Originally promoted as GALLERIA POST OAK, Houston's preeminent shopping mall was developed in four stages between 1967 and 2003.
Photo from A-W Distributors
Photo from Library of Congress / Carol M. Highsmith
Showing posts with label Houston's Galleria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston's Galleria. Show all posts
Photo from Allied Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1963
A 2-level Neiman-Marcus became the first operational GALLERIA store, in January 1969.
Photo from https://www.hines.com / Hines Interests Limited Partnership
A fully-enclosed mall, added to Neiman-Marcus, was dedicated in late 1970. THE GALLERIA (a.k.a GALLERIA POST OAK) encompassed 600,000 leasable square feet, with an initial sixty stores and services. Parking was provided for 7,040 autos.
Photo from https://www.hines.com / Hines Interests Limited Partnership
A fully-enclosed mall, added to Neiman-Marcus, was dedicated in late 1970. THE GALLERIA (a.k.a GALLERIA POST OAK) encompassed 600,000 leasable square feet, with an initial sixty stores and services. Parking was provided for 7,040 autos.
Lord & Taylor joined the mall as part of a GALLERIA II expansion. The project added nearly 500,000 leasable square feet to the complex. Parking was now provided for 11,400 autos.
Photo from https://www.hines.com / Hines Interests Limited Partnership
By the mid-1980s, the mall has been expanded twice. The original section, now referred to as GALLERIA I, is shown in black. GALLERIA II appears in dark gray, with GALLERIA III indicated in medium gray. The complex now fills its entire superblock, covers around 1,422,000 leasable square feet, and houses over 250 stores and services. Note: the location of Frost Brothers may not be accurate.
THE GALLERIA TENANTS 2007:
MACY'S [The Galleria] / MACY'S [Houston Galleria] NEIMAN MARCUS (with Neiman Marcus Cafe) / NORDSTROM (with Nordstrom Cafe Bistro and Nordstrom Spa) / SAKS FIFTH AVENUE / 467 Street men's wear / A|X Armani Exchange / A'gaci Too / A Pea In The Pod / Abercrombie / Abercrombie & Fitch / Accessory Lady / Adrienne Vittadini ladies' wear / Aeropostale apparel / Aldo shoes / Al's Formalwear / American Eagle Outfitters / American Express Travel / American Greetings cards & gifts / Ann Taylor ladies' wear / Ann Taylor Loft ladies' wear / Anne Fontaine ladies' wear / Apple Computer / ArdenB ladies' wear / Auntie Anne's Pretzels (kiosk) / Aveda / Avventura / BCBG Max Azria ladies' wear / BabyGap / Baccarat fine crystal / Bachrach men's wear / Bag 'n Baggage / Bailey Banks & Biddle jewelers / Bakers shoes / Bally Of Switzerland shoes / Banana Republic apparel / Bang & Olufsen electronics / Barneys New York Co-Op / Bath & Body Works cosmetics / Bebe Sport / Bernini / Ben Bridge Jewelers / Betsey Johnson ladies' wear / Bice restaurant / Billy Reid / Bio Silk Spa / Borders Books / Brighton Collectibles / Britesmile / Brooks Brothers men's wear / Brooks Brothers Woman / Brookstone / Bui-Yah-Kah / Burberry ladies' wear / Build-A-Bear Workshop / Bvlgari / Caché ladies' wear / Caché Luxe ladies' wear / California Nail / Candy Headquarters / Caroll Milano ladies' wear / Caroll Paris ladies' wear / Cartier / CH Carolina Herrera / Champs Sports / Chanel / Charlotte Russe ladies' wear / Chico's ladies' wear / Christofle / Church's English Shoes / Claire's accessories / Clarins Institut / Clarks / Club Libby Lu children's wear / Club Monaco / Coach accessories / Cold Stone Creamery / Cole Hann shoes / Cosmo Day Spa / Crabtree & Evelyn cosmetics / Crane & Company / Da Paul Too / Daily Grill / David Yurman / De Gala / dELiAs ladies' wear / Dell Direct Store / Diamond Domani International / Dior / Discovery Channel Store / Doctor Kelly Tran, optometrist / Doctor Rosa Pham & Doctor Von Pham optometrists / Dunbar Galleries / Discovery Channel Store / Duo / Dylan's Candy Bar / EB Games / Easy Spirit / Ebar / Eddie Bauer apparel / Elements / Emporio Armani / Erwin Pearl / Etoile Perfumery / Express Men / Extreme Design / FYE (For Your Entertainment) / Fendi / Ferragamo shoes / Field of Dreams (kiosk) / Fila / Finish Line / Florsheim Shoes / Foot Locker / Footworks / Forth & Towne ladies' wear / Fossil ladies' wear / Fox Sports Grill / French Connection / Frozen Fuzion / Futuretronics / GNC / Gadzooks children's wear / GameStop / GapKids / GapMaternity / Gems by Chao / Giorgio Armani / Godiva Chocolatier I (kiosk) / Godiva Chocolatier II / Gordon's Jewelers / Grazia / Gregory's Shoes / Gucci / Guess? apparel / Gymboree children's wear / H. Harloquin ladies wear / Harlon's Pit Bar-B-Q / High Gloss / Hollister & Company apparel / Hot Topic apparel / Houston Trunk Factory / iCityCondo / Image Nails & Facial / International Bank of Commerce / Intuition / J. Crew apparel / J. Jill ladies' wear / Jacadi / Janie & Jack children's wear / Jessica McClintock ladies' wear / Jimmy Choo / Johnston & Murphy shoes / Journeys shoes / Just Add Water / Kate Spade ladies' wear / Kay Jewelers / Kids Foot Locker / Kidswear / Kikz by The Athlete's Foot / Kirkland's houseware's / Kenneth Cole / Kona Grill / L'Occitane en Provence / Lacoste / Lady Foot Locker / Lalique / Landau / Laredo National Bank / LensCrafters / Lineva / Louis Tenenbaum Estate Jeweler / Louis Vuitton / Luca Luca / Lucky Brand Jeans / MAC Cosmetics / Macy's Woman / Marcello Tailor / Marmi / Master Jewelry Repair / MaxMara / Max Studio / Mimi Maternity / Mrs. Fields Cookies / Memorial Hermann Mammography Center / Metropark / Metropolitan Museum of Art / Modern Time / Montblanc I / Montblanc II / Motherhood Maternity / Movado / Naturalizer Shoes / Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip (kiosk) / New York & Company ladies' wear / News Box (kiosk) / Nichol's Shoe Repairs & Alterations / Nine West / North American Insights / Oakley men's wear / Off the Wall (kiosk) / Oilily / Oh My Godard Gallery / Origins / Optica / PacSun ladies' wear / Painted with Oil / Palisade Palms / Papyrus cards & gifts / Paradise Pen Company/ Pearle Vision Center / Petite Sophisticate / Polar Ice Rink Galleria / Pottery Barn Kids / Premier Atelier Salon / Prontowash / Puma / Radio Shack / Ralph Lauren / Regis Hairstylists / Rockport / St. John ladies' wear / Sanrio / Select Comfort / Sephora cosmetics / Shanghai Joe restaurant / Shiekh shoes / Shucker's restaurant / Sigrid Olsen ladies' wear / Signature Eye Care / Skechers Footwear USA / Skinovative / Sharper Image / Solstice / Soma by Chico's / Sony Style / Sporting Eyes / Sprint PCS / Starbucks Coffee / Starbucks Coffee (kiosk) / Strasburg Children / Steve Madden / Stuart Weitzman / Style Avenue / Sunglass Designs / Sunglass Hut I (kiosk) / Sunglass Hut II (kiosk) / Swatch / Swim 'n Sport / Talbots / Talbots Kids / Tané / Teavana / Texan Joe's / Texas & the Territories / Texas Souvenirs Unlimited / Texas Tax Back / The Body Shop / The Buckle shoes / The Cheesecake Factory / The Children's & Baby Place / The Custom Shop men's wear / The Disney Store / The Dog Company / The Gap apparel / The Levi's Store / The Limited Too / The Men's Room / The Mobile Solution / The Oceanaire Seafood Room / The Picture People photographic studio / The Remington Store / The Walking Company / The Wild Pair shoes / Thirsty's juice bar / Things Remembered / Thomas Kinkade Gallery / Tiffany & Company / Times Square / Tilt video arcade / Today's News / Toni & Guy / Tourist Stop / Tourneau / Torrid ladies' wear / Trade Secret / Tumi / US Post Office / United Colors of Benetton / University Club spa / Urban Outfitters / Velleriano Italy / Versace / Victoria's Secret Beauty / Victoria's Secret lingerie / Visible Changes / Vitamin World / W. Graham Arader III / Westin Galleria Houston hotel / Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria hotel / Wet Seal / White House Black Market ladies' wear / Wilsons Leather / Wireless In Style / Wolford ladies' wear / World of Charms / Ylang-Ylang / Yves Saint Laurent / Zales Jewelers / Zara apparel / Zucchini's restaurant
THE GALLERIA FOOD COURT:
Bennigan's / Big Easy Cajun / Chick-fil-A / Chili's Grill & Bar / Famous Wok / Haagen Dazs ice cream (kiosk) / La Madeleine Bakery Cafe / Le Petit Bistro / McDonald's hamburgers / Marble Slab Creamery / Master Wok / Nestle Toll House by Chip / Ninfa's Mexican Cafe / Sbarro the Italian Eatery / Sonic / Subway/ Taco Bell / Thirsty's juice bar (kiosk) / Today's News (kiosk) / Roman Delight Pizza & Pasta / Wetzel's Pretzels (kiosk)
THE NEXT LEVEL...
Over the mall's 50+ years in business, its official floor designations have changed several times. Making light of this, we created an illustration covering four different "floor" eras in GALLERIA history.
GALLERIA I, as it appeared in the 2010s. Its skating facility, now known as Polar Ice, is among the few shopping mall ice rinks still in existence in the United States. During the mid-century years, ice skating rinks were a popular shopping mall attraction.
Photo from Wikipedia / "PostOak"
A Level 2 view of the mall's GALLERIA IV expansion. A Nordstrom nameplate is seen in the distance.
Photo from https://www.coopercarry.com / Cooper Carry Architects
The new (and relocated) Saks store encompasses 2 levels and 198,000 square feet.
Drawing from Saks, Incorporated
The old Saks was repurposed as inline store and restaurant space. Tenants included Fig & Olive (Mediterranean cuisine), Coach, Nobu Houston and Kappa Toys.
Drawing from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
GALLERIA POST OAK-THE GALLERIA
Westheimer Road and South Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas
Noteworthy as the nation's first major mixed-use retail-office-hotel development, Houston's GALLERIA was a modern day reinvention of Milan, Italy's GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II (1865-1877). The fully-enclosed Texan complex was developed on a 41-acre plot, located 5.3 miles southwest of center city Houston. The site was adjacent to a section of the West Loop-Interstate 610 Expressway, which had opened to traffic in June 1964.
THE GALLERIA had several malls in its vicinity. These included MEYERLAND PLAZA (1957) {3.3 miles south, in Houston}, SHARPSTOWN CENTER (1961) {3.7 miles southwest, in Houston}, MEMORIAL CITY MALL (1966) {5.3 miles northwest, in Houston} and NORTHWEST MALL (1968) {4 miles north, in Houston}. Within a few years of its opening, THE GALLERIA was firmly established as the preeminent shopping mall in -or around- Houston. Hence, other retail centers provided no competition.
Westheimer Road and South Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas
Noteworthy as the nation's first major mixed-use retail-office-hotel development, Houston's GALLERIA was a modern day reinvention of Milan, Italy's GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II (1865-1877). The fully-enclosed Texan complex was developed on a 41-acre plot, located 5.3 miles southwest of center city Houston. The site was adjacent to a section of the West Loop-Interstate 610 Expressway, which had opened to traffic in June 1964.
Originally promoted as GALLERIA POST OAK, the mall was envisaged by Houston's Gerald D. Hines and designed by the St. Louis-based HOK (Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum) firm. The 30 million dollar project was announced in May 1967. Construction commenced in June of the same year.
The first operational store, a 2-level (224,000 square foot) Dallas-based Neiman-Marcus, opened for business on January 28, 1969. Next came the twenty-one floor Post Oak Tower, which was dedicated in January 1970. The adjoining shopping mall was officially dedicated on November 15, 1970. It enveloped approximately 600,000 leasable square feet and housed an initial sixty stores and services. There would eventually be 116.
The first operational store, a 2-level (224,000 square foot) Dallas-based Neiman-Marcus, opened for business on January 28, 1969. Next came the twenty-one floor Post Oak Tower, which was dedicated in January 1970. The adjoining shopping mall was officially dedicated on November 15, 1970. It enveloped approximately 600,000 leasable square feet and housed an initial sixty stores and services. There would eventually be 116.
There were three public floors in the complex; Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The Ice Capades Chalet, an 84' by 100' skating rink, was located on Level 1. A multilevel parking garage was attached to the south end of the mall, with an underground deck attached to its north end.
Charter GALLERIA stores included Tiffany & Company, Florsheim Shoes, Tinder Box Tobacconist, W & J Sloane Home Furnishings, Mark Cross Luggage, Isabell Gerhart, J. Rich Sporting Goods, the Disc Record Shop and Sotheby's-Parke-Bernet Galleries. Among the center's seven restaurants were El Fenix, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, the Pacesetter Steak House & Club and Coquetry Self-Service Buffet. The General Cinema Corporation Cinema I & II, on Level 1, showed first features on November 17, 1970.
Charter GALLERIA stores included Tiffany & Company, Florsheim Shoes, Tinder Box Tobacconist, W & J Sloane Home Furnishings, Mark Cross Luggage, Isabell Gerhart, J. Rich Sporting Goods, the Disc Record Shop and Sotheby's-Parke-Bernet Galleries. Among the center's seven restaurants were El Fenix, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, the Pacesetter Steak House & Club and Coquetry Self-Service Buffet. The General Cinema Corporation Cinema I & II, on Level 1, showed first features on November 17, 1970.
Level 4, a private floor, contained The University Club, which opened on July 1, 1971. This fitness facility housed ten indoor tennis courts, two squash courts, two handball courts, a clubhouse and heated pool. A running track surrounded the mall's vaulted ceiling. The 400-room Houston Oaks Hotel was dedicated in September 1971.
THE GALLERIA had several malls in its vicinity. These included MEYERLAND PLAZA (1957) {3.3 miles south, in Houston}, SHARPSTOWN CENTER (1961) {3.7 miles southwest, in Houston}, MEMORIAL CITY MALL (1966) {5.3 miles northwest, in Houston} and NORTHWEST MALL (1968) {4 miles north, in Houston}. Within a few years of its opening, THE GALLERIA was firmly established as the preeminent shopping mall in -or around- Houston. Hence, other retail centers provided no competition.
Construction commenced on the first mall expansion in November 1972. A 2-level (135,000 square foot) Lord & Taylor was built over a 2-level parking garage. This store was dedicated on October 14, 1974. L & T would anchor a 449,700 square foot GALLERIA II addition. This segment was designed by HOK and Houston's S.I. Morris Associates and featured 3 levels of retail and office space and 2 levels of parking. A 6-floor office building, the Galleria Towers, was built on top of the expansion area.
GALLERIA II was officially dedicated on October 22, 1977. New stores included Ted Lapidus, Casual Corner, J. Harris, the 500-room Galleria Plaza Hotel, a second parking garage and the General Cinema Corporation Cinema III & IV. A 2-level (32,000 square foot) San Antonio-based Frost Brothers was dedicated in August 1978. Chicago's Marshall Field & Company opened a 2-level (185,000 square foot) store on November 9, 1979. This was the Chicago-based chain's first "Southland" location.
Ground was broken for a second mall expansion on June 3, 1985. GALLERIA III was designed by HOK and Houston's Richard Fitzgerald & Associates. It encompassed 2 retail levels, covered 328,000 leasable square feet, and included an underground parking garage. An official dedication was held on September 1, 1986. A 3-level (232,000 square foot) Macy's welcomed shoppers on September 24th. Inline stores opened as part of GALLERIA III included Alexia, Hats in the Belfry, Oxford Classics and Benetton.
Ground was broken for a second mall expansion on June 3, 1985. GALLERIA III was designed by HOK and Houston's Richard Fitzgerald & Associates. It encompassed 2 retail levels, covered 328,000 leasable square feet, and included an underground parking garage. An official dedication was held on September 1, 1986. A 3-level (232,000 square foot) Macy's welcomed shoppers on September 24th. Inline stores opened as part of GALLERIA III included Alexia, Hats in the Belfry, Oxford Classics and Benetton.
Frost Brothers was shuttered in 1988, with the store being sectioned into smaller retail spaces. On December 30, 1996, Marshall Field's closed their GALLERIA store. It re-opened, as a Saks Fifth Avenue, on September 11, 1997. Cinema I & II had closed for good on October 16, 1994, with Cinema III & IV coming to its end on January 15, 1995.
In 1999, Gerald D. Hines sold the retail section of THE GALLERIA to a joint venture of Chicago-based Urban Shopping Centers, Incorporated and the Walton Street Capital, Limited Liability Company. The assets of Urban Shopping Centers were acquired by Rodamco North America, NV, of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in October 2000.
In 1999, Gerald D. Hines sold the retail section of THE GALLERIA to a joint venture of Chicago-based Urban Shopping Centers, Incorporated and the Walton Street Capital, Limited Liability Company. The assets of Urban Shopping Centers were acquired by Rodamco North America, NV, of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in October 2000.
Rodamco sold a portion of their interest to CalPERS (the California Public Employees Retirement System) in 2001. Rodamco's remaining stake in THE GALLERIA was acquired by the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group in January 2002, with Simon establishing majority interest. They became managing agent of the property.
A fourth construction phase, known as GALLERIA IV, had been announced in May of the year 2000. Designed by Atlanta's Cooper Carry firm, it was built on an adjacent 14-acre parcel and featured 2 retail levels, an underground parking garage and above-grade parking garage. The addition encompassed 800,000 leasable square feet.
Connected via skybridge to the existing GALLERIA, the expansion was anchored by a 2-level (250,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's and 2-level (226,000 square foot), Seattle-based Nordstrom. The GALLERIA IV addition opened for business on March 28, 2003. The shopping hub now encompassed a whopping 2,399,000 leasable square feet, with over 375 stores and services.
Lord & Taylor was shuttered in January 2005. The building was gutted and reconfigured as 2 levels of inline stores. Often referred to as GALLERIA V, it housed fifteen tenants. J. Crew opened its doors on August 1, 2006, followed by Kona Grill, on August 9th. A 2-level (27,000 square foot) Borders Books & Music debuted in December. Other tenants included Del Frisco Steak House, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Papyrus stationery and Chico's.
Connected via skybridge to the existing GALLERIA, the expansion was anchored by a 2-level (250,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's and 2-level (226,000 square foot), Seattle-based Nordstrom. The GALLERIA IV addition opened for business on March 28, 2003. The shopping hub now encompassed a whopping 2,399,000 leasable square feet, with over 375 stores and services.
Lord & Taylor was shuttered in January 2005. The building was gutted and reconfigured as 2 levels of inline stores. Often referred to as GALLERIA V, it housed fifteen tenants. J. Crew opened its doors on August 1, 2006, followed by Kona Grill, on August 9th. A 2-level (27,000 square foot) Borders Books & Music debuted in December. Other tenants included Del Frisco Steak House, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Papyrus stationery and Chico's.
On September 9, 2006, Foley's was rebranded by Macy's. The mall's original Macy's became "Macy's at Sage" (referred to as "Macy's Houston Galleria" in the Federated Stores Annual Report). In September 2013, details about a major reconfiguration of THE GALLERIA were announced. Macy's At Sage closed on May 4, 2014. The GALLERIA III section, and Macy's At Sage, were demolished.
Saks relocated into a new, 2-level (198,000 square foot) building. The original Saks was gutted and sectioned into twenty-six inline store spaces and four casual dining restaurants. The new Saks welcomed first shoppers on April 28, 2016. Fig & Olive (Mediterranean cuisine) debuted on March 9, 2018. Bianco Taco's & Tequila opened late in the same year.
Meanwhile, Borders Books' GALLERIA store went dark in July 2011. It was replaced by Forever 21 in late 2012. Swedish high-fashion retailer H & M established a 2-level (23,000 square foot) location on November 6, 2014.
With the completion of all modifications, the physical size of THE GALLERIA had been slightly reduced. The complex now encompassed approximately 2,400,800 leasable square feet and contained over 400 stores and services.
With the completion of all modifications, the physical size of THE GALLERIA had been slightly reduced. The complex now encompassed approximately 2,400,800 leasable square feet and contained over 400 stores and services.
Sources:
The Houston Chronicle
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
The Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida)
The Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas)
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
The Boca Raton News (Boca Raton, Florida)
The Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas)
http://www.carbon-izer.com / "The Galleria, 5085 Westheimer Road"
Texas Monthly magazine
Texas Monthly magazine
https://sah-archipedia.org / SAH Archipedia
https://hcad.org/property-search/property-search / Harris County, Texas
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://hcad.org/property-search/property-search / Harris County, Texas
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.bluepageswiki.org
https://www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
http://www.simon.com/mall/directory (Website on Internet Archive Wayback machine)
https://www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
http://www.simon.com/mall/directory (Website on Internet Archive Wayback machine)
https://business.simon.com/leasing/the-galleria (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.click2houston.com
https://www.click2houston.com
https://www.upi.com
"Houston Galleria" and "Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II" articles on Wikipedia
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