Saint Louis Galleria

Saint Louis Galleria is a regional enclosed shopping mall in Richmond Heights, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. It is positioned as one of the more upscale shopping destinations in the St. Louis area and combines department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and direct access to nearby public transportation. Its tenant mix has historically included Dillard's, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Build-A-Bear Workshop, The Cheesecake Factory, Texas de Brazil, and other national and regional businesses. The mall occupies a site that previously contained Westroads Shopping Center, whose principal department-store anchor was Stix, Baer & Fuller. In 1984, Hycel Properties acquired the property, demolished most of the earlier shopping center, retained the Stix north wing, and developed the Saint Louis Galleria. Stix's successor, Dillard's, expanded the existing department-store space during the redevelopment, while Mark Shale opened a substantial store. The project therefore combined a new mall identity with elements of the earlier retail complex. A major southward expansion was completed in 1991. This addition brought in the Clayton Famous-Barr store, later converted to Macy's, and a Lord & Taylor department store. The expansion also incorporated mall-service infrastructure, including a delivery-corridor arrangement and emergency electrical equipment capable of supporting limited lighting and monitoring during a power failure. The Richmond Heights MetroLink station subsequently opened near the mall, increasing its transit connectivity while also becoming part of public discussion about security and visitor behavior. The Galleria developed a reputation for attracting higher-end and fashion-oriented retailers. The first Build-A-Bear Workshop location opened there in October 1997, and the property later hosted one of the area's early Apple retail locations as well as the area's only Urban Outfitters at the time. The Cheesecake Factory opened on October 8, 2002, becoming the chain's first location in the local area according to the cited reference material. Dining and entertainment later helped replace some former apparel and department-store space, including space associated with Mark Shale. The mall faced commercial pressure during the late-2000s recession. Jimmy'z and Mark Shale closed, and weaker mall sales affected Richmond Heights municipal sales-tax receipts because the Galleria was the city's largest taxpayer and a major source of sales-tax revenue. Nordstrom announced plans for a store in 2006, delayed the opening during the economic downturn, and eventually opened a 143,000-square-foot location on September 23, 2011, on the site of the former Lord & Taylor store. The property has also experienced periods of controversy and heightened security attention. In 2007, following incidents involving teenagers and widespread shoplifting concerns, the mall introduced a policy requiring visitors under 16 to be accompanied by someone at least 21 on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. The mall was the site of protests and arrests in 2017 after the acquittal of a police officer involved in the shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith. A customer stabbing occurred in June 2018, and a July 2020 shooting inside the mall killed one person and injured another. In June 2025, Nordstrom announced that it would not renew its lease and would close its Galleria store on August 24, 2025. The former Nordstrom space was announced as the future home of a large-format Dick's House of Sport location, planned to use both floors of the former department-store building. This change represents another major shift in the mall's anchor strategy, from luxury department-store retail toward sporting goods, equipment, and experiential retail. The Galleria remains an active shopping and dining complex, although its tenant mix and anchor profile continue to evolve.

The Saint Louis Galleria developed from Westroads Shopping Center, an earlier Richmond Heights retail property anchored by Stix, Baer & Fuller. In 1984, Hycel Properties purchased the site and redeveloped it under the Saint Louis Galleria name. Most of Westroads was demolished, although the Stix north wing was retained. Dillard's, which had acquired the Stix chain, expanded the existing department-store location as part of the redevelopment. Mark Shale also opened a major store in the new complex. The mall expanded south of its atrium in 1991. This project brought the Clayton Famous-Barr department store to the property; that store later became Macy's. Lord & Taylor opened at the south end, adding a luxury department-store anchor. The expansion included an emergency generator capable of maintaining limited lighting and monitoring functions during a power outage. Mall logistics were also designed around a largely enclosed delivery route, with trucks entering at the south end and exiting at the north end. Some loading infrastructure from the earlier Stix complex remained in use. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Galleria broadened its specialty-retail and dining profile. The first Build-A-Bear Workshop location opened in October 1997. The mall later hosted an Apple Store or Apple mini-store and the area's only Urban Outfitters at the time. The Cheesecake Factory opened on October 8, 2002, becoming the first local location of that restaurant chain according to the cited account. The nearby Richmond Heights MetroLink station improved transit access, although the rise in reported incidents around the mall led to public debate about security and the role of transit access in visitor patterns. In April 2007, the mall introduced an age-supervision rule requiring people under 16 to be accompanied by an adult at least 21 during Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. The policy followed two incidents involving teenagers and concerns about shoplifting, fights, and other disorder. The economic downturn then affected the property's retail performance. Jimmy'z and Mark Shale closed in 2008, while weaker Galleria sales contributed to a decline in Richmond Heights sales-tax receipts. The city relied heavily on sales taxes, and the mall was described as its largest taxpayer. Nordstrom announced plans for a Galleria store in 2006. The company delayed the planned 2010 opening to 2011 because of economic conditions, ultimately opening a 143,000-square-foot store on September 23, 2011, in the location of the demolished Lord & Taylor building. Former retail space was also adapted for restaurants and entertainment, including Weber Grill Restaurant, Texas de Brazil, and Helium Comedy Club; Weber Grill later closed. The Galleria became a focal point for protests in 2017 after the acquittal of a white police officer in the shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith. Twenty-two people were arrested in connection with the protests, according to the cited reference. A customer stabbing occurred in June 2018, and a shooting in July 2020 killed one man and injured another. The anchor lineup changed again in 2025. On June 23, Nordstrom announced that it would not renew its lease and would close the store on August 24. Dick's Sporting Goods was announced as the replacement tenant, with plans for a large Dick's House of Sport store occupying both floors of the former Nordstrom building. This planned conversion reflects the continuing evolution of the Galleria from a department-store-centered mall toward a combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, and experiential sporting-goods retail.

• 2025

  Nordstrom closure and Dick's House of Sport plan announced

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  Nordstrom announced its departure, while Dick's Sporting Goods was identified as the planned replacement tenant for the former Nordstrom building.

• 2017

  Protests occur at the Galleria

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall hosted protests after the acquittal of a police officer in the Anthony Lamar Smith shooting case.

• 2011

  Nordstrom opens

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  Nordstrom opened a 143,000-square-foot store on September 23, 2011, in the former Lord & Taylor location.

• 2007

  Age-supervision policy introduced

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall began restricting unsupervised visitors under 16 during specified weekend periods after incidents and security concerns.

• 2002

  The Cheesecake Factory opens

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  The Cheesecake Factory opened on October 8, becoming the chain's first location in the local area according to the cited reference.

• 1997

  First Build-A-Bear Workshop location opens

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  The first Build-A-Bear Workshop store opened at the mall in October.

• 1991

  South expansion adds major department stores

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall expanded south of the atrium, adding the Clayton Famous-Barr store, later Macy's, and Lord & Taylor.

• 1984

  Westroads site redeveloped as Saint Louis Galleria

  [1]Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org

  Hycel Properties acquired the former Westroads Shopping Center site, demolished most of the complex, retained the Stix north wing, and began the Saint Louis Galleria redevelopment.

An upscale regional shopping and dining destination serving the St. Louis metropolitan area, with a mix of department stores, fashion retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and public-transit access.

• Department stores

  Department-store retail

  The Galleria's historic anchor strategy has centered on large department stores. Dillard's traces its presence to the former Stix, Baer & Fuller location, while Macy's occupies the former Famous-Barr space added in the 1991 expansion. Nordstrom later served as a luxury-oriented anchor from 2011 until its announced 2025 departure.

• Specialty retail

  Specialty fashion and lifestyle retail

  The mall has hosted fashion, apparel, accessories, beauty, electronics, children's merchandise, and lifestyle retailers. Its historic tenant mix included Mark Shale, Urban Outfitters, Apple, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, supporting the property's upscale and fashion-conscious positioning.

• Food service and entertainment · 2002

  Dining and entertainment

  Restaurants and entertainment venues form an important part of the Galleria's non-retail offer. The property has included The Cheesecake Factory, Texas de Brazil, Weber Grill Restaurant, and Helium Comedy Club. Tenant changes mean that individual venues may not all remain open.

• Sporting goods

  Dick's House of Sport

  Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans for a large-format Dick's House of Sport store in the former Nordstrom building. The concept is intended to occupy both floors and shift a major portion of the mall's anchor space toward sporting goods, athletic equipment, apparel, and experience-oriented retail.

• 2025

  Conversion of former Nordstrom space to Dick's House of SportStrategy

  Background

  Nordstrom announced that it would not renew its lease and would close its Galleria store in August 2025.

  Action taken

  The mall announced Dick's Sporting Goods as the planned replacement, with a large Dick's House of Sport format using both floors of the former Nordstrom building.

  Aftermath

  The plan would replace a luxury department-store anchor with an experiential sporting-goods anchor and further change the mall's tenant mix.

  Source

• 2007

  Weekend age-supervision policyOther

  Background

  The mall faced incidents involving teenagers, shoplifting, fights, and concerns about visitor safety.

  Action taken

  Beginning April 20, the mall required visitors under 16 to be accompanied by someone at least 21 on Fridays and Saturdays after 3 p.m.

  Aftermath

  The policy became part of the mall's response to a period of heightened security concerns and declining visitor confidence.

  Source

1. 1Saint Louis Galleriaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Saint Louis Galleria official websitesaintlouisgalleria.com