Greenspoint Mall

Greenspoint Mall celebrated its grand opening on August 5, 1976, anchored by Sears, Houston-based Palais-Royal, and Foley's, the latter of which was owned at the time by Federated Department Stores who developed the mall. The mall eventually expanded by the late 1970s to include Joske's, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward and Lord & Taylor. Revolving around a "Central Park" theme, complete with a sculpture court, Greenspoint was at one point the largest mall in Greater Houston before the Galleria's later expansions in the 1980s and 2000s. Prudential Property Co. planned a $7 million renovation in 1988.[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_543101 $7 million renovation planned], Houston Chronicle, May 13, 1988.

Lord & Taylor sold its Greenspoint and its Memorial Mall anchor locations to Mervyn's in February 1989."Mervyn's To Buy Lord & Taylor Stores." The Press-Tribune (Roseville, CA), 9 February 1989, p. 10. Counting that anchor, Greenspoint Mall was 94% occupied in February 1989, making it the mall with the fourth highest percentage of occupied space in the Houston area.Bivins, Ralph. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_604110 Sales at Houston malls rise/Local retailers cite improving economy, shuttle flights]." Houston Chronicle. Friday February 17, 1989. Business 1. Retrieved on August 3, 1989. But the opening of the Woodlands Mall in Fall of 1994 about 16 miles north of Greenspoint combined with rising vacancies caused by the expiry of non-renewed 20-year leases raised concerns about the Mall's long term financial future. Mervyn’s departed Greenspoint on January 16, 1998 as part of the company’s plan to close 10 under performing stores.{{cite news |last1=Elder |first1=Laura |title=Dallas firm buying Greenspoint Mall |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1998/02/09/story1.html |access-date=25 January 2024 |publisher=Houston Business Journal |date=8 February 1998}} General Cinema closed its Greenspoint Mall 5 theater a month later.{{Cite web |title=GCC Greenspoint Mall 5 in Houston, TX - Cinema Treasures |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/44712 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=cinematreasures.org}}

Dallas-based Archon was near a deal to purchase the mall in 1998,Elder, Laura. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1998/02/09/story1.html?page=1 Dallas firm buying Greenspoint Mall]." Houston Business Journal. Friday February 6, 1998. Retrieved on August 3, 2009. though a Los Angeles developer would unravel the deal when it entered negotiations to purchase the mall instead.Elder, Laura. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1998/04/13/story1.html?page=1 Buyers compete for Greenspoint Mall]." Houston Business Journal. Friday April 10, 1998. Retrieved on August 3, 2009. Los Angeles developer Bob Yari of Day Properties would eventually purchase the {{convert|1700000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} mall from Prudential Real Estate Investments Separate Account, a pension fund investment group organized by Prudential Insurance Company of America. Yari sought to attract a multiscreen movie theater.Bivins, Ralph. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1998_3076252 Greenspoint Mall sold to developer / Owner seeks theater, other changes]." Houston Chronicle. August 15, 1998. Business 1. Retrieved on August 3, 2009.

The mall became a part of a redevelopment project that same year.Cook, Lynn. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1998/09/14/newscolumn4.html Greenspoint gets green light from city to create new TIF]." Houston Business Journal. Friday September 11, 1998. Retrieved on August 3, 2009.Bivins, Ralph. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1998_3094302 New hope resides in Greenspoint / an ambitious project attempts to rebuild blocks of apartments as well as a reputation]." Houston Chronicle. Sunday November 1, 1998. Business 1. Retrieved on August 3, 2009. Office and convention center space, as well as a flea market were all being considered.Cook, Lynn J. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1999/04/26/newscolumn3.html Greenspoint Mall eyes revival with office, convention space]." Houston Business Journal. Friday April 23, 1999. Retrieved on August 3, 2009. Greenspoint would lose two more of its anchors when JCPenney closed in 1999 and Montgomery Ward closing a year later. As part of the redevelopment, the owners bought the closed Mervyn's and JCPenney locations in 2000.Sarnoff, Nancy. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2000/06/05/story1.html?page=1 Greenspoint buyer adds two stores]." Houston Business Journal. Friday June 2, 2000. Retrieved on August 3, 2009.

Greenspoint Mall reached its 30th anniversary in 2006. Due to high crime rates in the area, the shopping center had been tagged with a nickname of "Gunspoint Mall."{{Cite web |last=Pritchett |first=Bonnie |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Houston"s (sic) Mission Greenspoint Dispelling Darkness With Light |url=https://www.texanonline.net/articles/features/houstons-mission-greenspoint-dispelling-darkness-with-light/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429210447/https://www.texanonline.net/articles/features/houstons-mission-greenspoint-dispelling-darkness-with-light/ |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=texanonline.net |language=en-US}} Facing 30-year lease expirations, the management of Greenspoint Mall announced a $32 million project to refurbish the 30-year-old mall into an hybridized open-air/enclosed shopping center called The Renaissance at Greenspoint, entailing the demolition of the vacant anchor stores for new outdoor amenities.Sarnoff, Nancy (April 21, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604035355/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4102157 Greenspoint is Dressing Up / Mall Will Spend $32 Million on New Look, New Features], Houston Chronicle. via Wayback MachineBrown, Anitra D. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4117865 Greenspoint Mall to get facelift / $32 million project made possible by partnership]." Houston Chronicle. Thursday May 18, 2006. ThisWeek 11. Retrieved on August 3, 2009. That year, Macy's rebranded the Greenspoint Foley's anchor to a Macy's store as part of the chain's purchase of Federated Department Stores.Henson, Liz. "Foley's stores prepare to unveil Macy's name." Houston Chronicle, 24 August 2006.

In November 2006, six months after the renovation was announced, Triyar Cos. LLC, owned by the Yari family, put the mall and several other Greater Houston malls for sale.Dawson, Jennifer. "[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/11/27/story10.html Celebrity owner puts group of local malls on the selling block]." Houston Business Journal. Friday November 24, 2006. Retrieved on January 23, 2010. Much of the Renaissance at Greenspoint was dropped with the exception without agreements other than Premiere Cinema's decision to build a multiscreen movie theater and GlennLock Sports Bar & Grill signing a lease.{{Cite web|url=http://texas.realestaterama.com/2009/07/15/frenchys-creates-new-concept-at-the-renaissance-at-greenspoint-ID0256.html|title=FRENChy's CREATES NEW CONCEPT AT THE RENAISSANCE AT GREENSPOINT | Texas RealEstateRama|date=15 July 2009 }}

After the destruction of the vacated JCPenney in May 2010, a movie theater was built opening on the anchor pad, with a connection into the mall.{{Cite web|url=http://swamplot.com/before-the-movies-start-whats-eating-jcpenney-at-the-greenspoint-mall/2010-05-10/|title = Before the Movies Start: What's Eating JCPenney at the Greenspoint Mall | Swamplot| date=10 May 2010 }} Lacking the promised, unified refresh of Greenspoint Mall combined with high crime rates resulted in escalating vacancies. In May 2010, Sears announced that its store at Greenspoint Mall would close.Sarnoff, Nancy. "[http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2010/02/greenspoint_sears_going_dark.html Greenspoint Sears going dark]." Houston Chronicle. February 22, 2010. Retrieved on May 30, 2010.

On January 4, 2017, Macy's announced that it would close its Greenspoint Mall anchor with a liquidation sale that ended March 27, 2017.Hersko, Tyler. "Macy's to Close 1 of Its Simi Stores; Retailer to Shut 68 Locations Across Country, Eliminating 10,000 Jobs." 5 January 2017, pp 1A-2A. Later that year when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, displaced flood victims exceeded the capacity for shelter at the NRG Stadium; 259 people were relocated to the former Macy's anchor.{{cite news |last1=Eaton |first1=Colin |title=New emergency shelter opens at Greenspoint Mall |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/New-emergency-shelter-opens-at-Greenspoint-Mall-12225263.php |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=25 September 2017}}

Under contract for purchase in 2017 by potential new owner, Global Plaza Union, rumors suggested that a plan to demolish the interior of the Greenspoint Mall was imminent.{{Cite web |last=Beausoleil |first=Sophia |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Greenspoint Mall in Process of Being Sold, Sources Say |url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/2017/08/14/greenspoint-mall-in-process-of-being-sold-sources-say/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214182513/https://www.click2houston.com/news/2017/08/14/greenspoint-mall-in-process-of-being-sold-sources-say/ |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=click2houston.com |language=en}} The plans did not develop and the Greenspoint Mall continued operations reaching greyfield status with vacancies surpassing occupancy. In 2019, anchors Dillard's and Palais Royal - both of which had rebranded their Greenspoint operations as clearance outlets - closed permanently.

Premiere Cinemas suspended operations along with theaters nationwide due to the COVID-19 restrictions that were implemented in March 2020. Though restrictions later in 2020 reopened many Houston theaters, Premiere announced the closure in Greenspoint would be permanent leaving the theater frozen in time, complete with the marquee and associated posters with movie titles from spring 2020.{{Cite web |title=Premiere Renaissance 15 |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/36716/photos/363603 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=cinematreasures.org}}

The mall's interior closed temporarily for repairs in 2023 but reopened with a handful of stores operating with a seven day a week, 11am to 7pm schedule. The only open anchor was a Fitness Connection Gym housed in the former Mervyn's location.

On May 23, 2024 it was announced that the mall would be closed on June 30, 2024. Tenants were given until July 31, 2024 to move everything out, after which the mall would permanently shutter to tenants. There are plans for apartments and retail stores to take its place in the future.{{Cite web |title=Greenspoint Mall May be gone but new affordable housing retails and restaurants are on the way. |url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/07/30/greenspoint-mall-may-be-gone-but-new-affordable-housing-retails-and-restaurants-are-on-the-way/ |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=click2houston.com}}

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Category:Defunct shopping malls in the United States

Category:Shopping malls in Houston

Category:Shopping malls established in 1976

Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2024