Houston — Simon will also build a 14,000-square-foot, freestanding retail building along Westheimer Road.
The 2.4 million-square-foot Houston Galleria shopping center will undergo a $250 million renovation, according to mall owner Simon Property Group. The comprehensive renovation is scheduled to begin this spring, though components of it have already begun. The renovation will include a new 200,000-square-foot flagship store for Saks Fifth Avenue. The new store will be located adjacent to Saks’ former location. The mall opened in 1970. The last time the Houston Galleria underwent a renovation/expansion was in 2006. Simon plans to turn the old space into a new multi-level mall extension that will feature 110,000 square feet of space to house 35 new retailers and restaurants. The extension will be anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue on one end and Neiman Marcus on the other.
Houston Galleria’s luxury wing will also receive a $30 million facelift. La Perla and Tod’s are scheduled to take up occupancy in the wing later this year, while Top Shop and Top Man will open in March. Celine will open its doors in 2016. These newcomers will be joined by existing retailers like John Varvatos, Tourbillion, Rolex, Trina Turk and Hublot. Chanel, Gucci, Bulgari, Versace, CH Carolina Herrera, David Yurman, Ralph Lauren, Apple and Tory Burch recently renewed their leases and underwent renovations. Simon will also build a 14,000-square-foot, freestanding retail building along Westheimer Road. This will be the mall’s only freestanding retail structure. It will connect to the rest of the shopping center via a covered walkway.
Houston Galleria is Texas’ largest shopping center. It contains 400 stores and restaurants, two high-rise hotels and three office towers.
— Nellie Day