The Shops at Willow Bend
Encyclopedia
The Shops at Willow Bend is an upscale shopping mall
located in Plano, Texas
, with over 125 stores and three main anchors. The mall is located at the intersection of West Park Blvd (FM 544) and the Dallas North Tollway
in West Plano.
, which has been highly selective in accepting tenants. Despite being designed as a regional shopping center with over 1500000 square feet (139,354.6 m²) of space, the center's management has tried to limit the mall's focus to predominantly upscale fashion. The majority of the stores in the mall cater to women, although some stores have broader appeal, such as the department stores, the restaurants, and North Texas' largest Apple Store
. The four original anchors were Dillard's
, Foley's
(now Macy's
), Lord & Taylor
, and Neiman Marcus
. The Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus stores were replacement stores for those at the now-demolished Prestonwood Town Center
in north Dallas
.
In 2004, a fifth anchor was added, Saks Fifth Avenue
. In 2005, the total number of anchor stores dropped to four, as the May Company
closed Lord & Taylor, along with all of the chain's other Texas stores. In 2010, the total number of anchor stores dropped to three with the closing of Saks Fifth Avenue. A fourth anchor, Crate & Barrel, opened in March 2011.
When it first opened, the mall's tenants included Escada
, Bruno Magli
, Burberry
, Armani Collezioni, Montblanc, Nicole Miller
, Diesel, D&G
and Loro Piana
among others, all of which have closed and have been replaced with typical mall retail chains. The mall is focusing on opening national retail chains after its failed attempt to lease space to upscale luxury stores.
33°1′51"N 96°49′57"W
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
, with over 125 stores and three main anchors. The mall is located at the intersection of West Park Blvd (FM 544) and the Dallas North Tollway
Dallas North Tollway
The Dallas North Tollway is a controlled-access toll road operated by the North Texas Tollway Authority , which runs from Interstate 35E near downtown Dallas, Texas , to U.S...
in West Plano.
History
The mall opened in 2001 with four anchor stores and about 75% occupancy. The mall was developed and is managed by Taubman CentersTaubman Centers
Taubman Centers is an owner of United States upscale regional malls and has headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The Taubman Asia subsidiary is headquartered in Hong Kong. It has the highest selling portfolio of malls in any mall company in the United States.Taubman was founded in 1950 by...
, which has been highly selective in accepting tenants. Despite being designed as a regional shopping center with over 1500000 square feet (139,354.6 m²) of space, the center's management has tried to limit the mall's focus to predominantly upscale fashion. The majority of the stores in the mall cater to women, although some stores have broader appeal, such as the department stores, the restaurants, and North Texas' largest Apple Store
Apple Store (retail)
The Apple Retail Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc., dealing in computers and consumer electronics. The stores sell Macintosh personal computers, software, iPods, iPads, iPhones, third-party accessories, and other consumer electronics such as Apple TV...
. The four original anchors were 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,...
, 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,...
(now 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...
), Lord & Taylor
Lord & 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...
, and Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
. The Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus stores were replacement stores for those at the now-demolished Prestonwood Town Center
Prestonwood Town Center
Prestonwood Town Center is a retail shopping center located at the northeast corner of Beltline Road and Montfort Drive in Dallas, Texas. It opened in 2006. Major tenants include Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, and Wal-Mart. A Circuit City location closed in 2009 as part of the economic collapse...
in north Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
In 2004, a fifth anchor was added, Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
. In 2005, the total number of anchor stores dropped to four, as the May Company
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...
closed Lord & Taylor, along with all of the chain's other Texas stores. In 2010, the total number of anchor stores dropped to three with the closing of Saks Fifth Avenue. A fourth anchor, Crate & Barrel, opened in March 2011.
When it first opened, the mall's tenants included Escada
Escada
Escada is an international luxury fashion group in women's designer clothing. The company has a presence in about 60 different countries. Its main sales markets are North America, western and eastern Europe and Asia. It filed bankruptcy in August 2009, and was acquired by Megha Mittal, in November...
, Bruno Magli
Bruno Magli
Bruno Magli is an Italian shoemaker, designing and handcrafting high-quality luxury shoes and accessories.-History:After learning the art from their grandfather, Magli and his siblings Marino and Maria started crafting women's shoes in a small basement in Bologna, Italy, in 1936. In 1947, the first...
, Burberry
Burberry
Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
, Armani Collezioni, Montblanc, Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller is an American fashion designer, businesswoman, mother and wife who was born in Texas and raised in Lenox, Massachusetts.Miller attended the Rhode Island School of Design where she earned a BFA in Apparel Design...
, Diesel, D&G
and Loro Piana
Loro Piana
Loro Piana is an Italian clothing company specialising in high-end, luxury cashmere and wool products.-History:Originally from Trivero , the Loro Piana family started as merchants of wool fabrics at the beginning of the nineteenth century...
among others, all of which have closed and have been replaced with typical mall retail chains. The mall is focusing on opening national retail chains after its failed attempt to lease space to upscale luxury stores.
Problems in the beginning
The mall has faced several operating challenges from the beginning:- The mall opened shortly before September 11, 2001, when retail sales nationwide entered a slump.
- The mall had only upscale and luxury stores that appealed mostly to affluent clientele.
- Stonebriar CentreStonebriar CentreStonebriar Centre is a shopping mall located at the intersection of SH 289 and SH 121 in Frisco, Texas . It contains six major department store anchors, a 24-screen movie theater, an NHL size ice arena, and a total of 165 tenants renting over gross leasable area.The mall is open Monday through...
opened a year earlier than The Shops at Willow Bend in FriscoFrisco, TexasFrisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
, only a few miles away. Stonebriar is considerably larger than Willow Bend and has more amenities plus a wider selection of shops and restaurants that appeal to all classes. - There were no entertainment venues such as a movie theater or skating rink, unlike the nearby Stonebriar Centre.
Anchors
- Crate & Barrel (29,000 sq ft., opened 2011)
- 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,...
(249,200 sq ft., opened 2001) - 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...
(200,000 sq ft., opened 2001 as 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,...
, became Macy's 2006) - Neiman MarcusNeiman MarcusNeiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
(153,300 sq ft., opened 2001)
Former Anchors
- 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...
(140,000 sq ft., opened 2001, closed 2004, demolished 2010) - Saks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
(122,900 sq ft., opened 2004, closed 2010)
External links
33°1′51"N 96°49′57"W