Saks Fifth Avenue Center of Fashion
A Houston luxury shopping center built around a large Saks Fifth Avenue department store that operated from 1974 until its redevelopment-era closure in 2007.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Saks Fifth Avenue Center of Fashion was an upscale outdoor shopping center in Houston's Uptown, or Post Oak, area. It opened in 1974 with a 240,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue department store as its principal anchor and was designed to extend the department-store experience into a small collection of specialty boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The project reflected an era when luxury department stores were experimenting with destination-oriented retail formats modeled partly on California fashion centers and suburban specialty shopping developments. The center was located approximately 0.8 miles from The Galleria, which had opened in 1969 with Neiman Marcus as an anchor. The proximity placed the new development directly into competition with a much larger and more diversified luxury retail destination. Saks was the fourth important department store to establish a presence in the Uptown/Post Oak district, following Sakowitz, Joske's, and Neiman Marcus. Its original tenant mix included specialty fashion and lifestyle businesses such as Sahadi's Gallery, Courrèges Boutique, and Houlihan's Old Place, as well as a Loews movie theater in the lower level. The property's ownership and identity changed during its operating life. Gimbel Bros., then the owner associated with the Saks expansion into Houston, sold the center after British American Tobacco's BATUS subsidiary acquired Gimbel Bros. Investcorp purchased the property in 1977. In 1987 and 1988, Kenneth H. Hughes Interests undertook a major renovation that added a two-story enclosed wing, underground parking, luxury architectural finishes, fountains, palm trees, and additional boutique space. The redevelopment was accompanied by a lavish opening event and a new identity, Pavilion Saks Fifth Avenue. New or expanded tenants included Hermès, Christian Lacroix, and Sfuzzi. The renovation temporarily improved the center's performance. Occupancy reached approximately 90% in 1990, but the recovery did not last. By 1992, the upper level had lost most of its tenants, and the project was increasingly overshadowed by The Galleria's greater size, broader retailer mix, and multiple department-store anchors. The center attempted to broaden its appeal through entertainment and repositioning. Landmark Cinemas took over the theater in 1993 and introduced more independent films, but the cinema closed in July 1995. Following a foreclosure that year, new ownership explored adding restaurants, a bookstore, or another theater. In early 1996, the property was renamed Pavilion at Post Oak, removing Saks from the formal name and signaling an effort to present the center as a broader retail and entertainment destination. That strategy was undermined when Saks announced that it would leave the property. After Saks acquired several former Marshall Field's locations, including a large store at The Galleria, it decided to relocate its principal Houston operation there. Saks closed the Pavilion store on September 3, 1997, and opened at The Galleria shortly afterward. A legal dispute with the landlord was settled with an agreement requiring Saks to open a smaller replacement operation, Fashion At The Pavilion. That store opened in October 1997 but closed in June 1998. Without its principal anchor, the property deteriorated rapidly. By January 2000, reported occupancy had fallen to about 12%, with Hermès, Esther Wulfe, and a small number of restaurants among the remaining occupants. Wulfe & Co., which later owned the property, announced a redevelopment plan in 2005. The plan called for demolition of the aging center and an adjacent strip mall and replacement with BLVD Place, a denser mixed-use project combining upscale retail, restaurants, residential buildings, and a hotel. The former Saks building was removed by late 2007, although a few tenants reportedly remained temporarily. Demolition of the wider complex was complete by 2012, and the site became part of the BLVD Place development, including the area identified as BLVD Place 6.
History
The Saks Fifth Avenue Center of Fashion originated in the early 1970s, when Gimbel Bros. planned to bring the Saks Fifth Avenue department-store concept to Houston. The proposed project was influenced by specialty shopping centers associated with department stores such as Bullock's in Los Angeles. Developers selected a site in the Uptown/Post Oak district, roughly 0.8 miles from The Galleria, which had opened in 1969 and was already establishing itself as a major luxury retail destination anchored by Neiman Marcus. Construction began in 1973. The center opened in 1974 with a 240,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue store and a small group of specialty retailers. Its formal name was Saks Fifth Avenue Center of Fashion, although local usage produced several shortened and alternative versions. A lower-level movie theater operated from the opening period, initially under Loews. Other early tenants included Sahadi's Gallery, Courrèges Boutique, and Houlihan's Old Place. The center was intended to offer a concentrated, highly upscale retail experience rather than the broad range of a conventional regional mall. Ownership changed soon afterward. British American Tobacco's BATUS subsidiary acquired Gimbel Bros., and BATUS subsequently sold the property to Investcorp in 1977. During the second half of the 1980s, the owners pursued a substantial physical and commercial renovation. Kenneth H. Hughes Interests led work in 1987 and 1988, adding a two-story indoor wing in front of the original center and placing a new underground parking deck beneath the project. The redesign used glass corridors, Arizona flagstone, fountains, mahogany handrails, and numerous palm trees to create a resort-like luxury setting. The expanded center was renamed Pavilion Saks Fifth Avenue and celebrated its opening with a large gala. Hermès, Christian Lacroix, and Sfuzzi joined the tenant roster, while existing retailers expanded or moved into the new wing. The redevelopment initially produced strong occupancy. In 1990, the Pavilion was reported to be about 90% occupied. However, the center's location near The Galleria created a structural competitive problem. The Galleria was substantially larger, offered more mainstream and upscale retail together, and had four department-store anchors compared with the Pavilion's reliance on Saks. By 1992, the Pavilion was already losing retailers and shoppers, and its upper level had become sparsely occupied. The center attempted to add entertainment value, but its large movie auditoriums did not establish a sufficiently distinctive identity. Landmark Cinemas took over the theater in 1993 and increased its independent-film programming; the cinema closed in July 1995. The property was foreclosed in 1995. New ownership considered a bookstore, restaurants, and another movie theater as possible ways to improve traffic and reduce reliance on luxury boutiques. Occupancy nevertheless declined to about 70%, with substantial vacancies on the second and third floors. In early 1996, the property adopted the name Pavilion at Post Oak, dropping Saks from the title in an effort to present the project as a diversified shopping and entertainment center. The decisive setback came from Saks itself. In 1996, Saks acquired several former Marshall Field's stores as Marshall Field's withdrew from Texas, including a large location at The Galleria. In 1997, Saks announced that it would close its Pavilion store and move to the newly acquired Galleria site, where it planned a major investment. The landlord, Radler Pavilion Ltd., sued, arguing that the move violated a lease extending through 2008 and restricting subleasing or conversion of the premises. The parties settled. Saks closed the original department store on September 3, 1997, opened its Galleria location on September 11, and opened a smaller replacement operation called Fashion At The Pavilion on October 3. The replacement store offered a limited assortment of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home furnishings but lasted less than a year, closing in June 1998. The departure of Saks accelerated the center's decline. By January 2000, occupancy was reported at approximately 12%, with Hermès, Esther Wulfe, and a few restaurants among the remaining tenants. Wulfe & Co. later acquired the property and in 2005 announced plans to demolish the center and a neighboring strip mall. The proposed replacement, BLVD Place, was conceived as a denser mixed-use development with upscale retail, restaurants, residential towers, and a hotel. The former Saks building was removed by late 2007, although some remaining stores operated briefly. Demolition of the broader complex was complete by 2012, and the site was absorbed into BLVD Place, including the area now identified as BLVD Place 6.
- 2012
Demolition completed
[1]Demolition of the former shopping-center complex was complete, and the site became part of BLVD Place.
- 2007
Former Saks building demolished
[1]The former anchor building was demolished during the initial phase of the BLVD Place redevelopment.
- 2005
BLVD Place redevelopment announced
[1]Wulfe & Co. announced plans to replace the center and an adjacent strip mall with a mixed-use development.
- 1997
Saks department store closes
[1]Saks closed its original store after settling a lease dispute and relocated its main Houston operation to The Galleria.
- 1996
Renamed Pavilion at Post Oak
[1]The center dropped Saks from its formal name to emphasize a broader retail and entertainment identity.
- 1995
Foreclosure and repositioning efforts
[1]The property entered foreclosure while its owners explored new entertainment and retail uses.
- 1988
Expansion opens as Pavilion Saks Fifth Avenue
[1]A major renovation added an enclosed wing, luxury design elements, underground parking, and new designer tenants.
- 1977
Property sold to Investcorp
[1]Following BATUS's acquisition of Gimbel Bros., the center was sold to Investcorp.
- 1974
Center opens
[1]Saks Fifth Avenue Center of Fashion opened in Houston's Uptown/Post Oak district with specialty retailers and a movie theater.
- 1973
Construction begins
[1]Construction started on a Houston shopping center anchored by a planned 240,000-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue store.
Products and positioning
A Houston luxury shopping destination combining a Saks Fifth Avenue department store with designer boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment. It positioned itself as an upscale alternative to conventional shopping centers and was sometimes promoted as Houston's equivalent of Rodeo Drive, but faced sustained competition from the larger nearby Galleria.
Department store anchor · 1974
Saks Fifth Avenue department store
The original anchor was a 240,000-square-foot luxury department store offering high-end fashion and related merchandise. Its scale gave the center its identity and attracted designer boutiques and specialty tenants. Saks operated at the property from the center's 1974 opening until September 1997, when it relocated to The Galleria.
Specialty department store · 1997
Fashion At The Pavilion
Fashion At The Pavilion was a smaller replacement store opened by Saks after the settlement of its dispute with the shopping center's landlord. It carried a narrower assortment of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home furnishings than the original Saks store. The operation opened in October 1997 and closed in June 1998.
Specialty retail · 1974
Luxury specialty-boutique program
The center's supporting retail offer consisted of upscale and designer boutiques, including Hermès and Christian Lacroix after the late-1980s expansion. These tenants were intended to reinforce the center's luxury positioning and provide a concentrated alternative to larger regional malls.
Entertainment · 1974
Cinema
A movie theater operated in the center's lower level from the opening period. Loews initially operated the venue, and Landmark Cinemas later took over in 1993, adding more independent films alongside mainstream releases. The theater closed in July 1995.
Brand decisions
2005
Replace the shopping center with BLVD PlaceStrategyBackground
After years of low occupancy and the loss of Saks, the property no longer functioned effectively as a luxury shopping center.
Action taken
Wulfe & Co. announced phased demolition of the center and an adjacent strip mall and proposed a mixed-use development with retail, restaurants, residences, and a hotel.
Aftermath
The former Saks building was removed by late 2007, and demolition of the broader complex was complete by 2012. The site became part of BLVD Place.
1997
Saks relocates its principal Houston storeStrategyBackground
Saks acquired a large former Marshall Field's location at The Galleria and planned to invest heavily in that site, while its existing lease at the Pavilion was still scheduled to run through 2008.
Action taken
Saks settled a lawsuit brought by the landlord, closed the Pavilion department store on September 3, 1997, and opened the new Galleria store on September 11.
Aftermath
Saks opened Fashion At The Pavilion as a smaller replacement operation, but that store closed in June 1998. The shopping center subsequently lost its anchor and declined sharply.
Planned Saks investment in the new Galleria store. $50 million planned investment (1997)
1996
Remove Saks from the property nameStrategyBackground
The center was experiencing declining occupancy and wanted to communicate a broader offer than its Saks anchor and luxury boutiques.
Action taken
Management renamed the property Pavilion at Post Oak.
Aftermath
The rebranding did not prevent Saks from deciding to relocate its main Houston store to The Galleria.
1987
Expand and reposition the center as a luxury pavilionStrategyBackground
The original center faced the challenge of competing with the larger nearby Galleria while maintaining a concentrated luxury identity.
Action taken
The owners commissioned a major renovation, adding a two-story indoor wing, underground parking, upgraded architectural finishes, and new designer tenants. The property adopted the Pavilion Saks Fifth Avenue name.
Aftermath
Occupancy reportedly reached about 90% in 1990, but the improvement was not sustained as shoppers and retailers continued to favor The Galleria.
Recent events
- 2007
Former Saks site is demolished during redevelopment[1]
Other
The former Saks building was torn down by late 2007 while a small number of tenants remained temporarily elsewhere in the complex.
- 2005
Wulfe & Co. announces BLVD Place redevelopment[1]
Other
The owner announced phased demolition of the shopping center and an adjacent strip mall to create BLVD Place, a mixed-use development with retail, restaurants, residences, and a hotel.
- 2000
Occupancy falls to approximately 12%[1]
Other
Several years after the anchor's departure, reported occupancy had fallen to about 12%, with only a limited group of luxury tenants and restaurants remaining.
- 1997
Saks announces relocation to The Galleria[1]
Product generation
Saks chose to close its Pavilion store and move its principal Houston operation to a newly acquired location at The Galleria.
- 1997
Landlord sues Saks over planned departure[1]
Lawsuit
The landlord alleged that Saks was breaching a lease that ran through 2008 and sought $130 million. The dispute was resolved through a settlement that included a replacement Saks-format store.
- 1997
Fashion At The Pavilion opens and closes[1]
Product launch · Other
As part of the settlement with the landlord, Saks opened Fashion At The Pavilion, a smaller store carrying selected apparel, accessories, jewelry, and home goods. It closed in June 1998.
- 1996
Center renamed Pavilion at Post Oak[1]
Other
The property removed Saks from its name in an effort to communicate a broader retail mix beyond its department-store anchor.
- 1995
Property is foreclosed amid declining occupancy[1]
Bankruptcy
The center was foreclosed, and new ownership considered entertainment and tenant-mix changes as occupancy fell to roughly 70% and upper floors emptied.
- 1993
Landmark Cinemas takes over the mall theater[1]
Other
Landmark Cinemas assumed operation of the center's multiplex and added more independent films to its programming before the theater closed in 1995.
- 1990
Occupancy reaches approximately 90% after redevelopment[1]
Other
The renovated Pavilion achieved a reported occupancy rate of about 90%, although the improvement proved temporary.
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