Here it is: The Galleria a marvel of retail and entertainment history whispers stories of ambition and transformation. This upscale mixed-use development is not just a shopping mall. The Galleria also encompasses office towers two Westin hotels and a private health club.
In the 1940s oilman Glenn H McCarthy envisioned an indoor shopping center. This concept was to include the Shamrock Hotel. However the idea was scrapped after the Hilton Hotel franchise took over the Shamrock in 1955. Gerald Hines developed The Galleria later taking inspiration from McCarthy’s abandoned idea.
The Galleria’s first anchor store Neiman Marcus opened on January 28 1969. The mall itself opened on November 16 1970. The design drew inspiration from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The glazed barrel vault spanning the mall’s central axis is its most distinctive feature. The original skylights graced among other things a large floor-level ice rink. This ice rink remains open year-round. A connected 400-room hotel opened in September 1971. It was originally named the Houston Oaks Hotel and is now The Westin Oaks Houston.
The first expansion Galleria II began in 1975 and opened on June 17 1977. It added retail space office space and two new anchor stores. A second hotel the 500-room Galleria Plaza Hotel now The Westin Galleria Houston opened in November 1977. Marshall Field’s joined the mall in 1979. Noted architect Philip Johnson designed this store. In 1986 Galleria III opened with a new wing anchored by Macy’s.
In 1996 Dayton-Hudson Corporation sold its Marshall Field’s Texas stores. Saks Fifth Avenue relocated its Post Oak Boulevard location into The Galleria. The new Saks Fifth Avenue opened in 1997. Hines Interests sold the mall in 1999. Simon Property Group acquired the mall in early 2002.
Development continued with Galleria IV completed in March 2003. It added retail space anchored by Nordstrom and Foley’s. Another redevelopment added retail space in August 2006. This included new restaurants and retail stores.
In 2005 the parent companies of Macy’s and Foley’s merged. The Macy’s store at Sage remained operational and the Foley’s was renamed Macy’s in September 2006. The original Macy’s operated until 2014. It was then razed to accommodate the relocation of Saks Fifth Avenue.
Forbes ranked The Galleria as one of the world’s best shopping malls in 2008. Since the end of the government lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic The Galleria has announced several new additions.
Today The Galleria boasts over 400 stores and services. It has eight anchor tenants including Macy’s Neiman Marcus Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. The Galleria is the largest mall in Texas. It welcomes 35 million annual visitors. The Galleria has been named the most visited attraction in Greater Houston.
The Galleria includes a 20000-square-foot ice skating facility. Known as Polar Ice it was the first ever built inside a mall. There is also a jogging track on the roof around the atrium. About 50 restaurants and specialty food stores are located throughout the complex.
Two hotels are located directly in The Galleria complex. The Houston Oaks Hotel opened in September 1971. The Galleria Plaza Hotel opened in November 1977. The Galleria has three office towers. The Galleria Financial Center is occupied by many financial institutions. The other two office buildings are Post Oak Tower and the Galleria Tower. Williams Tower is also connected to the mall.
The Galleria stands as a testament to Houston’s economic vitality and architectural innovation. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a retail giant The Galleria continues to evolve. It offers a unique blend of shopping dining entertainment and hospitality.