HOUSTON – (By Michelle Leigh Smith for Realty News Report) – Few who underestimated Stanley Marcus’ vision remained unconvinced for long. In 1969, some questioned the bold decision to move Neiman Marcus from downtown Houston to open on a prairie along Westheimer Road. But Neiman Marcus’ reputation for the finest goods drew an international clientele and helped make the Galleria a success. The complex that would become Texas’ largest shopping center opened in November 1970.
Lengthy negotiations between two Texas legends—developer Gerald D. Hines and retail innovator Stanley Marcus—produced a mixed-use development and shopping destination that reshaped Houston’s growth for decades to come.
“Stanley Marcus was the retail genius who elevated his family’s business with keen instincts, refined taste and original ideas,” says fashion consultant Roz Pactor of My Red Glasses. Pactor helped coordinate the move from Main Street to Westheimer and 2600 Post Oak.
“Neiman’s move to the Galleria in early 1969 was the biggest retail story this city had seen,” she adds. During those early years the Houston store was managed by Stanley’s brother, Lawrence Marcus, and it quickly became one of Neiman Marcus’ top branches. At Neiman Marcus’ 75th anniversary, columnist Art Buchwald joked, “If it wasn’t for Neiman Marcus, Dallas would be just another dusty Texas town surrounded by Sakowitz stores.”
Nov. 15, 1970 – A Landmark Day in Houston
On November 15, 1970, Gerald D. Hines opened The Galleria: then a 600,000-square-foot, multi-level center anchored by Stanley Marcus’ illustrious Neiman Marcus. The Galleria stood apart from other Houston shopping locales—such as Westbury Square—for its exceptional luxury and became the first Texas mall with an ice rink. In its early days the mall featured a popular See’s Candy shop whose lines wrapped around the rink, specialty watch retailers and premium office space in Post Oak Tower.
Hines drew inspiration from Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th-century glass-topped arcade with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and intersecting arms leading to the La Scala opera house. The Galleria’s glass ceiling spans the mall’s central axis, echoing that international model. Today, restaurants like Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Nobu and Fig & Olive continue the tradition of dining destinations that energize visitors, much as Milan’s Savini does.
As countless shoppers stroll the Galleria aisles each holiday season, many may not realize the center’s origins in Milan’s arcade—founded in 1868 as a coffee bar and later a popular beer house that still celebrates its “yard of beer.”
A century after Milan’s arcade opened, Gerald Hines—a high-energy Houston developer—was balancing two major projects: The Galleria and One Shell Plaza, a 50-story downtown skyscraper that became the city’s tallest building when it opened in 1971. That same year Hines opened the Houston Oaks Hotel at the complex, now the Westin Oaks. Stores launched rapidly at the Galleria, paralleling Houston’s expansion during its heyday as the “Energy Capital of the World.” Boutiques and brands including Gittings, Isabell Gerhart, Tiffany & Co., Ralph Lauren Collection, Ted Lapidus, Tourneau and specialty shops followed Neiman Marcus, while affluent shoppers from Mexico quickly became an important customer base.
“Our guests from Mexico loved See’s Candy and would stand in line for an hour,” remembers Sylvia Goldstein, who began at Neiman’s in 1972 and witnessed VIP visits from designers such as Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta. Neiman Marcus also offered a notable employee cafeteria run for years by Middie Dawson, who later joined cosmetics; she became famous for hosting “Breakfasts with Santa,” a holiday tradition that continues into December.
Blonde and a Size 2
During the holiday season Neiman Marcus often emphasized a particular aesthetic—light wood finishes and carefully curated displays—and designers such as Bill Blass noted exceptionally strong sales of evening gowns in sizes 2 and 4 in Houston. “I remember James Galanos’ shows,” recalls image consultant Helen Perry. “Models were rumored to have taken drastic measures to meet his standards.”
Over the years the Galleria expanded, adding wings and various anchor stores, including Frost Brothers, Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field’s, Foley’s and Macy’s at the Sage Road end of the mall. The Marshall Field’s store was a notable architectural commission, designed by Philip Johnson, and its 1979 opening featured celebrity hosts Cary Grant and Barbara Harris, creating a memorable fashion and publicity event.
The Galleria’s Evolution
Macy’s original store operated until 2014 and was later demolished to make way for Saks Fifth Avenue’s relocation into a new flagship. The former Marshall Field’s building was reconfigured into smaller retail spaces that now link directly to the Galleria III and the relocated Saks store.
Houston’s Galleria continued growing with additions including Brooks Brothers in 1996 and a range of boutiques. Within its three levels the center even houses a post office below Neiman’s and features high-demand destinations such as Gucci on Level 1. In 2003, Simon Property Group—then the new majority owner—completed a $25 million renovation and added Galleria IV, a 700,000-square-foot expansion with about 70 new stores. A second Ralph Lauren store, Polo Ralph Lauren, opened in 2014, and the mall’s footprint continued to evolve while retaining a focus on luxury.
“Luxury has always been central to our identity,” says Chris Lane, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Simon Property Group. “With more than 400 stores, we serve a broad range of customers. The Galleria is the largest shopping center in Texas, one of the largest in the nation, and includes three office towers with about one million square feet of space as well as the Westin Oaks and Westin Galleria hotels—together offering roughly 900 rooms. The center connects by skybridge to the 64-story Williams Tower and the adjacent Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park.” Hines sold The Galleria in 1999.
Today Simon reports approximately 2,025,079 leasable square feet of retail and restaurant space in the Galleria, much of it occupied or leased.
Reese Witherspoon Brings Draper James to the Galleria
Simon announced the arrival of 22 new stores including Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s brand, marking its first location west of the Mississippi. The store opened with a soft launch and plans for a possible personal appearance by Witherspoon have circulated. Named for her grandparents Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon, Draper James reflects Southern-inspired, timeless styles—dresses, accessories, totes and home décor—appealing to holiday shoppers.
The Galleria location on Level 1—between Nordstrom and Macy’s—features clothing, beachwear, accessories, home décor and art from designers such as Chelsea Petaja and Kayce Hughes, making it a destination for seasonal gift buying.
Back to the Basics of the Holidays
On the subject of holiday shopping, Lane says he’s excited to welcome shoppers back in person. “The Galleria is the perfect place to spend the season. We go all out with a 55-foot Christmas tree on the ice rink and decorations across all entrances, inviting visitors to enjoy distinctive installations.” Examples include Golden Goose’s Houston location where shoppers can customize sneakers in a creative in-store workspace—an example of the curated, exclusive experiences the mall now offers.
Luxury Labels and Unique Offerings
Giorgio Armani recently opened a boutique after relocating within the Galleria, joining other exclusive-to-market brands such as Creed and Louis Vuitton Men’s. “We continue to bring brands that are unique to Texas,” Lane notes. Several retailers—including Sugar Factory, Therabody, Karma and Luck, and Forward—are the only Texas locations within the Galleria, maintaining the center’s reputation for rare and desirable shopping options. International tourism remains important, with many visitors from Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City contributing to the mall’s robust international business.
While some national chains have adjusted their footprints, the Galleria has largely retained its major brands and continues to reshuffle and refine store placements to match demand. Recent moves include relocations within Galleria IV and adjustments near the Galleria Financial Center to optimize shopper traffic and visibility.
New stores now open or in the pipeline:
- Banter by Piercing Pagoda – Level 2, between Macy’s and Nordstrom
- Earthbound Trading Company – Level 1, between Macy’s and Nordstrom
- GameStop – Relocating closer to the Play Area: Level 2, near the Galleria Financial Center
- Läderach Chocolatier Suisse – Level 1, near The Westin Galleria
- Levi’s – Level 1, near Saks Fifth Avenue
- MAAUVE – Level 2, near Saks Fifth Avenue
- Urban City Barbershop – Level 1, near Nordstrom
- Free People Movement – Opening Fall; Level 1, near Macy’s
- Nespresso – Opening Fall; relocating to Level 1, near Macy’s
- Crown of Light – Opening Fall; Level 1, near the Galleria Financial Center
- Blue Nile Diamonds – Opening Winter; Level 2, near the Galleria Financial Center
- Sugar Factory Express – Opening Winter 2021; Rink Level, Dining Pavilion
- Therabody – Opening Winter; Level 2, near Saks Fifth Avenue
- Aerie & Offline by Aerie – Opening Winter; Level 2, near Neiman Marcus
- Karma and Luck – Opening Winter; Level 2, near the Galleria Financial Center
- Forward – Opening Winter; Level 2, near Saks Fifth Avenue
- Burger King – Opening Winter; Rink Level, Dining Pavilion
- Wok A Holic – Opening Winter; Rink Level, Dining Pavilion
- Steepologie – Opening Winter; Level 1, near Macy’s
- Arabian Oud – Opening Winter; Level 1, near the Galleria Financial Center
- Psycho Bunny – Opening Spring 2022; Level 2, near the Galleria Financial Center
Nov. 24, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
For more about Texas real estate, see the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins.
Photos credit: Nick de la Torre.