The mall hosts a farmers market every Saturday morning in the parking lot near the old Macy's. It's smaller than the one in downtown Oviedo, but it's less crowded and has good local honey and kettle corn. Twice a year they do a big craft fair inside the mall, with like 80 vendors selling everything from homemade soaps to hand-painted signs. I got a really good pecan pie at one.
They also do trunk-or-treat for Halloween, photos with Santa, and an Easter egg hunt. The movie theater (Regal Oviedo) is still there and cheap—matinees are like $6. It's not fancy, but it works.
The Weird Stuff You Might Miss
There's a vacant storefront that still has old signage from a store called "The Christmas Tree Shop" that closed… I think in 2016? It's a time capsule. Also, near the food court, there's a little kiosk that sells those weird gel-filled slippers and cell phone cases. It's been there forever.
And then there's the creepy animatronic Christmas tree that appears in the center courtyard every December. It's like 20 feet tall, plays tinny carols, and has mechanical elves that look vaguely threatening. I love it.
Should You Go? (Yes, But With a Plan)
If you need a mall experience like Altamonte or Millenia, this isn't it. But if you want a lazy afternoon with the kids, a cheap lunch, and maybe a movie, it's perfect. The mall is clean, the staff are friendly, and there's never a crowd. It feels like a small town mall from the 90s, and I mean that as a compliment.
Honestly, I go more now than I did when it was "thriving." There's less pressure to shop and more room to just wander. Plus, you can walk the whole loop in about 10 minutes—good for a quick break.
Find it on YouTube → “Oviedo Mall tour 2023”
Questions folks ask me
Is the Oviedo Mall still open?
Yes, it's open daily. Hours vary by store, but the mall doors open around 10 AM and close at 9 PM, earlier on Sundays.
Is there a food court? What's good?
Yes, a small one. Best options: Dũng's Pho & Rolls (try the pho or banh mi) and Villa Italian Kitchen. Sbarro is fine for a slice.
Can I walk laps there for exercise?
Absolutely. The indoor loop is about 1/4 mile. Many locals walk there in the mornings before the stores open. Free and air conditioned.
Is the indoor playground free?
Yes, it's free and open to the public. It's near the food court. Great for toddlers and preschoolers.
Do they have events like craft fairs?
Yes, they host a farmers market every Saturday morning and larger craft fairs a couple times a year. Check their Facebook page for dates.
I never thought I'd become a defender of a mall, but here we are. The Oviedo Mall isn't flashy, but it's ours. It's survived the death of retail and found a new life as a weird, wonderful community hub. So next time you're bored on a Saturday, skip the big mall and come here. Grab some pho, let the kids bounce, and say hi to the creepy Christmas tree. It'll be here, waiting, like it always is.
More from the Oviedo blog
- Where to Actually See the Oviedo Chickens (and the Unwritten Rules)
- My honest newcomer's guide to moving to Oviedo, FL
- My Oviedo on the Park Survival Guide: Parking, Events, and the Best Benches
- Why I keep going back to Black Hammock (and why you should too)
- Oviedo vs Winter Springs: where we almost bought, and why we chose Oviedo
- The family-friendly restaurants we keep going back to in Oviedo