Decline .281990s.E2.80.932000s.29 PlazAmericas

sharpstown center in 2006

ralph bivins , greg hassell of houston chronicle said mall s decline began in late 1980s. mall s decline began many of nearby apartment complexes, once dominated young professionals , single adults, became notorious residential arrangements hispanic illegal immigrants houston , low-income dwellers, in turn resulted in increase in criminal activity. sam wisialowski, president of y alls texas store chain, stated sales declining annually 25 30 percent @ sharpstown store when chain decided close said store in 1990. while sharpstown managed gain shoppers after addition of cineplex odeon movie theater, sharpstown suffer significant blow within decade.

in 1996, first colony mall opened in suburb of sugar land, resulted in sharpstown losing many of national retailers , core customer base in fort bend county had long been critical mall s survival. tom estus, shopping center broker of shelby/estus realty group, said s classic case of being passed newer, better malls. first colony clipped hardest. other places more exciting shop in. new. easier in , out of. first colony seal fate of westwood mall, closed in 1997 , converted technology-focused office center, , impact west oaks mall well. finally, sharpstown had compete redeveloped meyerland plaza, remodeled jcpenney location serve anchor reborn shopping center. aforementioned crime issues continued take toll on sharpstown center, crime rate in area surrounding mall increased in late 1990s , 2000s due white flight , urban decay.

consequently, customers within surrounding area deterred, , major retailers desired low crime, middle class, , wealthy area profitable support began leave. oshman s sporting goods closed store in 1997, around same time opened store in nearby suburb of stafford serve sugar land area once frequented sharpstown retail business. in 1998, jcpenney close store @ sharpstown, having lost of clientele first colony store, of remaining business going meyerland plaza store. in addition loss of businesses , customers sugar land area, further compounded many big box retailers opening new locations in , around said area, such aforementioned big box stores discounters including walmart , target have grown on loyalties of customers used frequent shopping malls. shopping center developer ed wulfe, wulfe & co. redeveloped meyerland plaza gulfgate mall, said loss of major tenants negatively affected sharpstown mall.

as 2000 dawned, new york investment group named sharpstown center associates owned mall. 2001, mall seized in foreclosure, , travelers insurance took ownership of mall, jcpenney anchor space remained vacant when announced montgomery ward close locations, including sharpstown store, part of liquidation process. loss of montgomery ward leave foley s mall s remaining anchor tenant, if not remaining original tenant mall s 1961 opening. burlington coat factory move adjacent shopping center fill former montgomery ward space.

in 2006 houston press alternative weekly newspaper awarded sharpstown mall best hip-hop mall, , sharpstown began bill houston s premiere urban mall on website. may 2007, sharpstown 75% occupied, local tenants dominated mall s retail base. further cementing status amongst newfound urban clientele, on october 20, 2007, local hip hop radio station kpty, owned univision (whose studio complex located near galleria), opened broadcast studio called studio 104.9 station broadcast on regular basis.

on december 28, 2007, macy s announced close location in sharpstown, last remaining original anchor mall s 1961 opening. after conclusion of liquidation sale on march 15, 2008, employees moved other macy s stores. mere days after macy s announcement, on january 9, 2008, finger furniture announced closing sharpstown location. january 11, 2008, sharpstown operating under chapter 11 bankruptcy protection , sale. owner of mall, urban mall houston, on $53 million in debt.