Parkdale Plaza
Parkdale Plaza was a shopping center in Corpus Christi, Texas, that operated from 1957 until its demolition in 2010.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Parkdale Plaza was a retail shopping center in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. It opened in 1957 and became one of the city’s established neighborhood-oriented commercial centers, combining department stores, a supermarket, specialty retailers, restaurants, service businesses, and later discount and home-improvement tenants. Its original major stores included JCPenney, Whites Stores, and H-E-B, while other early occupants included Western Auto, Piccadilly Cafeterias, Neisner’s five-and-dime store, the Toy House, and Larry Robinson’s photography studio. The center changed substantially as retail patterns in Corpus Christi evolved. JCPenney moved to the shopping center now known as La Palmera in 1970. H-E-B was replaced by the Texas Gold Stamp Center, another business associated with H-E-B, and a Woolco store was added during the center’s earlier years. By the early 1980s, several of the original anchors and major tenants, including Lichenstein’s, Whites Stores, H-E-B, and Woolco, had departed. Linens N’ More occupied the former H-E-B space, while Decorator’s Gallery used the former Whites Stores location. Western Auto also left and was replaced by AutoZone. Freestanding Eckerd’s and Wendy’s locations were subsequently added. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Sutherland’s Home Improvement took over the former Woolco building, and Weiner’s moved into the former JCPenney space. Cloth World was acquired by Jo-Ann Stores and closed its Parkdale Plaza location in 1994. Decorator’s Gallery also shut down that year, leaving its building vacant for much of the decade before Club Dallas occupied part of the space. Dollar General arrived in 1999. Despite these replacements, the property’s occupancy continued to deteriorate: approximately 65 percent of the center was leased in 1995, but occupancy had fallen to no more than about 45 percent by 2000. The decline accelerated after Weiner’s filed for bankruptcy in 1999 and closed its Parkdale Plaza store in June 2001. Rehoboth Joy Dollar occupied the former Weiner’s space later in 2001. Eckerd’s was sold to CVS Pharmacy, and the Parkdale Plaza location closed; Guitar Center subsequently moved into that building in 2002. An Austin-based investor purchased Parkdale Plaza in 2005 with plans to redevelop the aging and increasingly vacant property into a newer shopping center. Under the purchase agreement, Crystal’s, Joy Dollar, Linens N’ More, RDA, and Armstrong McCall closed their locations on January 1, 2006. The property continued to deteriorate, and a fire in vacant portions of the plaza in 2009 caused extensive damage. Graffiti, overgrown vegetation, and empty storefronts further reinforced the site’s decline. Parkdale Plaza was demolished in 2010. Corpus Christi city officials approved tax incentives connected with a proposed redevelopment featuring a Walmart Supercenter and additional retail space. The redevelopment faced delays, including litigation from neighboring Sutherland’s and protests concerning another proposed Walmart location in the city. The replacement Walmart was ultimately completed in 2011 and opened on October 26 of that year. Parkdale Plaza therefore no longer exists as an operating shopping center, although its site was reused for a later retail development.
History
Parkdale Plaza opened in 1957 in Corpus Christi, Texas, as a multi-tenant shopping center anchored by JCPenney, Whites Stores, and H-E-B. Its early tenant roster reflected the broad retail role of mid-century American shopping plazas. In addition to the three principal stores, the center included Western Auto, Piccadilly Cafeterias, Neisner’s five-and-dime, the Toy House, and a local photography studio operated by Larry Robinson. A Woolco store was later added, expanding the center’s discount and general-merchandise presence. The plaza’s tenant mix shifted during the 1960s and 1970s. JCPenney left in 1970 for Padre Staples Mall, now called La Palmera. When H-E-B moved out, the associated Texas Gold Stamp Center occupied the former anchor space. By 1982, Parkdale Plaza had lost several significant occupants, including Lichenstein’s, Whites Stores, H-E-B, and Woolco. Linens N’ More moved into the former H-E-B premises, and Decorator’s Gallery took over the Whites Stores location. Western Auto departed as well, with AutoZone replacing it. Freestanding Eckerd’s and Wendy’s sites were added as the surrounding retail environment developed. In the late 1980s or early 1990s, Sutherland’s Home Improvement occupied the former Woolco building. Weiner’s moved into the former JCPenney space. Cloth World was acquired by Jo-Ann Stores and closed in 1994, while Decorator’s Gallery also shut down that year. The former Decorator’s Gallery building remained empty for much of the 1990s until Club Dallas used part of the rear area. Dollar General joined the center in 1999. By the middle of the 1990s, the property was showing sustained signs of weakening demand. Parkdale Plaza was reported to be approximately 65 percent leased in 1995. At the beginning of the 2000s, occupancy had fallen to no more than approximately 45 percent. The departure or failure of major tenants contributed to the center’s decline. Weiner’s filed for bankruptcy in 1999 and closed its Parkdale Plaza store in June 2001. Rehoboth Joy Dollar later occupied the former Weiner’s space. Eckerd’s was sold to CVS Pharmacy, and the Parkdale location closed; Guitar Center took over the building in 2002. In 2005, an investor from Austin acquired Parkdale Plaza and proposed a redevelopment intended to replace the aging center with a newer shopping complex. Several stores closed on January 1, 2006, in accordance with the purchase agreement, including Crystal’s, Joy Dollar, Linens N’ More, RDA, and Armstrong McCall. The proposed transformation did not immediately materialize. Much of the property remained vacant, and a fire in 2009 damaged empty portions of the plaza. The site subsequently became heavily marked by graffiti and overgrown vegetation. The city approved tax incentives connected with a plan to demolish the old plaza and construct a Walmart Supercenter with additional retail space. The redevelopment encountered delays, including a lawsuit by neighboring Sutherland’s and protests against another Walmart proposal on Corpus Christi’s south side. Parkdale Shopping Center was demolished in 2010. The replacement Walmart was eventually completed in fall 2011 and opened on October 26, ending the site’s identity as Parkdale Plaza and replacing the former shopping center with a different retail development.
- 2011
Replacement Walmart opens
[1]The replacement Walmart Supercenter opens on October 26 after redevelopment delays.
- 2010
Shopping center is demolished
[1]Parkdale Plaza is torn down as part of a proposed Walmart-led redevelopment.
- 2009
Fire damages vacant buildings
[1]A fire causes extensive damage in vacant areas of the deteriorating shopping center.
- 2005
Property changes ownership
[1]An Austin-based investor purchases Parkdale Plaza with a plan to redevelop the property.
- 2002
Guitar Center replaces former Eckerd’s site
[1]After Eckerd’s closes following its sale to CVS Pharmacy, Guitar Center occupies the location.
- 2001
Weiner’s closes and Rehoboth Joy Dollar takes over
[1]Weiner’s closes its Parkdale Plaza store in June, and Rehoboth Joy Dollar later occupies the former department-store space.
- 1999
Dollar General arrives as occupancy weakens
[1]Dollar General opens at the center, while reported occupancy approaches a long-term low and Weiner’s files for bankruptcy.
- 1995
Occupancy falls to about 65 percent
[1]Parkdale Plaza is reported to be approximately 65 percent leased.
- 1994
Cloth World and Decorator’s Gallery close
[1]Cloth World, following its acquisition by Jo-Ann Stores, and Decorator’s Gallery both close at the center.
- 1982
Original anchors largely disappear
[1]By this period, the center had lost Lichenstein’s, Whites Stores, H-E-B, and Woolco, while new occupants filled some former anchor spaces.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood and regional shopping center serving Corpus Christi residents through a changing mix of department stores, grocery retail, specialty shops, restaurants, service businesses, and later discount and home-improvement operators.
Department store · 1957
JCPenney
JCPenney was one of Parkdale Plaza’s three original major stores. It provided the broad assortment of apparel, household goods, and general merchandise typical of a full-line American department store before moving to Padre Staples Mall in 1970.
Department store · 1957
Whites Stores
Whites Stores served as one of the center’s original principal tenants. Its former location was later occupied by Decorator’s Gallery, which itself closed in 1994.
Supermarket · 1957
H-E-B
H-E-B was an original anchor at Parkdale Plaza. After H-E-B moved out, its location was associated with the Texas Gold Stamp Center and later became home to Linens N’ More.
Discount department store
Woolco
Woolco was added to the plaza after its original opening and operated as a major discount-retail tenant. Its former building was later taken over by Sutherland’s Home Improvement.
Home improvement retail
Sutherland’s Home Improvement
Sutherland’s occupied the former Woolco building from approximately the late 1980s or early 1990s. It remained an important neighboring retailer during the final redevelopment period and later brought litigation connected with the Walmart plan.
Musical-instrument retail · 2002
Guitar Center
Guitar Center moved into the former Eckerd’s location in 2002, adding musical instruments and related equipment to the center’s late-period tenant mix.
Brand decisions
2010
Demolition and Walmart-led site reuseStrategyBackground
Vacancy, fire damage, graffiti, and deteriorating buildings made continued operation of the existing shopping center increasingly impractical.
Action taken
Parkdale Plaza was demolished, with city-approved tax incentives supporting a proposed Walmart Supercenter and additional retail space.
Aftermath
The replacement Walmart opened on October 26, 2011, after litigation and protests delayed the redevelopment.
- Sutherland’s Home Improvement — Sutherland’s brought a lawsuit connected with the proposed redevelopment.
2005
Redevelopment after investor acquisitionStrategyBackground
The aging shopping center had declining occupancy and numerous vacant spaces when an Austin-based investor acquired it.
Action taken
The new owner pursued a plan to replace the existing plaza with a newer shopping center, leading to the closure of several tenants in 2006.
Aftermath
The original center was ultimately demolished in 2010, although the proposed redevelopment encountered delays and local opposition.
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