Texas Border Business
Rio Grande Valley’s Retail Landmark Adding New Junior Anchors, Specialty Stores and Restaurants
McAllen, TX, March 10, 2016 — Rio Grande Valley residents will soon witness the demolition of the former Sears store, a sign that Simon, a global leader in retail real estate, is well underway with its transformative expansion plan for La Plaza Mall. Demolition of the interior of the store has been underway for several months as teams of construction workers have been busy readying the building for demolition.
Demolition of the building is scheduled to be complete by late spring and will pave the way for a 245,000 square foot expansion wing that will accommodate up to 50 new specialty stores, four junior anchors and an exciting dining plaza with six first-to-market restaurants that will be prominently featured facing Interstate 2 with a grand outdoor terrace for our patrons to enjoy dinner al fresco. This new expansion is scheduled to open in fall 2017. Simon will also upgrade the interior and exterior of the existing mall with new mall entrances, flooring, LED lighting, skylights, upgraded restrooms, luxury seating and landscaping to completely enhance the look and feel of the property.
Two new parking decks, able to accommodate approximately 2,000 vehicles, will be built. A two-level parking deck will be built adjacent to Macy’s to serve the mall and Macy’s. A second two-level parking deck will be built to serve JC Penney, Dillard’s and the mall.
“La Plaza Mall is a highly productive mall and demand for space is significant,” said David Contis, President of Simon’s mall division. “Simon is committed to the McAllen market, and we know that this expansion will bring in highly-sought, high-quality retailers and restaurants unlike anything else available in the area.”
McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said, “La Plaza Mall has been the premier shopping destination for our region even extending into northern Mexico including our friends and neighbors in the City of Monterrey. We are very excited about today’s announcement of the new fantastic expansion and the opportunity for greater shopping at La Plaza Mall.”
About La Plaza Mall
La Plaza Mall is the premier shopping destination in the Rio Grande Valley and features over 1.2 million square feet of upscale and mainstream retail space with over 150 specialty retailers, including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Marciano, Michael Kors and Pandora, as well as more traditional retailers like Express, American Eagle Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret and Aéropostale. Conveniently situated at the intersection of 10th Street and Interstate 2, just 5 miles from the U.S. – Mexico border, La Plaza Mall is anchored by Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Macy’s Home & Children’s Store, and Joe Brand. In the expansion and renovation of its new food court, La Plaza Cafes was recently completed. Eateries include Green Leafs Beyond Great, Charley’s Subs and more.
About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.
