Highland Park Village facts for kids
Highland Park Village during the 2005 Christmas Season
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| Location | Highland Park, Texas, United States |
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| Coordinates | 32°50′9″N 96°48′20″W / 32.83583°N 96.80556°W |
| Address | Jct. of Preston Rd. and Mockingbird Ln. |
| Opening date | 1931 |
| Developer | Flippen-Prather Realty, Inc. |
| Management | HP Village Partners, LP |
| Owner | HP Village Partners, LP |
| Architect | Marion F. Fooshee, James B. Cheek |
| No. of stores and services | 101 |
| Total retail floor area | 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 1 |
| Parking | 1,106 |
| Public transit access | DART Bus Route 36 |
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Highland Park Shopping Village
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001393 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1997 |
| Designated NHL | February 16, 2000 |
Highland Park Village is a famous shopping center in Highland Park, Texas. It is located where Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road meet. This special place was the very first self-contained shopping center in America. In 2000, it was officially named a National Historic Landmark.
Contents
History of Highland Park Village
In the early 1900s, Edgar Flippen and Hugh Prather, Sr. had an idea. They wanted to build a shopping center in Highland Park. It would be like a town square for everyone to enjoy.
Designing the Shopping Center
To get ideas, the developers traveled far away. They visited places like Barcelona and Seville in Spain. They also explored Mexico and California. They studied the beautiful buildings there. This helped them plan the look of their new shopping center.
They hired two American architects, Marion F. Fooshee and James B. Cheek. These architects designed the center. It officially opened its doors in 1931.
Changes Over Time
After Hugh Prather, Sr. passed away in 1959, his sons took over. But in 1966, a company called Howard Corporation bought the shopping center. Under their care, the Village started to look a bit neglected. The landscaping wasn't kept up, and the classic Spanish arches were even covered.
In 1976, the Howard Corporation decided to sell the Village. Henry S. Miller, Jr. saw the potential in the shopping center. His father had worked with the original developers. So, Henry S. Miller and his partners bought the property for $5 million in 1976.
Becoming a Luxury Destination
Under Henry S. Miller's ownership, Highland Park Village changed a lot. It quickly became a top spot for luxury shopping. Famous designer stores like Ralph Lauren and the first Chanel in Texas opened here.
The shopping center received important recognition. On November 17, 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then, on February 16, 2000, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.
In 2009, a new group of owners bought Highland Park Village. They paid a record $170 million for it. Even during a tough economy, the Village stayed strong. New luxury stores continued to open. For example, Texas' only Christian Louboutin store opened here.
More famous brands arrived in 2013. These included Christian Dior, Tom Ford, and Alexander McQueen. Other luxury shops like Brunello Cucinelli and Ermenegildo Zegna also joined. A new Saint Laurent Paris store opened as well.
Retail Value
Highland Park Village is one of the most expensive places to rent a store in Texas. It costs about $125 per square foot. This is still less than luxury areas in bigger cities like New York City. The Village is located near very wealthy neighborhoods. Stores here make a lot of money, selling between $1,000 and $1,500 per square foot each year.
Amenities at the Village
The Village Theater is also located at Highland Park Village. It was Texas' first luxury movie theater. When it opened in 1935, it cost over $100,000 to build. That was a huge amount of money back then!
Theater Renovations
In 1979, the theater was updated. The balcony was turned into a second movie screen. In 1987, AMC Theatres bought it. They changed the inside, adding two new screens upstairs. The theater was renovated again in 2010.
Dining Options
Besides shopping and movies, the Village has many places to eat. You can find cafes and bistros. There are also special shops for cheese and drinks.
Images for kids
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A view of Highland Park Village.
