New Details Released For Shops At Willow Bend

Plano residents have been patiently awaiting the redevelopment of The Shops at Willow Bend. Recently, developer, Centennial unveiled new renderings of the project. 

According to The Dallas Morning News, drawings were released during a recent open house. However, the city of Plano must review the zoning changes required to add a hotel and apartments on the 107-acre property. Centennial provided Local Profile with the most recent renderings. 

But even with the addition of new residential space, the shopping experience won’t go away. Livingston said Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, The Crayola Experience and the North Texas Performing Arts Center, will continue to be included in the redevelopment plans. Centennial is also in “active negotiations” with more than one dine-in movie theater operator to take over Willow Bend’s abandoned theater. 

Located at the northwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and West Park Boulevard, Willow Bend hasn’t been known for its luck. Just after opening twenty years ago, the Sept. 11 attacks happened, and the opening was, as DeadMalls.com points out, “just in time for the economy to go downhill.” Once the economy recovered, the close proximity to Stonebriar Centre didn’t help Willow Bend’s chance at success.

The new owners, Dallas-based Centennial, purchased the mall in May 2022 with investors from Cawley Partners and Waterfall Asset Management.

The company plans to reduce the mall’s retail space, add residential homes and build a hotel. The mall has struggled to keep business inside and by reducing retail space, the demand will be greater.

“We’re still looking at a dominant mixed-use destination, and we’re pleased with the feedback from area residents who want to see the mall survive,” said Whitney Livingston, president of Centennial. “But everyone also understands that we need to add different uses from what’s there now.”