East 41st and Red River Streets
Austin, Texas
Noteworthy as Austin's first mall-type shopping complex, HANCOCK CENTER was the second mall built by Chicago-based Homart Development (the first being Fort Worth's SEMINARY SOUTH CENTER). HANCOCK CENTER was constructed on 34.2 acres, located 2 miles northeast of the Texas State Capitol.
The retail facility had had a rocky start. Its story began in the year 1900, when Austin Mayor Lewis Hancock established the Austin Country Club. This property was acquired by the City of Austin in December 1946. In the late 1950s, a 34-acre section was zoned commercial and sold to the newly-formed Homart Development Company, of Chicago.
A lawsuit was filed, protesting the sale of public property without a referendum having been held. The issue was put to a vote in February 1962, with Homart prevailing. Construction of HANCOCK CENTER was soon underway. Bartlett Cocke & Associates, of San Antonio, designed the mall-to-be. A freestanding Sears Auto Center became the first operational tenant, on May 1, 1963.
A lawsuit was filed, protesting the sale of public property without a referendum having been held. The issue was put to a vote in February 1962, with Homart prevailing. Construction of HANCOCK CENTER was soon underway. Bartlett Cocke & Associates, of San Antonio, designed the mall-to-be. A freestanding Sears Auto Center became the first operational tenant, on May 1, 1963.
A 2-level (147,800 square foot) Sears was dedicated on October 9th, 1963. Crowdus Baker (President of Sears Roebuck & Company) was on hand to cut a ceremonial ribbon. Also attending the grand opening were Lester Palmer (Mayor of Austin) and Jeanne Amacker "Miss Texas 1963."
The mall, and 2-level (88,000 square foot) Dillard's, were inaugurated on February 26, 1964. Among twenty charter stores and services were Wyatt's Cafeteria, Sommers Rexall Drug, Snyders-Chenards ladies' wear, Hi-Fi Imports, the El Chico Restaurant, an H-E-B (Howard E. Butt) supermarket and 2-level (52,700 square foot) G.C. Murphy 5 & 10. The 475,000 square foot complex complex included the 350-seat Town Hall community center.
Shopping malls in the HANCOCK CENTER trade area would eventually include HIGHLAND MALL (1971) {1.6 miles north, in Austin}, WESTGATE MALL (1972-1997) {6.6 miles southwest, in Austin}, NORTHCROSS MALL (1975) {3.9 miles northwest, in Austin} and BARTON CREEK SQUARE (1981) {5.7 miles southwest, also in Austin}.
The close proximity of HIGHLAND MALL caused HANCOCK CENTER to begin a slow decline. Hemmed-in by its location on a small 34 acre site, the complex was expanded only once; the H-E-B grocery doubled its size, with a 30,600 square foot northern extension, during the late 1970s. At this time, Homart sold HANCOCK CENTER to the Kingsmere Corporation.
Dillard's was shuttered in early 1990. Phar-Mor Drug renovated the building and opened for business on November 21, 1991. The Kingsmere Corporation had sold the mall in April 1990, with the buyer being Bethesda, Maryland's Interstate Equities. They initiated a 10 million dollar renovation in June 1991. A 42,000 square foot block of stores on the southeast was demolished. Remaining exteriors were spruced-up and the fountains and flower beds of the original mall were removed.
Unfortunately, the shopping center did not enjoy a renewal and slipped into decline once again. A new owner, the Dallas-based Pacific Retail Trust, came on the scene in 1996. A second renovation commenced in February 1997. This time, over 143,000 square feet of retail area was knocked down.
The existing Sears, its freestanding Auto Center, the original H-E-B structure and a two small sections of stores were retained and remodeled. A (90,200 square foot) H-E-B Superstore was built, along with three open-air store blocks. The new H-E-B debuted on March 21, 1998. The remainder of the new power plaza was dedicated soon after.
HANCOCK CENTER now encompassed 410,400 leasable square feet and housed stores such as Petco, 24 Hour Fitness and Bath & Body Works. The assets of the Pacific Retail Trust were acquired by Jacksonville, Florida-based Regency Centers in September 1998.
Sources:
The Statesman (Austin, Texas)
The Austin History Center
https://www.hancockna.org / "Hancock Neighborhood Association; Preserving the Hancock Neighgborhood in Austin, Texas" / Jalaane Levi-Garza and Louis Pauls / September 2011
Austin Chronicle / Feb 14, 1997 / "Hancock Center, R.I.P. : Everything Old Is New Again at 41st & I-35" / Mike Clark-Madison
http://companies.jrank.org
http://www.ci-austin.us
http://www.regencycenters.com / Regency Centers
http://www.austinmonthly.com
http://articles.latimes.com
The close proximity of HIGHLAND MALL caused HANCOCK CENTER to begin a slow decline. Hemmed-in by its location on a small 34 acre site, the complex was expanded only once; the H-E-B grocery doubled its size, with a 30,600 square foot northern extension, during the late 1970s. At this time, Homart sold HANCOCK CENTER to the Kingsmere Corporation.
Dillard's was shuttered in early 1990. Phar-Mor Drug renovated the building and opened for business on November 21, 1991. The Kingsmere Corporation had sold the mall in April 1990, with the buyer being Bethesda, Maryland's Interstate Equities. They initiated a 10 million dollar renovation in June 1991. A 42,000 square foot block of stores on the southeast was demolished. Remaining exteriors were spruced-up and the fountains and flower beds of the original mall were removed.
Unfortunately, the shopping center did not enjoy a renewal and slipped into decline once again. A new owner, the Dallas-based Pacific Retail Trust, came on the scene in 1996. A second renovation commenced in February 1997. This time, over 143,000 square feet of retail area was knocked down.
The existing Sears, its freestanding Auto Center, the original H-E-B structure and a two small sections of stores were retained and remodeled. A (90,200 square foot) H-E-B Superstore was built, along with three open-air store blocks. The new H-E-B debuted on March 21, 1998. The remainder of the new power plaza was dedicated soon after.
HANCOCK CENTER now encompassed 410,400 leasable square feet and housed stores such as Petco, 24 Hour Fitness and Bath & Body Works. The assets of the Pacific Retail Trust were acquired by Jacksonville, Florida-based Regency Centers in September 1998.
Sources:
The Statesman (Austin, Texas)
The Austin History Center
https://www.hancockna.org / "Hancock Neighborhood Association; Preserving the Hancock Neighgborhood in Austin, Texas" / Jalaane Levi-Garza and Louis Pauls / September 2011
Austin Chronicle / Feb 14, 1997 / "Hancock Center, R.I.P. : Everything Old Is New Again at 41st & I-35" / Mike Clark-Madison
http://companies.jrank.org
http://www.ci-austin.us
http://www.regencycenters.com / Regency Centers
http://www.austinmonthly.com
http://articles.latimes.com
