San Pedro Avenue and West Rector Road
San Antonio, Texas
NORTH STAR MALL was the fourth regional shopping complex built by Maryland's James W. Rouse Company and the third endeavor of its Community Research & Development Corporation subsidiary. The complex was developed on a 53.9-acre tract, located 9 miles north of downtown San Antonio. The site was adjacent to a newly-completed stretch of the "Loop 13" Expressway (later known as the "Loop I 410-Connally Loop").
Grand Rapids, Michigan's Daverman & Associates designed the Phase I structure. Its official dedication was held on September 23, 1960. Attending the grand opening were Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (wife of US Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson, future US President), and Idanell "Nellie" Connally (First Lady of Texas 1963-1969). A time capsule -to be opened in 1985- was laid as part of the festivities.
The fully-enclosed mall encompassed 339,000 leasable square feet and housed forty-two stores and services. The sole anchor was a 2-level (62,000 square foot), San Antonio-based Wolff & Marx department store.
Charter tenants included Walgreen Drug, Western Auto, Luby's Cafeteria, Lerner Shops, Singer Sewing Center, Pet Pantry, National Shirt Shops, an H-E-B (Howard E. Butt) supermarket and S.S. Kresge 5 & 10. The original mall featured wooden trellis ceiling treatments, fountains and a bird aviary.
Construction commenced on a Phase II expansion in February 1963. Designed by Katzman & Associates of Los Angeles, it added 160,000 square feet -and eighteen stores- to the east end of the complex. A large enclosed plaza, The Spanish Court, now fronted on the 1-level (44,000 square foot), San Antonio-based, Frost Brothers Fashion Square.
The addition was formally dedicated on October 28, 1963. New inline stores included The Vogue, Gildermeister Jewelers, The Branding Iron Restaurant, Gifts Unusual, Pants Parlour, the 1890 Sweet Shop and Halpern's Fabrics. Wolff & Marx had also been enlarged to 82,000 square feet. NORTH STAR MALL now encompassed approximately 543,000 leasable square feet, with a directory of eighty-eight stores and services.
On December 25, 1964, the General Cinema Corporation Cinema I & II North Star Mall showed first features. The theater extended from the new eastward addition, but was not accessible from the enclosed shopping concourse.
Construction commenced on a Phase II expansion in February 1963. Designed by Katzman & Associates of Los Angeles, it added 160,000 square feet -and eighteen stores- to the east end of the complex. A large enclosed plaza, The Spanish Court, now fronted on the 1-level (44,000 square foot), San Antonio-based, Frost Brothers Fashion Square.
The addition was formally dedicated on October 28, 1963. New inline stores included The Vogue, Gildermeister Jewelers, The Branding Iron Restaurant, Gifts Unusual, Pants Parlour, the 1890 Sweet Shop and Halpern's Fabrics. Wolff & Marx had also been enlarged to 82,000 square feet. NORTH STAR MALL now encompassed approximately 543,000 leasable square feet, with a directory of eighty-eight stores and services.
On December 25, 1964, the General Cinema Corporation Cinema I & II North Star Mall showed first features. The theater extended from the new eastward addition, but was not accessible from the enclosed shopping concourse.
CENTRAL PARK MALL became a primary competitor in 1968. This complex was built on a parcel directly west of NORTH STAR MALL. Other shopping hubs in the vicinity included WONDERLAND SHOPPING CITY (1961) {3.5 miles southwest, in Balcones Heights}, McCRELESS SHOPPING CITY (1962-2007) {9.4 miles south, in San Antonio}, INGRAM PARK MALL (1979) {8 miles southwest, in San Antonio} and ROLLING OAKS MALL (1988) {9.9 miles northeast, also in San Antonio}.
A Phase III addition to NORTH STAR MALL was also envisaged by Los Angeles' Katzman & Associates. The "La Fuente Del Sol" (fountain of the sun) expansion was completed in March 1969. It was centered around a large court area, with greenery and a stunning water feature.
Fourteen stores joined the tenant list, including Joan Bari, Chandler's shoes, The Courtyard Restaurant, Russell Stover Candies and a 4-level (204,000 square foot), San Antonio-based Joske's. The existing twin cinema was incorporated into the enclosed mall at this time and a 2-level (600-car) parking deck built in the southeast corner of the site. With these improvements, NORTH STAR MALL covered approximately 728,200 leasable square feet, with a total of 111 stores and services under its roof.
In 1970, Wolff & Marx came under the -Phoenix-based- Rhodes Southwest banner. The store was rebranded as Liberty House-Rhodes a few years later. It became a full-fledged Liberty House on August 8, 1977. Meanwhile, Frost Brothers Fashion Square had opened a second retail level in October 1972, which enlarged the store to 93,600 square feet.
The next mall renovation was done in the early '80s. The H-E-B supermarket and Walgreen Drug, on the west end, were razed and replaced with a 3-level (204,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's. This store held its grand opening in March 1981.
In 1982, a vacant Liberty House space was reconfigured. A mall within a mall, known as the Star Court, occupied the building's main level and was flanked by stores such as Brook's Fashions, Montalvo's, Mission Jewelry and Jade Tree Oriental Furniture. Apparently, the mall's first Food Court was also situated in this area.
A Phase III addition to NORTH STAR MALL was also envisaged by Los Angeles' Katzman & Associates. The "La Fuente Del Sol" (fountain of the sun) expansion was completed in March 1969. It was centered around a large court area, with greenery and a stunning water feature.
Fourteen stores joined the tenant list, including Joan Bari, Chandler's shoes, The Courtyard Restaurant, Russell Stover Candies and a 4-level (204,000 square foot), San Antonio-based Joske's. The existing twin cinema was incorporated into the enclosed mall at this time and a 2-level (600-car) parking deck built in the southeast corner of the site. With these improvements, NORTH STAR MALL covered approximately 728,200 leasable square feet, with a total of 111 stores and services under its roof.
In 1970, Wolff & Marx came under the -Phoenix-based- Rhodes Southwest banner. The store was rebranded as Liberty House-Rhodes a few years later. It became a full-fledged Liberty House on August 8, 1977. Meanwhile, Frost Brothers Fashion Square had opened a second retail level in October 1972, which enlarged the store to 93,600 square feet.
The next mall renovation was done in the early '80s. The H-E-B supermarket and Walgreen Drug, on the west end, were razed and replaced with a 3-level (204,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's. This store held its grand opening in March 1981.
In 1982, a vacant Liberty House space was reconfigured. A mall within a mall, known as the Star Court, occupied the building's main level and was flanked by stores such as Brook's Fashions, Montalvo's, Mission Jewelry and Jade Tree Oriental Furniture. Apparently, the mall's first Food Court was also situated in this area.
The basement level was reconfigured as the Music Court, which included a record store, musical instrument store, Expensive Toys for Big Boys and Oshman's Sporting Goods. A parking garage, at the northeast corner of the mall, was also completed in 1983.
A fifth addition to NORTH STAR MALL was undertaken in the mid-1980s. Designed by the HOK (Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum) firm, it added two 2-level concourses to the existing mall. A 2-level (104,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, anchoring a new Northeast Wing, opened for business on November 2, 1985.
A fifth addition to NORTH STAR MALL was undertaken in the mid-1980s. Designed by the HOK (Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum) firm, it added two 2-level concourses to the existing mall. A 2-level (104,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, anchoring a new Northeast Wing, opened for business on November 2, 1985.
A 3-level (178,000 square foot) Marshall Field's stood at the end of a new Northwest Wing. This store welcomed first shoppers in October 1986. The Upper Level of the Northwest Wing included a 14-bay Food Court; which was the second culinary complex to operate in the mall. A third parking structure was built at the northwest corner of the complex. Moreover, Foley's was enlarged to 256,000 square feet in a northward extension. A shuttered twin cinema was also gutted and reconfigured as inline store space.
With these modifications, the mall encompassed approximately 1,269,000 leasable square feet and contained 210 stores and services. A fourth parking structure was added to the southwest corner of the complex in the early 1990s, increasing the parking capacity of all lots and garages to 7,000 autos.
Joske's had been rebranded as a Dillard's in April 1987. In mid-1989, Frost Brothers was liquidated. Its former store space became a Mervyn's on October 25, 1992. January 1997 brought the shuttering of Marshall Field's, which re-opened, as a Macy's, on June 6, 1997. This store's liquidation sale commenced in July 2005.
Ownership of the mall also changed over the decades. The Rouse Company sold a 63 percent share to Rotterdam, Holland-based Rodamco in 1974. An additional 32 percent share was acquired by Rodamco Europe in the year 2000. In early 2002, the Rouse Company acquired the 95 percent share of the mall owned by Rodamco Europe and re-established full ownership. Chicago-based General Growth Properties acquired the Rouse Company in 2004 and assumed full ownership of NORTH STAR MALL.
Joske's had been rebranded as a Dillard's in April 1987. In mid-1989, Frost Brothers was liquidated. Its former store space became a Mervyn's on October 25, 1992. January 1997 brought the shuttering of Marshall Field's, which re-opened, as a Macy's, on June 6, 1997. This store's liquidation sale commenced in July 2005.
Ownership of the mall also changed over the decades. The Rouse Company sold a 63 percent share to Rotterdam, Holland-based Rodamco in 1974. An additional 32 percent share was acquired by Rodamco Europe in the year 2000. In early 2002, the Rouse Company acquired the 95 percent share of the mall owned by Rodamco Europe and re-established full ownership. Chicago-based General Growth Properties acquired the Rouse Company in 2004 and assumed full ownership of NORTH STAR MALL.
In 2004, GGP announced a major face lift for the shopping center, which was completed in 2005. This project installed soft seating areas, tile flooring, landscaping and new ceiling treatments. Mall entrances were also rebuilt and the Food Court refurbished. Macy's returned to NORTH STAR MALL after a 14-month hiatus. They rebranded the Foley's chain on September 9, 2006. J.C. Penney opened a store, in the old Marshall Field's-Macy's building, on July 29, 2007.
The most recent anchor alteration at NORTH STAR MALL transpired after the shuttering of Mervyn's, in December 2008. The vacant building, and a strip of inline stores running along its north side, were rebuilt into eight new retail spaces. Los Angeles-based Forever 21 opened a 2-level (80,900 spare foot) store on August 28, 2010. The remaining slots were taken by Aldo Shoes, Guess Accessories, Vera Bradley, Guess by Marciano, Cache', Sunglass Hut and Marble Slab Creamery.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, NORTH STAR MALL became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
The most recent anchor alteration at NORTH STAR MALL transpired after the shuttering of Mervyn's, in December 2008. The vacant building, and a strip of inline stores running along its north side, were rebuilt into eight new retail spaces. Los Angeles-based Forever 21 opened a 2-level (80,900 spare foot) store on August 28, 2010. The remaining slots were taken by Aldo Shoes, Guess Accessories, Vera Bradley, Guess by Marciano, Cache', Sunglass Hut and Marble Slab Creamery.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, NORTH STAR MALL became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
Sources:
The San Antonio Express-News
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
Bexar County, Texas Tax Assessor website
http://www.therousecompany.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.northstarmall.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.northstarmall.com
http://www.mysanantonio.com
http://www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
Bexar County, Texas Tax Assessor website
http://www.therousecompany.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.northstarmall.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.northstarmall.com
http://www.mysanantonio.com
http://www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
