Almeda Mall
A shopping mall in southeast Houston, Texas, serving the Genoa area along Interstate 45.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Almeda Mall is a shopping center in the Genoa area of southeast Houston, Texas, located along Interstate 45. Developed by The Rouse Company through a dedicated subsidiary, Almeda Mall, Inc., it was conceived as a major regional retail destination and was closely related to Rouse's Northwest Mall, which opened shortly afterward. The two properties were designed as near-twin shopping centers. The development began with the construction of its department-store anchors in the 1960s. Foley's opened as a standalone store on October 3, 1966, preceding the main mall by approximately two years. Almeda Mall officially opened on October 10, 1968, when JCPenney joined Foley's as a second major anchor. At its peak position in the southeast Houston retail market, the mall served communities south and east of central Houston and functioned as a principal shopping destination for the area. Almeda's competitive position weakened after Baybrook Mall opened in 1978 several exits south. Baybrook was closer to the growing and relatively affluent Clear Lake and NASA-area customer base, and it quickly became the stronger regional destination. The mall faced additional pressure in the 2000s as retailers expanded into nearby Pearland, including the opening of Pearland Town Center in 2008. Even during this period, the property retained a substantial tenant base; it was reported to be approximately 95 percent occupied in 2006. The tenant mix changed repeatedly as department stores and junior anchors left or were replaced. JCPenney closed its Almeda location in 2006 and relocated to Pasadena, Texas. Burlington Coat Factory subsequently occupied the former JCPenney space. Foley's was converted to Macy's following the acquisition of Foley's parent, The May Department Stores Company, by Macy's in 2005; the Almeda store adopted the Macy's identity in 2006. Palais Royal closed in 2019, and its former role was later associated with 3.6.5, which had previously operated elsewhere in the mall. Other reported junior anchors include dd's DISCOUNTS. The property underwent a renovation project around 2017, including replacement of older brown brick flooring and wall finishes. Nevertheless, the mall continued to lose traditional department-store anchors. Burlington closed in 2023 and moved to a nearby shopping center known as Orange Grove. Macy's announced on January 9, 2025, that the Almeda location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program; the store closed in March 2025. This left Almeda Mall without a conventional department-store anchor. The former Macy's space is being repositioned as The Market at Almeda, described as a large indoor marketplace and grocery-anchored retail development. Plans call for approximately 290,000 square feet of space, including a roughly 65,000-square-foot grocery store, a fitness center, restaurants, and a beauty school. Redevelopment activity was reported to have begun in the former Macy's space in late 2025, with construction described as beginning in 2026. The project represents a strategic shift from the mall's historic department-store format toward a mixed retail, service, food, and community-oriented marketplace. Almeda Mall therefore remains an active retail property, but its operating model is evolving from a traditional enclosed regional mall into a more diversified neighborhood and destination shopping complex.
History
The Rouse Company established Almeda Mall, Inc. to develop the property in southeast Houston. Construction began in the early 1960s, initially focused on the department-store anchors. Foley's opened as a standalone store on October 3, 1966. The enclosed mall followed on October 10, 1968, with JCPenney joining Foley's as a second anchor. Almeda Mall and Northwest Mall, another Rouse development, were designed as closely related near-twin properties. For its first decade, Almeda was the leading shopping center serving the area southeast of Houston. Its position changed significantly in 1978 when Baybrook Mall opened several exits south, closer to the Clear Lake and NASA communities. Baybrook rapidly became the more powerful regional competitor. Almeda later faced further competition from retail development in Pearland, particularly after Pearland Town Center opened in 2008. The mall's department-store lineup changed over time. JCPenney closed in 2006 and moved to Pasadena, Texas, after which Burlington Coat Factory took over the former anchor space. Foley's was converted to Macy's in 2006 after the acquisition of The May Department Stores Company by Macy's. Around 2006, the property was reported to be about 95 percent occupied, and Glimcher Realty Trust placed Almeda Mall and Northwest Mall on the market. Northwest Mall was later acquired by WCF Mall Management and ultimately closed permanently in March 2017. Almeda itself continued operating but experienced further tenant turnover. A renovation project around 2017 replaced the mall's older brown brick flooring and wall treatments. Palais Royal closed in 2019, while 3.6.5 and dd's DISCOUNTS represented newer value-oriented junior-anchor formats. Burlington closed in 2023 and moved to the nearby Orange Grove center. Macy's announced in January 2025 that it would close the Almeda store as part of a national program, and the location shut in March 2025. The Macy's closure left the mall without a conventional department-store anchor and prompted a major change in the property's intended use. The former Macy's space began to be redeveloped as The Market at Almeda, described as an approximately 290,000-square-foot indoor marketplace. The planned complex is intended to include a 65,000-square-foot grocery store, a fitness center, restaurants, and a beauty school. Reports described redevelopment activity in late 2025 and construction beginning in 2026. This shift reflects the property's move away from the classic department-store mall model toward a mixed-use retail and services format designed around everyday needs, food, discount shopping, and community-oriented amenities.
- 2026
Construction planned for The Market at Almeda
[1]Construction is described as beginning on the redevelopment of the former Macy's space into The Market at Almeda.
- 2025
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's announces the closure of its Almeda store in January, and the location closes in March as part of a nationwide store-reduction plan.
- 2023
Burlington relocates
[1]Burlington closes at Almeda Mall and relocates to the neighboring Orange Grove shopping center.
- 2019
Palais Royal closes
[1]Palais Royal leaves the property, contributing to continued changes in the mall's anchor and junior-anchor structure.
- 2017
Mall renovation
[1]The property undergoes a reported million-dollar renovation, including replacement of older flooring and wall finishes.
- 2008
Pearland Town Center adds competitive pressure
[1]The opening of Pearland Town Center contributes to the competitive pressure from newer retail development near Almeda Mall.
- 2006
JCPenney closes and Foley's becomes Macy's
[1]JCPenney closes and relocates to Pasadena, while the Foley's anchor is rebranded as Macy's. Burlington later takes over the former JCPenney space.
- 1978
Baybrook Mall intensifies regional competition
[1]Baybrook Mall opens several exits south, closer to Clear Lake and NASA-area customers, and becomes a stronger regional competitor to Almeda.
- 1968
Almeda Mall opens
[1]Almeda Mall opens on October 10, 1968, with Foley's and JCPenney as its principal department-store anchors.
- 1966
Foley's opens before the mall
[1]Foley's opens as a standalone department store on October 3, 1966, establishing the first major anchor associated with the future Almeda Mall.
Products and positioning
A southeast Houston shopping center transitioning from a traditional department-store-anchored regional mall toward a diversified, value-oriented indoor marketplace with grocery, dining, fitness, beauty, and specialty retail uses.
Shopping mall · 1968
Almeda Mall retail center
The principal offering is enclosed shopping-center space serving southeast Houston. Historically, the mall combined department stores, junior anchors, specialty retailers, food uses, and services. Its reported leasable area is 782,353 square feet, or approximately 72,683 square meters.
Retail redevelopment · 2025
The Market at Almeda
The Market at Almeda is the planned redevelopment of the former Macy's space. It is described as an approximately 290,000-square-foot indoor marketplace with a 65,000-square-foot grocery store, fitness facilities, restaurants, and a beauty school. The project is intended to diversify the property beyond traditional department-store anchoring.
Discount retail
dd's DISCOUNTS
dd's DISCOUNTS is identified as one of Almeda Mall's junior-anchor tenants. The format is associated with value-focused general merchandise and apparel retail, helping support the mall's discount-oriented tenant mix.
Discount retail
3.6.5
3.6.5 is identified as a junior-anchor store associated with Almeda Mall. It later occupied space connected with the former Palais Royal and had previously operated in the mall's south wing near Burlington.
Brand decisions
2025
Redevelop the former Macy's anchorStrategyBackground
Macy's announced the closure of its Almeda store, leaving the mall without a traditional department-store anchor.
Action taken
The former Macy's space began to be repositioned as The Market at Almeda, a planned indoor marketplace with grocery, fitness, restaurant, and beauty-school uses.
Aftermath
The redevelopment is intended to create a more diversified, everyday-needs-oriented retail destination. Construction was described as beginning in 2026.
2017
Refresh the mall's interior finishesStrategyBackground
The property faced competition from newer regional and suburban retail destinations and required a physical refresh.
Action taken
Almeda Mall undertook a reported million-dollar renovation that replaced older brown brick flooring and wall treatments.
Aftermath
The renovation modernized the interior environment, although subsequent anchor closures continued to reshape the property.
Sources2 sources
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