Wedged between the exclusive neighbourhoods of River Oaks and Memorial in the heart of Houston’s Uptown District, The Galleria is an upmarket shopping mall modelled on Milan’s 19th century Galleria, Vittorio Emanuele. It’s the largest mall in Texas, with around 400 stores spread across its more than 200,000 square metres, and lies adjacent to the Galleria Office Towers complex which provides a working space for more than 7,000 business professionals.
The Galleria is anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, while Dillard’s is located across the street and linked via a pedestrian crossing. Luxury designer labels such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. also share the space, together with popular youth brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Banana Republic and H&M. In addition to its fashion, homewares, electrical and sporting stores, The Galleria boasts more than 50 different eateries which range from the fine dining of The Oceanaire Seafood Room and Peli Peli to the more casual atmosphere of the Rainforest Cafe, Kona Grill and The Cheesecake Factory. There are also beauty salons, two swimming pools and a state-of-the-art children’s playground located on site, as well as the Polar Ice Rink, the first of its kind to be built within a shopping mall in the United States. The rink lies below the mall’s central glass atrium, which was initially built to increase visibility, while glass elevators rise to the adjacent office towers and boast impressive views looking down on the mall below.
In addition to its 13,000 parking spaces and six valet parking stations, The Galleria is also well served by public buses. Stops on Sage Road to the west and Post Oak Boulevard to the east connect with Houston’s Downtown area and surrounding suburbs.
The Galleria first opened its doors on November 16, 1970, with just 56,000 square metres of retail space. It has since undergone numerous expansions, including the addition of new retail wings and a private health club, as well as the construction of the Galleria Plaza Hotel and the Houston Oaks Hotel.