Arboretum (Austin, Texas) facts for kids
The Arboretum is a popular shopping area in Austin, Texas. It's known for its nice stores and restaurants. This area is located where three major roads meet: U.S. Route 183 (also called Research Boulevard), Capital of Texas Highway, and Mopac Expressway.
The Arboretum at Great Hills: A Shopping Park
The main part of The Arboretum is called The Arboretum at Great Hills. It's a large shopping center, about 210,197 square feet in size. It was built by a company called Trammell Crow Company and opened in 1985. Today, Simon Malls manages it. The name "Arboretum" comes from the many trees and park-like areas found here. An arboretum is a place where many different kinds of trees are grown.
The first big business to open at The Arboretum was a large hotel. It opened on September 10, 1986. This hotel is now known as the Renaissance Austin. It has many rooms and lots of space for meetings.
This outdoor shopping area has several open park spaces. You can also find the Renaissance Hotel and many other shops and places to eat. In the park areas, there are five cool cow statues. These statues were made by a sculptor named Harold F. Clayton. There used to be a movie theater here, but it moved in 2002. A restaurant called The Cheesecake Factory took its place.
Since 1998, The Arboretum has been owned by a company called Washington Prime Group.
Arboretum Market: More Great Shops
Right across the street, another shopping area called Arboretum Market opened in 1987. This market also has many nice stores. It used to have the only Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Austin. Saks Fifth Avenue is a famous store that sells fancy clothes and items.
Before Saks Fifth Avenue, the space was a special grocery store called Simon David. That grocery store closed in 1996. Saks Fifth Avenue then opened there on November 15, 1997. It was about 52,000 to 55,000 square feet in size. The Saks store closed on December 31, 2012.
Later, on June 20, 2014, the old Saks store was changed into a Trader Joe's grocery store. Trader Joe's is a popular store known for its unique food items.
