Rivercenter
Encyclopedia
Rivercenter is a shopping mall located in downtown San Antonio, Texas
along the River Walk
. It is anchored by Macy's
, as well as a 38-story, 1,001-room Marriott
hotel. The mall was purchased in 2005 by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation.
department store, an IMAX
theater, as well as Dillard's
(closed August 2008). Part of the downtown redevelopment included an extension of San Antonio's famed River Walk
into the Rivercenter lagoon.
Lord & Taylor, then owned by May Department Stores
, was converted into a Foley's
in 1989. In 2006, the space became Macy's after Macy's parent, Federated Department Stores
, bought May Department Stores. The structure that houses Dillard's
, an AMC Theatres
, as well as other shops originally opened in 1887 as a freestanding Joske's
at the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets. Several expansions from 1909 to 1953 brought the space to 551000 square feet (51,189.6 m²). Joske's closed the flagship store for remodeling in 1987, planning to reopen in 1988, to coincide with the Rivercenter opening. But Dillard's acquired the Joske's chain shortly after the store closed for remodeling. The massive flagship store was divided up, with Dillard's occupying only a portion of the five-level building. The remaining area of the building was converted into lease space and a retail atrium for Rivercenter and an AMC movie theater. Even with the division of the building into other uses, portions of the structure, including 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²). of space on the top two floors, as well as the old "bargain basement," remained unoccupied.
In October 2006, plans were revealed to redevelop the property over a number of years. Five-star restaurants and more outdoor seating would be added in the first phase of redevelopment. The redevelopment of the Joske's space would be the next phase. The Joske's facade along Commerce Street would be restored, bringing back the windows and brick that were covered in one of Joske's own renovations before Rivercenter was built, and tenants would be added for the currently vacant two upper floors. A luxury hotel would be added in the last phase, forcing a multi-level parking garage to close, but another parking garage would be built on another part of the property. San Antonio's Historic and Design Review Commission approved the redevelopment plan on October 4, 2006. A grand re-opening is planned for 2008.
It was reported in June 2008 that Ashkenazy purchased the historic Joske's building from Dillard's and plans to revitalize the landmark property as part of the property's redevelopment.
Several new stores are planned to be opened. Plans are to make the mall resemble the "Miracle Mile Shops" at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The mall is also expected to have a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art video, lighting, and audio show. Unconfirmed operation of this is expected to be the existing A/V Department of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. A historical view of the City of San Antonio will be shown. The San Antonio Experience will be the unofficial name of the show.
If the acquisition takes place, construction is said to start July 2010 with a finishing date of Fall 2012.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
along the River Walk
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath downtown San Antonio, Texas...
. It is anchored by Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, as well as a 38-story, 1,001-room Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
hotel. The mall was purchased in 2005 by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation.
History
Rivercenter opened in 1988 with San Antonio's first Lord & TaylorLord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
department store, an IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater, as well as Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
(closed August 2008). Part of the downtown redevelopment included an extension of San Antonio's famed River Walk
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath downtown San Antonio, Texas...
into the Rivercenter lagoon.
Lord & Taylor, then owned by May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
, was converted into a Foley's
Foley's
Foley’s was a chain of department stores owned by May Department Stores and headquartered in Downtown Houston, Texas. As of August 30, 2005, the division was dissolved and operation of the stores was assumed by Federated's Macy's West and Macy's South divisions. Foley's operated stores in Texas,...
in 1989. In 2006, the space became Macy's after Macy's parent, Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
, bought May Department Stores. The structure that houses Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, an AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres , officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens, second only to Regal Entertainment Group, and one of the United States's four national cinema chains AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as...
, as well as other shops originally opened in 1887 as a freestanding Joske's
Joske's
Joske's, founded by German immigrant Julius Joske in 1867, was a department store chain originally based in San Antonio, Texas. In December 1928, Hahn Department Stores acquired the company along with the Titche-Goettinger department store of Dallas, and three years later Hahn became part of Allied...
at the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets. Several expansions from 1909 to 1953 brought the space to 551000 square feet (51,189.6 m²). Joske's closed the flagship store for remodeling in 1987, planning to reopen in 1988, to coincide with the Rivercenter opening. But Dillard's acquired the Joske's chain shortly after the store closed for remodeling. The massive flagship store was divided up, with Dillard's occupying only a portion of the five-level building. The remaining area of the building was converted into lease space and a retail atrium for Rivercenter and an AMC movie theater. Even with the division of the building into other uses, portions of the structure, including 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²). of space on the top two floors, as well as the old "bargain basement," remained unoccupied.
It was reported in June 2008 that Ashkenazy purchased the historic Joske's building from Dillard's and plans to revitalize the landmark property as part of the property's redevelopment.
Planned change of ownership
The old five-floor Dillard's/Joske's building is planned to be the newest ballrooms of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. Each floor will receive a junior to grand ballroom with 10 meeting rooms on each floor. The 5th floor of the building would be a grand ballroom. The Fashion Level of the mall would become Marriott Rivercenter Hotel's newest meeting space. Each of the stores would be transformed into a meeting room. (Similar to the meeting rooms at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center). Mall patrons would not have access to this level. The only access to this level would be through Marriott Rivercenter Hotel's big glass window located on the third floor. Parking would be affected by the transformation of the property. Central Parking System's Commerce Street Garage is expected to now be a relief parking garage owned and operated by Towne Park Valet of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. Fogo De Chao's valet parking will be on "A" and "B" levels. Levels "C" and "D",would become hotel patron parking. Level "E" and "F" would become Marriott Rivercenter Hotel's employee parking.Several new stores are planned to be opened. Plans are to make the mall resemble the "Miracle Mile Shops" at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The mall is also expected to have a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art video, lighting, and audio show. Unconfirmed operation of this is expected to be the existing A/V Department of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. A historical view of the City of San Antonio will be shown. The San Antonio Experience will be the unofficial name of the show.
If the acquisition takes place, construction is said to start July 2010 with a finishing date of Fall 2012.
Anchors
- Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
(opened 1887 as freestanding Joske'sJoske'sJoske's, founded by German immigrant Julius Joske in 1867, was a department store chain originally based in San Antonio, Texas. In December 1928, Hahn Department Stores acquired the company along with the Titche-Goettinger department store of Dallas, and three years later Hahn became part of Allied...
, became Dillard's 1988; only occupying 131900 sq ft (12,253.9 m²). on two floors of 551000 sq ft (51,189.6 m²). five-floor building and went out of business on August 4, 2008) - Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(opened 1988 as Lord & TaylorLord & TaylorLord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
, became Foley'sFoley'sFoley’s was a chain of department stores owned by May Department Stores and headquartered in Downtown Houston, Texas. As of August 30, 2005, the division was dissolved and operation of the stores was assumed by Federated's Macy's West and Macy's South divisions. Foley's operated stores in Texas,...
1989, became Macy's 2006; 92,892 sq ft) - IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Theater (34,467 sq ft)
External links
- Rivercenter website
- Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation website
- New owner needed to breathe fresh life into downtown mall, San Antonio Business Journal, September 17, 2004.
- Rivercenter Mall will be put on sales block, San Antonio Business Journal, April 17, 1998.