First Colony Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA regional shopping mall serving Sugar Land and Fort Bend County, Texas, in the Houston metropolitan area.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
First Colony Mall is a regional shopping mall in Sugar Land, Texas, approximately 25 miles southwest of central Houston. It stands south of the junction of Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59 and State Highway 6 and functions as a major retail destination for Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, and surrounding southwest Houston communities. The mall was conceived as a principal commercial element of the First Colony master-planned community, whose development helped transform the area from a largely suburban and exurban market into one of the Houston region's more affluent and rapidly growing suburban centers. The mall opened on March 14, 1996, as the first regional shopping mall in Fort Bend County. Its original development was undertaken by Sugarland Properties, a partnership involving Hines Interests Limited Partnership and a pension fund associated with Royal Dutch Shell. The project experienced delays during the economic disruption that followed Houston's 1980s oil glut. It also faced competition from a proposed mall in the nearby New Territory community, although that competing proposal did not proceed as planned. Before First Colony Mall opened, many Fort Bend County residents traveled to shopping centers such as Sharpstown Mall, Westwood Mall, and West Oaks Mall for department stores and other regional retail services. The original mall used a single-level, enclosed format with carpeted walkways, skylights, more than 100 stores, and a food court known as the Sugar Land Cafes. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Foley's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Mervyn's. The Mervyn's location was notable because it was the chain's first and only California-style store in the Greater Houston area. The mall was also unusual for opening without a Sears store, reflecting the existing strength of Sears locations at other Houston-area malls at the time. First Colony Mall materially changed the retail geography of Fort Bend County. Its opening drew shopping activity away from older regional centers, particularly Sharpstown and Westwood. Westwood Mall closed in 1998 and was later converted into a technology-oriented office complex, while West Oaks Mall retained customers from Houston's Energy Corridor and the Katy area. As Sugar Land's population and economy expanded, First Colony Mall gradually added more upscale and specialty retailers to complement its traditional department-store base. General Growth Properties began managing the mall around 1999 and acquired it outright in 2002. The property later became part of the Brookfield Properties portfolio through GGP's ownership structure. A major expansion completed in 2006 added an open-air lifestyle wing in front of the main entrance. The expansion included Barnes & Noble, restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and Grimaldi's Pizzeria, additional specialty shops, and a new Apple Store. Because the new wing occupied part of the former front parking area, the project also added parking garages near the Dillard's and Foley's buildings and introduced traffic-control changes around the mall entrance. The anchor mix subsequently evolved. Mervyn's closed its store as the chain withdrew from Houston, and Dillard's later occupied the former Mervyn's space with a merchandise focus that included men's clothing and housewares. Foley's became Macy's in September 2006 after Federated Department Stores acquired Foley's parent company, May Department Stores. Dick's Sporting Goods opened a new location in October 2016. The mall's broader tenant mix has combined conventional enclosed-mall retailers with higher-end, lifestyle, dining, entertainment, and specialty concepts. The surrounding commercial district also includes Sugar Land Town Square, large-format retail centers, Houston Methodist's Sugar Land campus, and an AMC Theatres multiplex on an outlying parcel southeast of the mall. First Colony Mall remains an active regional retail and entertainment complex. Its current identity is tied to the economic stre…
History
First Colony Mall was planned as a major commercial component of the First Colony master-planned community in Sugar Land, Texas. The development was intended to provide a regional shopping destination for Fort Bend County, whose residents previously depended heavily on older Houston-area malls such as Sharpstown Mall, Westwood Mall, and West Oaks Mall. The project was delayed by the economic effects of Houston's 1980s oil glut and by a competing proposal for a mall in the nearby New Territory development. That competing project did not come to fruition, allowing the First Colony proposal to proceed. The mall opened on March 14, 1996, as the first regional shopping mall in Fort Bend County. It was originally developed by Sugarland Properties, a partnership involving Hines Interests Limited Partnership and a pension fund associated with Royal Dutch Shell. The initial design was a single-level enclosed mall with skylights, carpeted walkways, a family-oriented atmosphere, more than 100 stores, and a food court called the Sugar Land Cafes. Its original anchors were Foley's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Mervyn's. The Mervyn's store was distinctive because it was the retailer's first and only Mervyn's California location in the Greater Houston area. First Colony also opened without a Sears store, unlike many established regional malls. The mall quickly affected the surrounding competitive landscape. Its opening contributed to reduced relevance for Sharpstown and Westwood malls, and Westwood closed in 1998 before being repurposed as a technology-focused office complex. West Oaks Mall continued to serve customers from Houston's Energy Corridor and Greater Katy, but First Colony became the primary regional mall for much of Sugar Land and Fort Bend County. On February 16, 1998, a tornado hit the mall and the nearby Sugar Land Aerodrome ice-skating complex. The storm damaged the southwest corner of Dillard's, causing a support wall to collapse and allowing several inches of water to accumulate inside the store. JCPenney suffered damage to an exterior wall and part of its roof, while the mall's sprinkler system and several specialty stores also sustained water damage. No one at the mall was killed or reported seriously injured despite the large President's Day shopping crowd. General Growth Properties took over management of the mall around 1999 and purchased the property outright in 2002. During the early 2000s, the mall's tenant mix shifted gradually toward more upscale and lifestyle-oriented concepts as Sugar Land grew economically. Williams Sonoma and Hollister were among the newer or higher-end additions mentioned during this period, although Williams Sonoma later closed. A major redevelopment and expansion was carried out in 2005–2006. The project added an open-air lifestyle wing in front of the original main entrance. Barnes & Noble relocated from an adjacent shopping center into the expansion, while The Cheesecake Factory and Grimaldi's Pizzeria joined the restaurant component. The project also brought in additional upscale specialty retailers and a new Apple Store. Since the addition occupied part of the front parking area, the owners built parking garages near the Dillard's and Foley's buildings and changed traffic arrangements at Town Center Boulevard North and the mall's ring road. The anchor lineup changed several times. Mervyn's closed when the chain exited the Houston market, and Dillard's later took over the former Mervyn's space, emphasizing men's clothing and housewares. Foley's became Macy's in September 2006 following Federated Department Stores' acquisition of May Department Stores. In 2015, Dick's Sporting Goods was announced as a new addition; its store opened in October 2016 near the former exterior food-court entrance. The mall's surroundings continued to develop with Sugar Land Town Square, large-format retail centers, a Houston Methodist campus, and an AMC Theatres complex on a separate parcel southeast of the mall. The AMC location is described as offering a broad mix of first-run commercial films alongside independent, documentary, and foreign-language programming. By the 2010s, First Colony Mall had more than 140 stores and a tenant mix combining traditional mall retailers with higher-end stores, restaurants, entertainment, and specialty concepts. The property is associated with GGP and Brookfield Properties and continues to operate as a regional shopping destination.
- 2016
Dick's Sporting Goods opens
[1]A new Dick's Sporting Goods store opened at the mall in October.
- 2009
Dillard's occupies former Mervyn's space
[1]Dillard's expanded into the former Mervyn's location with a focus including men's clothing and housewares.
- 2006
Lifestyle wing and infrastructure expansion completed
[1]The property added an open-air lifestyle wing, new retail and restaurant space, parking garages, and traffic improvements.
- 2006
Foley's becomes Macy's
[1]The Foley's department store was converted to Macy's in September following the acquisition of May Department Stores by Federated Department Stores.
- 2005
Mervyn's exits the Houston market
[1]Mervyn's announced the closure of its First Colony location as the chain withdrew from Houston.
- 2002
General Growth Properties acquires the property
[1]General Growth Properties purchased First Colony Mall outright from its original owners.
- 1999
General Growth Properties assumes management
[1]General Growth Properties took over management responsibilities for the mall.
- 1998
Tornado causes structural and water damage
[1]A tornado damaged Dillard's, JCPenney, the roof, the sprinkler system, and several specialty stores on February 16.
- 1996
First Colony Mall opens
[1]The mall opened on March 14 as the first regional shopping mall in Fort Bend County, with Foley's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Mervyn's as its original anchors.
Products and positioning
A regional, family-oriented shopping and entertainment destination combining traditional department-store anchors with specialty retail, lifestyle dining, sporting goods, and cinema offerings for Sugar Land and Fort Bend County.
Department stores · 1996
Department-store retail
First Colony Mall's traditional regional-mall offer is anchored by department stores, including Macy's, JCPenney, and two Dillard's locations. These stores provide broad assortments of apparel, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and seasonal merchandise.
Specialty retail · 2006
Specialty and lifestyle retail
The mall includes specialty retailers serving apparel, books, electronics, home furnishings, beauty, gifts, and other lifestyle categories. Its 2006 expansion was designed to broaden this offer with a more open-air, dining-oriented environment and additional upscale concepts.
Sporting goods · 2016
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods added a large-format sporting-goods component to the mall's tenant mix. The store was announced in 2015 and opened in October 2016 near the former exterior food-court entrance.
Restaurants and food service · 2006
Lifestyle dining wing
The lifestyle expansion introduced a courtyard-style restaurant area featuring concepts such as The Cheesecake Factory and Grimaldi's Pizzeria. It complemented the original enclosed food court with sit-down dining and helped position the property as more than a conventional shopping center.
Cinema and entertainment
AMC Theatres
A 24-screen AMC Theatres complex operates on an outlying parcel southeast of the main mall. The cinema has been described as showing first-run blockbusters as well as independent films, documentaries, and foreign-language films.
Brand decisions
2015
Recruit Dick's Sporting GoodsProduct launchBackground
The mall continued to refresh its anchor and large-format retail lineup after the departure of Mervyn's and the subsequent reuse of that space by Dillard's.
Action taken
Dick's Sporting Goods announced a new store at First Colony Mall in November 2015; the store opened in October 2016.
Aftermath
The addition strengthened the mall's sporting-goods and active-lifestyle offer.
2006
Convert Foley's to Macy'sM&ABackground
Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores, Foley's parent company, resulting in a broader conversion of Foley's stores to the Macy's brand.
Action taken
The Foley's anchor at First Colony Mall was rebranded as Macy's in September 2006.
Aftermath
Macy's became one of the mall's continuing department-store anchors.
2005
Add an open-air lifestyle wingStrategyBackground
As Sugar Land's population and economic base expanded, the mall sought to supplement its traditional enclosed-mall format with more upscale retail and dining.
Action taken
The property developed a new open-air wing in front of the main entrance, relocated Barnes & Noble into the project, added restaurants and specialty stores, and built parking and traffic infrastructure.
Aftermath
The expansion broadened the mall's tenant mix and contributed to its positioning as a regional shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.
Recent events
- 2015
Dick's Sporting Goods announces new First Colony Mall store[1]
Product launch
Dick's Sporting Goods was reported to be constructing a new store at the mall. The location opened in October 2016 near the former exterior food-court entrance.
- 2006
Lifestyle expansion adds new retail and dining wing[1]
Product launch
The mall completed a major expansion featuring an open-air lifestyle wing, Barnes & Noble, restaurants, additional specialty stores, an Apple Store, parking structures, and traffic improvements.
- 2006
Foley's converts to Macy's[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The Foley's anchor was converted to Macy's in September after Federated Department Stores acquired Foley's parent company, May Department Stores.
- 2002
General Growth Properties acquires First Colony Mall[1]
M&A
After assuming management responsibilities several years earlier, General Growth Properties acquired the mall outright from its original owners.
- 1998
Tornado damages First Colony Mall and nearby ice-skating complex[1]
Other
A tornado struck the mall on February 16, damaging part of Dillard's, JCPenney, the roof, the sprinkler system, and several specialty stores. No mall patrons were reported killed or seriously injured.
- 1996
First Colony Mall opens as Fort Bend County's first regional shopping mall[1]
Other
First Colony Mall opened in Sugar Land with four department-store anchors, more than 100 stores, and a food court, establishing a major regional retail destination for Fort Bend County.
Sources2 sources
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