Shops at Rivercenter
Shopping mall in downtown San Antonio, Texas, located along the San Antonio River Walk.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Shops at Rivercenter is a downtown shopping, dining, entertainment, and hospitality complex in San Antonio, Texas. Formerly known as Rivercenter Mall, it is integrated with the city's River Walk and occupies a prominent position near the Alamo. The complex combines retail space, restaurants, entertainment venues, hotel accommodation, and direct access to the river-level pedestrian environment that is a defining feature of central San Antonio. The property opened in 1988 as Rivercenter Mall during a period of downtown redevelopment. Its original attractions included San Antonio's first Lord & Taylor department store, an IMAX theater, and a Dillard's department store. A key part of the redevelopment was the extension of the River Walk into the Rivercenter lagoon, linking the shopping complex to one of the city's most important tourism and public-realm assets. The mall therefore served not only as a conventional retail center but also as a visitor-oriented downtown destination. The complex incorporates and surrounds historically significant commercial structures. The building that houses part of the retail and entertainment area began as a freestanding Joske's department store opened in 1887 at the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets. Joske's expanded the building repeatedly between 1909 and 1953, eventually creating a large five-level department-store property. After the Joske's chain was acquired by Dillard's, the flagship building was divided among department-store, leasing, atrium, and cinema uses. The 1871 St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which had not been sold to the original developers, remained enclosed by the surrounding development rather than being demolished. The tenant and department-store composition changed over time. Lord & Taylor became Foley's in 1989 after May Department Stores acquired the Lord & Taylor operation, and the space later became Macy's in 2006 following Federated Department Stores' acquisition of May. Dillard's closed its Rivercenter location in August 2008. Plans announced in 2006 called for phased redevelopment involving restaurants, outdoor seating, restoration of the historic Joske's facade, new tenants, hotel development, and changes to parking infrastructure. San Antonio's Historic and Design Review Commission approved the redevelopment plan in October 2006. Ashkenazy purchased the property in 2005 and later acquired the historic Joske's building from Dillard's in 2008 as part of the revitalization effort. In 2016, the former Joske's building was incorporated as a modern wing of the mall. Reported tenants in that wing included Dave & Buster's, H&M, Starbucks, and Johnny Rockets, and the complex adopted the name Shops at Rivercenter. The property is arranged across four principal floors together with a river level along the River Walk. Macy's announced in January 2021 that its store would close in April of that year as part of a nationwide store-closure program. The complex continues to function as a mixed-use downtown destination centered on shopping, food and beverage, entertainment, tourism, and hospitality.
History
The Shops at Rivercenter developed from San Antonio's late twentieth-century effort to strengthen downtown through a combination of retail, tourism, public-space improvements, and hospitality. The property opened in 1988 as Rivercenter Mall. Its location beside the San Antonio River and the extension of the River Walk into the Rivercenter lagoon gave the mall an unusually direct relationship with the city's principal visitor corridor. The opening lineup included San Antonio's first Lord & Taylor store, an IMAX theater, and Dillard's. The complex also inherited an important layer of local commercial history. The structure that became part of Rivercenter's retail and entertainment footprint originated as a Joske's department store opened in 1887 at Alamo and Commerce streets. Joske's expanded the building several times between 1909 and 1953, producing a five-level flagship of approximately 551,000 square feet. In 1945, the 1871 St. Joseph's Catholic Church did not sell to the original developers, and later construction was arranged around the church. This created an unusual juxtaposition of historic religious, department-store, and modern mall architecture. Department-store uses changed soon after the mall opened. Lord & Taylor, then associated with May Department Stores, was converted into a Foley's in 1989. After Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores, the space became Macy's in 2006. Dillard's occupied only part of the former Joske's building after acquiring the Joske's chain; other areas were adapted for mall leasing, a retail atrium, and an AMC cinema. Some upper-floor and basement areas remained unused, reflecting the difficulty of adapting a very large historic department-store structure to changing retail requirements. Dillard's ultimately closed its location in August 2008. Ownership and redevelopment became central themes in the property's later history. Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation purchased Rivercenter in 2005. In October 2006, a multistage redevelopment concept was made public. The first phase emphasized restaurants and additional outdoor seating. Later phases contemplated restoration of the Joske's facade, reoccupation of vacant upper floors, and construction of a luxury hotel. The plan also anticipated closing a multilevel parking garage and replacing its capacity elsewhere. San Antonio's Historic and Design Review Commission approved the redevelopment plan on October 4, 2006. In 2008, Ashkenazy was reported to have acquired the historic Joske's building from Dillard's, allowing the owner to pursue a more unified revitalization of the landmark structure. The former Joske's space was eventually repositioned as a modern wing. In 2016, reported tenants included Dave & Buster's, H&M, Starbucks, and Johnny Rockets, and the overall property was renamed Shops at Rivercenter. The complex's current identity is consequently broader than that of a conventional enclosed mall: it is a mixed-use urban destination with retail, dining, entertainment, hotel accommodation, historic buildings, and riverfront pedestrian access. Its anchor offerings have included H&M and AMC Theatres, while the associated Marriott hotel provides a substantial hospitality component. Macy's announced in January 2021 that its store would close in April as part of a nationwide closure program affecting 46 stores. The property is organized across four floors and a river level along the River Walk, continuing its role as a downtown visitor and shopping destination.
- 2021
Macy's closure announced
[1]Macy's announced that its Rivercenter store would close in April as part of a nationwide program affecting 46 stores.
- 2016
Modern wing opens and property is renamed
[1]The former Joske's building was incorporated as a modern mall wing, and Rivercenter Mall adopted the Shops at Rivercenter name.
- 2008
Dillard's closes and Joske's building changes ownership
[1]Dillard's closed its location in August, and Ashkenazy was reported to have acquired the historic Joske's building from Dillard's.
- 2006
Foley's becomes Macy's and redevelopment receives approval
[1]The former Foley's space became Macy's, while the city's Historic and Design Review Commission approved a proposed phased redevelopment plan on October 4.
- 2005
Ashkenazy acquires the property
[1]Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation purchased the Rivercenter property.
- 1989
Lord & Taylor space becomes Foley's
[1]The original Lord & Taylor department-store space was converted into a Foley's location.
- 1988
Rivercenter Mall opens
[1]Rivercenter Mall opened as part of downtown redevelopment, with Lord & Taylor, Dillard's, and an IMAX theater among its initial attractions.
- 1887
Original Joske's department store opens
[1]A freestanding Joske's department store opened at the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets, later becoming part of the Rivercenter complex.
Products and positioning
A downtown, visitor-oriented mixed-use shopping and entertainment destination that combines retail, dining, cinemas, hospitality, historic architecture, and direct access to San Antonio's River Walk.
Fashion and specialty retail · 1988
Retail shops
The property provides a multi-tenant retail environment in downtown San Antonio. Its tenant mix has included fashion, specialty stores, food and beverage operators, and tourism-oriented businesses. H&M was identified as a notable tenant after the 2016 modernization of the former Joske's building.
Cinema and entertainment
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres is an entertainment anchor associated with the complex. The cinema occupies space adapted from the former Joske's department-store building and contributes to the property's combination of shopping, dining, and leisure uses.
Food, beverage, and leisure · 2016
Dining and entertainment wing
The modernized wing has included operators such as Dave & Buster's, Starbucks, and Johnny Rockets. These uses support the center's positioning as a visitor destination rather than solely a conventional retail mall.
Hospitality
Marriott hotel
The complex includes a 38-story Marriott hotel with 1,001 rooms. The hotel adds a major hospitality component and connects the property to downtown tourism and convention activity.
Brand decisions
2021
Close the Macy's locationOtherBackground
Macy's included the Rivercenter store in a nationwide program to close 46 locations.
Action taken
Macy's announced on January 6 that the Rivercenter store would close in April 2021.
Aftermath
The announcement ended the property's department-store relationship with Macy's; subsequent replacement occupancy is not established by the supplied sources.
2016
Reposition the property as Shops at RivercenterStrategyBackground
The former Joske's building required a new use after the departure of Dillard's and the adaptation of the structure for multiple retail and entertainment functions.
Action taken
The building was opened as a modern mall wing with tenants including Dave & Buster's, H&M, Starbucks, and Johnny Rockets, and the property was renamed Shops at Rivercenter.
Aftermath
The complex broadened its identity from a traditional department-store-anchored mall to a mixed-use downtown shopping and entertainment destination.
2006
Approve phased redevelopment of RivercenterStrategyBackground
The property contained underused portions of the former Joske's building and was being repositioned as part of downtown San Antonio's visitor economy.
Action taken
A redevelopment plan proposed restaurants, more outdoor seating, restoration of the Joske's facade, new tenants, a luxury hotel, and replacement parking capacity. The Historic and Design Review Commission approved the plan on October 4, 2006.
Aftermath
The plan established the framework for later revitalization of the historic building and the eventual modern wing.
Recent events
Sea Life San Antonio opens[3]
Reported:
Sea Life San Antonio opened at The Shops at RiverCenter in San Antonio on May 25, 2021.
Sources3 sources
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