Northwest Mall

Northwest Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Houston's Lazybrook/Timbergrove area, near the junction of U.S. Route 290 and Loop 610. Developed by the Rouse Co. through its subsidiary Northwest Mall, Inc., the center opened in October 1968, shortly after its sister property, Almeda Mall, opened in south Houston. The two projects were designed as closely related, nearly twin shopping centers intended to serve opposite sides of the Houston metropolitan area. At opening, Northwest Mall had approximately 794,092 square feet of leasable space. Its principal anchors were JCPenney and Foley's, both of which owned their respective two-story buildings, parking areas and automotive facilities separately from the main mall ownership. The interior mall included Woolworth's, Palais Royal and Houston-based Battelstein's as junior anchors, along with retailers and restaurants such as Piccadilly Cafeteria, Lane Bryant, Lerner Shops, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, Gordon's Jewellers and Thom McAn Shoes. The property also included Northwest 4 Theatres, an AMC-operated multiplex that was among Houston's early multi-screen cinemas. The mall experienced long-term competitive and physical difficulties. JCPenney closed its Northwest Mall store in July 2000 after liquidating its inventory, leaving its former anchor building unused for more than a decade. In 2007, Levcor, Inc. acquired the main mall and approximately 80 percent of the property, while the former Foley's building remained under separate ownership. Foley's was later converted to Macy's, but Macy's closed in 2008 after Hurricane Ike caused substantial damage. Other stores, including Bath & Body Works, also closed after the storm and did not return. Occupancy was reported at about 64 percent in 2006, and the mall was placed on the market that year together with Almeda Mall by Glimcher Realty Trust. Subsequent years brought continued vacancy, disrepair and changes in the tenant mix. The former JCPenney space eventually became home to Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center in 2012. Other late-period occupants included Palais Royal, the La Chapa sports bar, the Post Oak Club and the Southern Apache Museum, which opened in 2012 and closed in 2017 amid redevelopment plans. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 further worsened the site's condition. Northwest Mall permanently ceased normal retail operations on March 31, 2017. After closure, Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center was the only business continuing to operate in the former JCPenney space; it closed on December 31, 2021, leaving the property fully vacant. The site was subsequently considered for redevelopment and for use as the Houston terminal of the proposed Texas Central high-speed rail connection to Dallas. Northwest Mall was selected as the preferred station site in 2018, although redevelopment planning was affected by uncertainty surrounding the planned reconstruction of nearby Hempstead Highway and potential eminent-domain impacts. Reference material reports that demolition began in April 2026 and that the mall had been demolished by May 2026.

Northwest Mall was conceived by the Rouse Co. as one of two related Houston shopping centers. Its sister property, Almeda Mall, opened on the city's south side roughly two weeks earlier, while Northwest Mall opened in October 1968 in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove area near U.S. Route 290 and Loop 610. The development was carried out through Northwest Mall, Inc. and was planned as a major suburban retail destination for northwest Houston. The center contained approximately 794,092 square feet of leasable area. Its original design combined two major department-store anchors with smaller anchor tenants and a broad mix of specialty shops. JCPenney operated a two-story building with its own parking and automotive center, while Foley's operated a similarly separate building and automotive facility. The remaining mall property was held independently, meaning that the overall site was divided among three ownership interests from the beginning. Original and early tenants included Woolworth's, Palais Royal, Battelstein's, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Lane Bryant, Lerner Shops, Susie's, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, Gordon's Jewellers and Thom McAn Shoes. Entertainment was part of the original proposition. Northwest 4 Theatres stood on the northeast side of the property and was operated by AMC. It was among the first multi-screen theaters built in Houston, giving the mall a cinema attraction in addition to its retail and restaurant offer. The property began to lose momentum as retail competition increased and key tenants departed. JCPenney liquidated its inventory and closed on July 11, 2000. Its building remained empty for approximately twelve years. In the early 2000s, the former Woolworth's space was partly reused by SRO, a sports bar that had moved to the mall in summer 2001. The SRO location later closed in February 2013. La Chapa sports bar subsequently occupied the space and remained for a short period after the mall's retail closure, closing in 2018. The former Woolworth's entrance was also converted into an independent film theater. By 2006, occupancy was reported at about 64 percent. Glimcher Realty Trust placed Northwest Mall and Almeda Mall on the market that year. Levcor, Inc. acquired the main mall in 2007, obtaining about 80 percent of the property, while the former Foley's building retained a separate owner. Foley's was later rebranded as Macy's. Hurricane Ike struck in 2008 and caused major damage; Macy's and Bath & Body Works closed, and neither returned. Macy's initially characterized its closure as temporary while repairs were considered, but the store never reopened. The former JCPenney building found a new use in 2012 when Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center relocated there after its prior Old Katy Road premises were affected by Interstate 610 widening. The Southern Apache Museum also opened at the property in 2012. These uses supplemented a shrinking retail base but did not reverse the mall's broader decline. Palais Royal, the antique center, La Chapa and the Post Oak Club were among the last businesses associated with the property. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 added to the storm damage and physical deterioration. Northwest Mall permanently closed to ordinary business on March 31, 2017. Entrances were boarded or sealed, and the antique center became the only business continuing to operate in the former JCPenney space. Its public access was limited after the mall entrance was walled off. The antique center finally closed on December 31, 2021, leaving the site vacant. After closure, the property became associated with redevelopment proposals rather than retail. Levcor began early planning for a new use, but uncertainty over the future reconstruction of nearby Hempstead Highway and possible eminent-domain requirements complicated the process. The acreage was one of several candidate locations for a Houston terminal serving the proposed Texas Central high-speed rail line to Dallas. In 2018, Northwest Mall was selected as the preferred site. Reference material further reports demolition in April and May 2026, marking the physical end of the mall as a built retail complex.

• 2026

  Demolition reported

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports demolition beginning in April and completion by May 11, 2026.

• 2021

  Final tenant closes

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center closes on December 31, leaving the former mall entirely vacant.

• 2018

  Preferred high-speed rail terminal site

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The property is selected as the preferred Houston terminal site for the proposed Texas Central Houston–Dallas rail connection.

• 2017

  Mall closes permanently

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Northwest Mall closes on March 31 after years of weak performance, vacancy and storm-related deterioration.

• 2012

  Antique center and museum arrive

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center opens in the former JCPenney space, and the Southern Apache Museum begins operating at the mall.

• 2008

  Hurricane Ike causes major tenant losses

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Storm damage contributes to the closure of Macy's and Bath & Body Works, neither of which reopens.

• 2007

  Levcor acquires the main mall

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Levcor, Inc. buys the main mall property and becomes the owner of approximately 80 percent of the site.

• 2006

  Property marketed for sale

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Glimcher Realty Trust offers Northwest Mall and Almeda Mall for sale; occupancy is reported at approximately 64 percent.

• 2000

  JCPenney closes

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes its Northwest Mall store after liquidating inventory, beginning a long period in which the anchor building is vacant.

• 1968

  Northwest Mall opens

  [1]Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Rouse Co.-developed mall opens in Houston with JCPenney, Foley's, junior anchors and the AMC-operated Northwest 4 Theatres.

A conventional regional enclosed mall serving Houston neighborhoods around the Northwest Freeway and Loop 610. Its original positioning combined two full-line department stores, several junior anchors, specialty retail, dining and an early multiplex cinema; in its later years it functioned as a declining and increasingly vacant shopping property.

• Department store · 1968

  JCPenney

  JCPenney was one of Northwest Mall's two original principal anchors. Its independently owned two-story building included a surrounding parking area and automotive center. The store closed on July 11, 2000, after inventory liquidation, and the building remained vacant until Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center moved in during 2012.

• Department store · 1968

  Foley's / Macy's

  Foley's was the mall's other original major anchor and occupied a separately owned two-story building with its own parking and automotive facilities. The store was later converted to Macy's. Hurricane Ike damaged the location, and Macy's closed in 2008 without reopening.

• Junior anchor and variety retailer · 1968

  Woolworth's

  Woolworth's was one of the mall's original junior anchors. A portion of its former space was later used by SRO sports bar, while the former mall entrance was adapted for an independent film theater.

• Department store · 1968

  Palais Royal

  Palais Royal operated as one of Northwest Mall's junior anchors and was among the businesses still associated with the property near its final operating period.

• Cinema · 1968

  Northwest 4 Theatres

  Northwest 4 Theatres was an AMC-operated multiplex located on the northeast side of the mall. It was among Houston's early multi-screen movie theaters and formed part of the center's original entertainment offer.

• Antique retail center · 2012

  Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center

  Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center opened in the former JCPenney anchor in 2012 after its previous location was displaced by Interstate 610 widening. It became the final operating business at Northwest Mall and closed on December 31, 2021.

• 2018

  Select Northwest Mall as a proposed high-speed rail terminal siteStrategy

  Background

  After the mall closed, the property was evaluated as one of several possible Houston terminal locations for the proposed Texas Central high-speed rail line connecting Houston and Dallas.

  Action taken

  Northwest Mall was selected as the preferred terminal site in 2018.

  Aftermath

  The site remained tied to redevelopment discussions, while plans were complicated by potential Hempstead Highway changes and possible eminent-domain requirements.

  Source

1. 1Northwest Mallen.wikipedia.org