The Shops at Willow Bend facts for kids
Center court, January 2013
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| Location | Plano, Texas, United States |
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| Opening date | August 3, 2001 |
| Developer | Taubman Centers |
| Management | The Woodmont Company |
| Architect | JPRA Architect |
| No. of stores and services | 150 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 4 |
| Total retail floor area | 1,391,000 sq ft (129,200 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 (3 in Macy's, Dillard's, and Neiman Marcus, 1 in Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware) |
The Shops at Willow Bend, often called Willow Bend Mall, is a large shopping center in Plano, Texas. It has over 125 stores and three main anchor stores. You can find it where West Park Boulevard and Dallas North Tollway meet in West Plano.
Contents
Mall History and Changes
The Shops at Willow Bend first opened its doors on August 3, 2001. When it opened, about 75% of its stores were ready for shoppers. It started with four big anchor stores.
Early Challenges for the Mall
The mall faced some tough times early on. It opened just before the September 11 attacks, which caused people to spend less money across the country. Also, another large mall, Stonebriar Centre, had opened nearby in Frisco a year earlier. Stonebriar was bigger and had more fun things like a movie theater and an ice skating rink. It also had a wider variety of stores and restaurants.
Original Stores and Upscale Focus
The company that built and first managed the mall, Taubman Centers, was very careful about which stores could open there. They wanted Willow Bend to be a fancy place for shoppers, especially women who liked luxury fashion.
The first four anchor stores were Dillard's, Foley's, Lord & Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. The Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus stores moved from an older mall that was torn down. Some of the first luxury stores included Escada, Burberry, Montblanc, and Apple. Over time, many of these very high-end stores were replaced with more common chain stores that appealed to more people.
Changes in Anchor Stores
In 2004, Saks Fifth Avenue joined as a fifth anchor store. However, later that same year, Lord & Taylor closed its store. They said the area had too many competing malls.
In 2006, the Foley's store changed its name to Macy's. By 2010, the mall had only three anchor stores because Saks Fifth Avenue closed. In 2011, a Crate & Barrel store opened where the old Lord & Taylor used to be.
New Ownership and Updates
In 2014, a company called Starwood Capital Group bought the mall. They bought it as part of a deal for seven properties.
In 2015, plans were announced for a big makeover of the mall. The old Saks Fifth Avenue building was going to be changed into new restaurants and fun places for entertainment.
In March 2018, the Crayola Experience opened. This is a large, colorful attraction for families, located between Macy's and the food court.
In April 2019, the Apple Store moved from Willow Bend to another mall, Galleria Dallas.
Main Anchor Stores Today
These are the big stores that help bring shoppers to The Shops at Willow Bend:
- Neiman Marcus (opened 2001)
- Dillard's (opened 2001)
- Macy's (opened as Foley's in 2001, changed to Macy's in 2006)
- Crate & Barrel (opened 2011, built where Lord & Taylor used to be)
Past Anchor Stores
These are some of the major stores that used to be at the mall:
- Lord & Taylor (opened 2001, closed 2004)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (opened 2004, closed 2010)
Images for kids
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Center court, January 2013
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Neiman Marcus Court, a comfy seating area.
