SHARPSTOWN CENTER
Southwest Freeway / US 59 and Bellaire BoulevardHouston, Texas
Houston's SHARPSTOWN CENTER was a component of a large post-war housing development. The Sharpstown plat eventually contained nearly 25,000 housing units and was one of the nation's largest "Baby Boom" suburbs.
A defacto downtown was built on a 70-acre site, located 8.9 miles southwest of Houston's urban core. Like the subdivision that preceded it, the mall was developed by Houston's Frank W. Sharp. It was designed by the Sidney H. Morris & Associates firm of Chicago and Claude E. Hooten, Senior of Houston.
An official groundbreaking was held on January 21, 1960. The mall's dedication took place on September 14, 1961. The festivities began with a benediction by Bishop Kenneth Pope. Speeches were given by US Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D), US Congressman Albert R. Thomas (D), and Max Levine (President of Foley's department stores). A ceremonial ribbon, the longest on record, extended the full length of the main shopping concourse. With a signal from developer Frank Sharp, the ribbon was simultaneously cut at forty-five places.
The single-level SHARPSTOWN CENTER covered approximately 760,000 leasable square feet. It was anchored by a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward, 3-level (170,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's and 2-level (85,000 square foot), Houston-based Battelstein's.
Among the forty-five charter stores were Houston Trunk Factory, Walgreen Drug, Wyatt's Cafeteria, Leopold & Price, Florsheim Shoes, Price & Rolle, Flagg Brothers Shoes, Bond Clothes, Lerner Shops, Chandler's Shoes, Margolis Shoes, Adrien's Fashions, a Florian's MiniMax supermarket and (45,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10. The Jefferson Amusement Company Gaylynn Theatre, a northeastern outparcel, opened on May 27, 1965.
SHARPSTOWN CENTER was a state-of-the-art shopping facility. Its heating and air-conditioning were automatically controlled by time program clocks, which would close off segments of the system during non-business hours. Interior and exterior lighting were also automatically adjusted by photo-electric cells that sensed day and night.
In order to improve access to his retail hub, Frank Sharp donated a strip of land for a section of a prospective Southwest Freeway. The new thoroughfare was extended to an exit at Bellaire Boulevard on August 1, 1962.
An official groundbreaking was held on January 21, 1960. The mall's dedication took place on September 14, 1961. The festivities began with a benediction by Bishop Kenneth Pope. Speeches were given by US Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D), US Congressman Albert R. Thomas (D), and Max Levine (President of Foley's department stores). A ceremonial ribbon, the longest on record, extended the full length of the main shopping concourse. With a signal from developer Frank Sharp, the ribbon was simultaneously cut at forty-five places.
The single-level SHARPSTOWN CENTER covered approximately 760,000 leasable square feet. It was anchored by a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward, 3-level (170,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's and 2-level (85,000 square foot), Houston-based Battelstein's.
Among the forty-five charter stores were Houston Trunk Factory, Walgreen Drug, Wyatt's Cafeteria, Leopold & Price, Florsheim Shoes, Price & Rolle, Flagg Brothers Shoes, Bond Clothes, Lerner Shops, Chandler's Shoes, Margolis Shoes, Adrien's Fashions, a Florian's MiniMax supermarket and (45,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10. The Jefferson Amusement Company Gaylynn Theatre, a northeastern outparcel, opened on May 27, 1965.
SHARPSTOWN CENTER was a state-of-the-art shopping facility. Its heating and air-conditioning were automatically controlled by time program clocks, which would close off segments of the system during non-business hours. Interior and exterior lighting were also automatically adjusted by photo-electric cells that sensed day and night.
In order to improve access to his retail hub, Frank Sharp donated a strip of land for a section of a prospective Southwest Freeway. The new thoroughfare was extended to an exit at Bellaire Boulevard on August 1, 1962.
Commercial competition was intense in Greater Houston. The first retail rival of SHARPSTOWN would have been MEYERLAND PLAZA (1957) {1.9 miles southeast, in Houston}, then NORTHWEST MALL (1968) {7 miles northeast, in Houston}. The following decades brought WESTWOOD MALL (1975-1998) {2.6 miles southwest, in Houston}, WEST OAKS MALL {7.8 miles northwest, in Harris County}, FIRST COLONY MALL (1996) {10.1 miles southwest, in Sugarland} and, lastly, the FOUNTAINS ON THE LAKE open-air plaza (1997) {6 miles southwest, in Stafford}.
The SHARPSTOWN Foley's was expanded in 1968 and 1972. The store now spanned 321,000 square feet. Montgomery Ward was also enlarged to 181,400 square feet. The first mall renovation was officially announced in August 1975. As part of this 12 million dollar project, the parking area was reconfigured and the mall's exterior given a face lift. On the interior, shopping concourses were updated with seating areas, landscaping, skylights and French tile flooring. New stores joined the directory, including Pottery Plus, Storehouse Furniture, Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels Salon, Palais Royal, Casual Corner, J. Riggings, The Gap and The Oak Tree.
Battelstein's store downsized into an enlarged (60,000 square foot) ground floor. The second level was reconfigured as Good Time Charley's, a 24-unit food and entertainment complex. This facility housed various gourmet and fast-food restaurants, as well as pastry shops, cocktail lounges and snack bars. There was a large seating area, a stage for live entertainment and 1907-vintage pipe organ.
A revamped shopping center was re-dedicated on November 11, 1976. Surprisingly, within 3 years, SHARPSTOWN CENTER was being renovated again. The supermarket on the north side of the center was razed in 1979, with a 2-level (177,200 square foot) J.C. Penney taking its place. Foley's was enlarged for a third time, with its floor area now measuring 360,800 square feet.
The shopping concourse was refitted with an upper level. 519,000 square feet -and eighty-five stores- were added. When the renovation was completed in 1981, SHARPSTOWN MALL encompassed approximately 1,344,300 leasable square feet and housed 142 stores. New tenants included Brookstone, Judy's ladies' wear and Foot Action.
Unfortunately, the mall began to falter during the oil bust of the mid-'80s. A 50 million dollar face lift was done between November 1992 and May 1993, which added the in-mall Cineplex Odeon Sharpstown Center 8. Moreover, the name of the shopping venue was changed back to SHARPSTOWN CENTER.
By 2001, the mall was in foreclosure. J.C. Penney had shuttered their store in May 1998. Montgomery Ward closed in March 2001, with Burlington Coat Factory assuming the vacancy. Houston's Tracy Suttles headed a joint venture which acquired the complex in November 2002. It was re-renamed SHARPSTOWN MALL and remarketed, to the African-American community, as "Houston's Premier Urban Mall."
Foley's ceased to exist on September 9, 2006, with the chain being rebranded by Macy's. Unfortunately, the SHARPSTOWN Macy's would be short-lived. The store went dark on March 15, 2008. Soon, the shopping facility was operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In 2009, the moribund mall was acquired by Philadelphia's RAIT Financial. In December, a 10 million dollar reinvention and redevelopment was announced. This would convert the mall into a Latin-oriented shopping and entertainment venue, known as PLAZAMERICAS. Grupo Zocalo, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Boxer Property Management, was enlisted to oversee the revitalization.
The old Penney's became Clarewood Mercado. The Foley's / Macy's space was eventually reconfigured as the Houston Trade Center. As an added attraction, mall management began to host free live entertainment on weekends, featuring salsa, mariachi, r & b, conjunto and norteno musics. In December 2018, PLAZAMERICAS was sold to Houston-based Baker Katz.
Sources:
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
The SHARPSTOWN Foley's was expanded in 1968 and 1972. The store now spanned 321,000 square feet. Montgomery Ward was also enlarged to 181,400 square feet. The first mall renovation was officially announced in August 1975. As part of this 12 million dollar project, the parking area was reconfigured and the mall's exterior given a face lift. On the interior, shopping concourses were updated with seating areas, landscaping, skylights and French tile flooring. New stores joined the directory, including Pottery Plus, Storehouse Furniture, Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels Salon, Palais Royal, Casual Corner, J. Riggings, The Gap and The Oak Tree.
Battelstein's store downsized into an enlarged (60,000 square foot) ground floor. The second level was reconfigured as Good Time Charley's, a 24-unit food and entertainment complex. This facility housed various gourmet and fast-food restaurants, as well as pastry shops, cocktail lounges and snack bars. There was a large seating area, a stage for live entertainment and 1907-vintage pipe organ.
A revamped shopping center was re-dedicated on November 11, 1976. Surprisingly, within 3 years, SHARPSTOWN CENTER was being renovated again. The supermarket on the north side of the center was razed in 1979, with a 2-level (177,200 square foot) J.C. Penney taking its place. Foley's was enlarged for a third time, with its floor area now measuring 360,800 square feet.
The shopping concourse was refitted with an upper level. 519,000 square feet -and eighty-five stores- were added. When the renovation was completed in 1981, SHARPSTOWN MALL encompassed approximately 1,344,300 leasable square feet and housed 142 stores. New tenants included Brookstone, Judy's ladies' wear and Foot Action.
Unfortunately, the mall began to falter during the oil bust of the mid-'80s. A 50 million dollar face lift was done between November 1992 and May 1993, which added the in-mall Cineplex Odeon Sharpstown Center 8. Moreover, the name of the shopping venue was changed back to SHARPSTOWN CENTER.
By 2001, the mall was in foreclosure. J.C. Penney had shuttered their store in May 1998. Montgomery Ward closed in March 2001, with Burlington Coat Factory assuming the vacancy. Houston's Tracy Suttles headed a joint venture which acquired the complex in November 2002. It was re-renamed SHARPSTOWN MALL and remarketed, to the African-American community, as "Houston's Premier Urban Mall."
Foley's ceased to exist on September 9, 2006, with the chain being rebranded by Macy's. Unfortunately, the SHARPSTOWN Macy's would be short-lived. The store went dark on March 15, 2008. Soon, the shopping facility was operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In 2009, the moribund mall was acquired by Philadelphia's RAIT Financial. In December, a 10 million dollar reinvention and redevelopment was announced. This would convert the mall into a Latin-oriented shopping and entertainment venue, known as PLAZAMERICAS. Grupo Zocalo, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Boxer Property Management, was enlisted to oversee the revitalization.
The old Penney's became Clarewood Mercado. The Foley's / Macy's space was eventually reconfigured as the Houston Trade Center. As an added attraction, mall management began to host free live entertainment on weekends, featuring salsa, mariachi, r & b, conjunto and norteno musics. In December 2018, PLAZAMERICAS was sold to Houston-based Baker Katz.
Sources:
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.topcities.com
http://www.sharpstowndistrict.com
http://www.houstonfreeways.com
Houston Architecture Info Forum / Post by "Sharpfan09"
Harris County, Texas property tax assessor website
"A Revival In Southwest Houston, Sharpstown Mall Gets A New Name And Life" / Carolyn Gallay / December 22, 2009
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.topcities.com
http://www.sharpstowndistrict.com
http://www.houstonfreeways.com
Houston Architecture Info Forum / Post by "Sharpfan09"
Harris County, Texas property tax assessor website
"A Revival In Southwest Houston, Sharpstown Mall Gets A New Name And Life" / Carolyn Gallay / December 22, 2009
https://www.mallsinamerica.com
FAIR USE OF SHARPSTOWN CENTER IMAGES:
The photographs and graphics from The University of Texas at Austin-Briscoe Center for American History and Bellaire Texan illustrate a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute the images in any way. The images are being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original images in any way.
