Texas' first mall was demolished in 2001. A power-format complex,
GULFGATE CENTER, opened at the site in April 2002.
Photo from www.wulfe.com (Wulfe and Company)


GULFGATE SHOPPING CITY
Gulf Freeway and Woodridge Street
Houston, Texas

The first shopping mall in Texas was dedicated September 20, 1956. Originally known as GULFGATE SHOPPING CITY, it was located adjacent to the Gulf Freeway, Metropolitan Houston's first expressway, which had opened to traffic in September 1948.

Initially open-air, the 20 million dollar GULFGATE consisted of a retail level and service basement. It was designed by Seattle's John Graham, Jr. and developed by Boston-based Theodore W. Berenson and Associates.

The center sat on a 70 acre site, located 4 miles southeast of downtown Houston. It comprised 802,700 leasable square feet, housed sixty-two stores and was anchored by a 4-level (228,900 square foot), San Antonio-based Joske's and 4-level (128,900 square foot), Houston-based Sakowitz Brothers.

Junior anchors were a 2-level (69,400 square foot) J.J. Newberry 5 and 10, 2-level W.T Grant variety store and single-level Weingarten's supermarket.

Inline stores included Flagg Brothers Shoes, Chandler's Shoes, Baker's Shoes, Lerner Shops, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, Gordon's Jewelers and the first shopping center-format Piccadilly Cafeteria. The mall also had a bowling alley on its lower level.

At the southern end of the main corridor was a pedestrian bridge, which connected to a twin-screen cinema, dedicated April 13, 1965. In the late 1960s, the Interstate 610 / South Loop expressway was completed. It passed beneath the pedestrian bridge and provided additional access to the shopping center from the surrounding area.

In 1968, the fully-enclosed and air-conditioned ALMEDA MALL opened, 7 miles southeast. To remain competitive, GULFGATE had been enclosed and air-conditioned in 1967.

A name change to GULFGATE MALL, replacing the rather out-dated "shopping city" moniker, helped to keep the center popular through the 1970s. This remarketing was somewhat thwarted by the completion of a second retail rival, BAYBROOK MALL, in 1978.

By the late 1980s, GULFGATE was in decline. Joske's was converted to Dillard's in 1987. Sakowitz went out of business in 1989, leaving its anchor box vacant. The mall struggled through the 1990s, with Dillard's being shuttered in 1997.

By the early 2000s, the once-fashionable mall was virtually vacant. The entire shopping center was razed in 2001 and replaced by a 450,000 square foot -74 million dollar- power center.

Known as GULFGATE CENTER, it was completed in May 2002 and is currently operated by Houston-based Wulfe and Company. Stores include Marshalls, Home Depot, Office Depot and H-E-B Foods.

Sources:

http://www.texasfreeway.com/
Chet Cuccia and KLDE Tower commentaries / Houston Architectural Info Forum / wwwhoustonarchitecture.info
"Sakowitz" article on Wikipedia
Comment post by Jonah Norason
"Joske's" article on Wikipedia
Houston Business Journal / May 17, 2002 / Nancy Sarnoff

http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory (post by "ISureDid")