NorthPark Center
An enclosed upscale shopping center in Dallas, Texas, known for its architecture, public art, luxury retail, dining, entertainment, and landscaped public spaces.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
NorthPark Center is an enclosed upscale shopping center in Dallas, Texas, at the intersection of North Central Expressway and Northwest Highway. It serves the Dallas–Fort Worth region and combines department stores, luxury and contemporary fashion, specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, public art, and landscaped civic amenities. The center is among the largest shopping destinations in Texas and the United States, with roughly 2 million square feet of retail space in commonly cited descriptions and more than 200 stores. Reference material also describes annual sales exceeding $1 billion and visitor traffic of more than 27 million people, although these figures vary by measurement period and source. The center originated in the early 1960s when developer Raymond Nasher leased a 97-acre cotton field on the developing edge of Dallas. Nasher commissioned Harrell & Hamilton Architects to design a commercial center that would be more architecturally ambitious than a conventional suburban mall. NorthPark opened in 1965 with Neiman Marcus, Titche-Goettinger, and J. C. Penney as principal anchors, alongside retailers and services including Woolworth, Doubleday, and Kroger. From the beginning, the project incorporated fine art and carefully designed interior spaces, establishing an identity based on culture and design as well as shopping. A first major expansion opened in 1973 with Lord & Taylor as an anchor. Lord & Taylor later closed its NorthPark location in 2004 after nearly three decades. The property remained on land leased from the Caruth family foundation for its first 34 years. In 1999, David and Nancy A. Nasher acquired the property, bringing the center under Nasher family ownership. A major redevelopment completed in 2006 more than doubled the center's scale, added approximately 88,000 square feet according to the cited reference material, and introduced a two-story retail extension and a 15-screen AMC cinema. The work was again led by Harrell & Hamilton, allowing the newer construction to continue the original architectural language while creating a continuous circulation loop. The expansion reorganized the complex around CenterPark, a landscaped 1.4-acre garden with mature live oaks and red oaks, seasonal plantings, crushed-granite paths, and artworks. NorthPark's art program is integrated into the architecture rather than treated as a separate exhibit. The center received recognition from the American Institute of Architects for its 1960s design and later received Texas Society of Architects awards for both its original design and its long-term architectural quality. In 2007, the International Council of Shopping Centers named NorthPark one of the Seven Retail Wonders of the Modern World. NorthPark's retail mix has changed repeatedly as department stores, international chains, luxury brands, restaurants, and experiential operators have entered or departed. Its anchors and major offerings have included Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Eataly, Arhaus, and AMC NorthPark 15. The center housed Texas's first H&M store, although that location later closed. Barneys New York operated at NorthPark from 2006 until 2012; its former space was subsequently divided, with Arhaus taking a prominent portion in 2014 and Eataly opening in December 2020. More recent additions cited in reference material include Rhone, Blue Nile, Breitling, Nike Rise, St. John, Buck Mason, Prada, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's, Jo Malone, Vuori, and Psycho Bunny. Beyond retail, NorthPark has hosted cultural and community uses. Bookmarks, a Dallas Public Library branch for children aged 12 and under, operates within the center and has been described as the first children's library in the United States located in a shopping center. NorthPark sponsored the Dallas International Film Festival in 2009, with screenings at the AMC theater. Its interiors have also appeared in film and television, including scenes from David Byrne's 1986 film True Stories and Robert Altman's Dr. T and the Women. The center remains an active Dallas destination whose positioning rests on upscale retail, architectural continuity, art, dining, entertainment, and public-oriented amenities.
History
NorthPark Center was developed in the early 1960s by Raymond Nasher on a leased 97-acre cotton field in Dallas. Nasher engaged Harrell & Hamilton Architects to create a shopping center in which architecture, landscaping, and fine art would be central parts of the customer experience. The enclosed center opened in 1965 with Neiman Marcus, Titche-Goettinger, and J. C. Penney as its principal anchors. Its original tenant roster also included Woolworth, Doubleday, and Kroger, reflecting a mixture of department stores, specialty retail, books, and everyday shopping. The first substantial enlargement came in 1973, when a new wing anchored by Lord & Taylor was added. Lord & Taylor eventually closed its NorthPark store in early 2004 after almost 30 years at the property. For its first 34 years, the center occupied land leased from the Caruth family's foundation. David and Nancy A. Nasher purchased the property in 1999, consolidating the family's ownership interest. A transformational expansion opened in 2006. Harrell & Hamilton returned to design the addition, preserving the architectural relationship between the original building and the new construction. The project added specialty stores, created a continuous loop through the complex, and introduced a third-floor 15-screen AMC theater. The expanded plan also formed CenterPark, a 1.4-acre landscaped garden with mature trees, seasonal flowers, paths, and art. The completed center is commonly described as having approximately 2 million square feet or more than 2 million square feet, depending on the measurement used. NorthPark's design reputation predates the expansion. The American Institute of Architects recognized the original complex with a Design of the Decade award for the 1960s, while the Texas Society of Architects later honored the center with annual design and 25-year design awards. In 2007, the International Council of Shopping Centers selected NorthPark as one of the Seven Retail Wonders of the Modern World. This recognition placed the Dallas center alongside prominent retail and commercial destinations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The tenant mix has evolved with the retail market. NorthPark became home to Texas's first H&M store, though that location later closed. Barneys New York opened in 2006 and left in April 2012. Its former premises were subsequently reconfigured, with Arhaus opening in 2014 and Eataly taking another major portion in December 2020. The center's broader anchor and destination lineup has included Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Eataly, Arhaus, and AMC NorthPark 15. Announced additions by 2023 included a combination of luxury, fashion, athletic, jewelry, beauty, and contemporary brands. NorthPark also functions as a cultural and community venue. Bookmarks, a Dallas Public Library branch for children through age 12, operates inside the center and has been described as the first children's library in the United States located in a shopping center. NorthPark sponsored the Dallas International Film Festival in 2009, using its AMC theater for screenings. Its interior has served as a filming location, including for David Byrne's True Stories and Robert Altman's Dr. T and the Women. The center remains an active regional destination distinguished by its upscale retail mix, art collection, architectural design, landscaped gathering spaces, dining, cinema, and community programming.
- 2023
New brand additions announced
[1]NorthPark announces a broad group of new and incoming fashion, luxury, jewelry, beauty, athletic, and lifestyle retailers.
- 2020
Eataly opens
[1]Eataly opens at NorthPark in December, expanding the center's food and dining offer.
- 2014
Arhaus opens
[1]Arhaus occupies a prominent part of the former Barneys space.
- 2012
Barneys New York departs
[1]Barneys closes its NorthPark store, and the space is subsequently divided among replacement tenants.
- 2009
Dallas International Film Festival sponsorship
[1]NorthPark sponsors the festival, with screenings held at its AMC theater.
- 2007
International retail design recognition
[1]NorthPark is named one of the Seven Retail Wonders of the Modern World by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
- 2006
Major expansion opens
[1]The center completes a major expansion with additional retail, AMC NorthPark 15, a continuous circulation loop, and CenterPark.
- 2004
Lord & Taylor closes
[1]Lord & Taylor leaves NorthPark after nearly three decades at the center.
- 1999
Nasher family acquisition
[1]David and Nancy A. Nasher purchase the property after decades of operation on land leased from the Caruth family's foundation.
- 1973
First major expansion
[1]A new wing opens with Lord & Taylor as its anchor.
Products and positioning
A design-led, upscale regional shopping center that combines luxury and contemporary retail with art, architecture, dining, entertainment, and public amenities.
Retail · 1965
Upscale and luxury retail
NorthPark's core offering is a curated collection of upscale and luxury stores spanning fashion, accessories, jewelry, beauty, and lifestyle categories. The center's tenant mix has included Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's, Prada, Breitling, St. John, Jo Malone, and other premium brands. The assortment is designed to serve both regional shoppers and visitors seeking a concentrated luxury and contemporary retail destination.
Food and beverage · 2020
Dining and specialty food
The center offers restaurants, cafes, and specialty food retail as part of its destination model. Eataly, which opened in 2020, is the most prominent cited addition and brought an integrated food hall, market, and dining concept. Dining complements the fashion and department-store offer and helps extend visits beyond conventional shopping.
Entertainment · 2006
AMC NorthPark 15
The 15-screen AMC cinema was added as part of the 2006 expansion. It provides an entertainment anchor within the center and has also served as a venue for special cultural programming, including screenings connected with the Dallas International Film Festival.
Public space · 2006
CenterPark
CenterPark is a landscaped garden at the center of the expanded NorthPark plan. It includes mature live oaks and red oaks, seasonal flowers, crushed-granite walkways, lawns, and artworks. The space functions as an architectural focal point and an informal public gathering area for visitors.
Library and community service
Bookmarks
Bookmarks is a Dallas Public Library branch located inside NorthPark and serving children aged 12 and younger. Its presence extends the center's role beyond commerce and has been described as the first children's library in the United States situated within a shopping center.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Dallas International Film Festival sponsorship
Dallas–Fort Worth · United States
NorthPark sponsored the Dallas International Film Festival and hosted festival screenings at AMC NorthPark 15.
Outcome. The center strengthened its role as a cultural and entertainment venue, although the cited material does not provide campaign performance metrics.
Brand decisions
2020
Add Eataly as a destination food tenantProduct launchBackground
NorthPark continued adapting its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores and fashion retailers.
Action taken
Eataly opened at the center in December 2020.
Aftermath
The opening added a prominent market, dining, and specialty-food destination to NorthPark's experiential offer.
2012
Reconfigure the former Barneys spaceStrategyBackground
Barneys New York closed its NorthPark store after operating there since 2006.
Action taken
The former large-format retail space was divided for replacement tenants, including Arhaus and later Eataly.
Aftermath
The change diversified the center's mix toward home furnishings and specialty food and dining.
2006
Expand while preserving the original design languageStrategyBackground
The owners sought to substantially enlarge NorthPark without losing the architectural identity of the original 1965 center.
Action taken
Harrell & Hamilton, the architects of the original center, were brought back to design the expansion, which added retail, a cinema, a continuous loop, and CenterPark.
Aftermath
The enlarged center became one of the largest shopping destinations in Texas and received further architectural recognition.
Sources2 sources
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