Non declining malls (Houston, Pasadena, The Woodlands: restaurants, shoppers, properties)

[mkwensky]

Aside from the Galleria and Memorial City, is there another mall in Houston that's not showing signs of decline? It seems to me all of the other ones I've been to are sad, decaying places.
Is this typical of malls in this state or the whole country? I don't go to malls when I visit other cities so I can't tell.

[snackdog]

Malls peaked in the 1980s.

[gwarnecke]

Top-Tier Mall in the greater Houston area = Galleria

Second-Tier Malls: Memorial City Mall and Baybrook Mall

Third-Tier? Probably Willowbrook Mall, Deerbrook Mall, The Woodlands Mall, and First Colony Mall

I'd say Galleria, Memorial City Mall, and Baybrook are all pretty strong, without signs of decline. The third-tier malls are at least fairly stable, without major anchor departures or a lot of vacancies in the in-line store spaces.

Every other mall I've seen in the Houston area is pretty dreary (to name a few - Greenspoint Mall, West Oaks Mall, Pasadena Town Square, and Mall of the Mainland).

[Texas Ag 93]

Agree with the above ^^.

Baybrook is my local mall and it's fine. They've built a new outdoor section over the past couple of years that has lots of restaurants and green space. I probably go to that side of the mall twice a month to meet people for a meal, but only venture inside the mall once every 2-3 months.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Aside from the Galleria and Memorial City, is there another mall in Houston that's not showing signs of decline? It seems to me all of the other ones I've been to are sad, decaying places.
Is this typical of malls in this state or the whole country? I don't go to malls when I visit other cities so I can't tell.

Its typical of malls everywhere.

Just here, Northline, Meyerland, Westwood, Gulfgate, Northwest, Town & Country don't exist as malls anymore. Mall of the Mainland, Sharpstown and some others are barely afloat.

[AcresHomes44]

Northwest Mall was the premier mall for NW Houston before Willowbrook Mall came along. That was the first mall I frequented before Willowbrook. I don't see Willowbrook Mall going anywhere because that would leave NW Houston without a mall, so shoppers would have to go to other parts of the city to shop.

[SK115]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

Top-Tier Mall in the greater Houston area = Galleria

Second-Tier Malls: Memorial City Mall and Baybrook Mall

Third-Tier? Probably Willowbrook Mall, Deerbrook Mall, The Woodlands Mall, and First Colony Mall

I'd say Galleria, Memorial City Mall, and Baybrook are all pretty strong, without signs of decline. The third-tier malls are at least fairly stable, without major anchor departures or a lot of vacancies in the in-line store spaces.

Every other mall I've seen in the Houston area is pretty dreary (to name a few - Greenspoint Mall, West Oaks Mall, Pasadena Town Square, and Mall of the Mainland).

What makes Baybrook a second-tier and Woodlands and First Colony third-tier? Woodlands has the only Nordstrom (not rack) department store besides the Galleria location. And First Colony seems to be pretty nice and has lots of crowds when I have gone.

[gwarnecke]

I'd acknowledge that the boundaries between second- and third-tier malls are a bit fuzzy.

I'd put Memorial City and Baybrook ahead of First Colony Mall and The Woodlands Mall by virtue of their sizes and their ability to draw huge crowds from broad surrounding areas. This is probably as much of a function of the mall's location as it is the quality of the mall itself. For example - Baybrook Mall is pretty much the only strong mall anywhere on the SE side of Houston, whereas the Woodlands Mall is sandwiched between Willowbrook Mall and Deerbrook Mall on the N side. First Colony Mall does stand by itself on the SW side, but it is only a 15-20 minute drive from the Galleria outside of rush hour.

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

I'd acknowledge that the boundaries between second- and third-tier malls are a bit fuzzy.

I'd put Memorial City and Baybrook ahead of First Colony Mall and The Woodlands Mall by virtue of their sizes and their ability to draw huge crowds from broad surrounding areas. This is probably as much of a function of the mall's location as it is the quality of the mall itself. For example - Baybrook Mall is pretty much the only strong mall anywhere on the SE side of Houston, whereas the Woodlands Mall is sandwiched between Willowbrook Mall and Deerbrook Mall on the N side. First Colony Mall does stand by itself on the SW side, but it is only a 15-20 minute drive from the Galleria outside of rush hour.

Location wise Katy Mills and West Oaks seem to underperform by a lot. Other factors must be at work to account for their relative decrepitude.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Location wise Katy Mills and West Oaks seem to underperform by a lot. Other factors must be at work to account for their relative decrepitude.

Katy Mills is not really comparable to the other malls, in terms of store mix and orientation - all Mills properties are technically outlets (though you could argue a little given that Bass Pro and Burlington are anchors).