In June 1977,Melvin Simon & Associates announced the development of ashopping mall on a 104-acre (42 ha) tract of land alongTexas State Highway Loop 360 in southwest Austin. Initial plans called for over 1 million sq ft (93,000 m2) of retail space and parking capacity for nearly 6,000 cars, which would make the mall the largest in Austin.[2][3] Finalization of plans to extendTexas State Highway Loop 1 ("MoPac") to intersect with Highway 360 adjacent to the planned site delayed construction, but clearing andgrading of the land was begun by late October 1977.[4][5] Continued delays in the MoPac extension caused further delays in the mall's construction and negotiations between the developers and potential tenants.[6] Designs for Barton Creek Square were finalized in 1978; Gordon Sibeck, designer of theWindsor Park Mall inSan Antonio, was selected as the mall's designer.[7] During construction of the mall, worseningwater quality on the nearbyBarton Creek and the possibility that the mall's construction could do further damage to the creek prompted daily municipal surveillance of the site in 1980.[8][9][10]Erosion control measures were approved for the site after the City of Austin's Environmental Board found the site in violation of city standards.[11][12]
Barton Creek Square Mall opened in 1981 as one of the largest malls in Texas.[13][14] The mall was originallyanchored bySears,JCPenney,Montgomery Ward,Foley's,Joskes, and the Austin-basedScarbrough's department store.[15] Opening of the mall occurred in phases, with the first stores (Sears and JCPenney) opening on August 1 while construction within the rest of the mall continued.[16] Barton Creek Square officially opened on August 19 with 77 stores out of an anticipated 175–185 businesses; 85,000–90,000 people visited the mall on its opening day.[14] In November 1981, the mall became the first in Texas to haveBraille and bold print signage throughout the center.[17]
A renovation in 2003 added aNordstrom department store in the place of aMontgomery Ward which had gone out of business two years prior.[18] That store would officially open on August 15, 2003.[19] Further renovations occurred in 2013, which included a redesigned food court.[20] ACheesecake Factory restaurant then opened in August 2015.[21]
In 2015,Sears Holdings spun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears at Barton Creek Square, into Seritage Growth Properties.[22] On October 15, 2018, it was announced that the Sears store would be closing as part of a plan to close 142 stores nationwide.[citation needed] On August 4, 2018, aDisney Junior themed kids zone opened right next toBrighton Collectibles.[23]
In 2019, the mall's owner,Simon Property Group, embarked on a renovation, which included a new paint scheme, flooring, LED lighting, glass handrails, as well as exterior additions such as canopies, fire pits, andturf areas. The renovation also included the addition of aco-working space near Nordstrom, which includes workstations with televisions and charging stations.[24]
On March 17, 2020 the mall limited its hours to 11 am to 7 pm in response toCoronavirus disease 2019; the next day, Simon Property Group announced in a press release[25] it would close all its US domestic malls until March 29. On May 1, 2020, Simon Property Group reopened the mall.[26]
^Frink, David (June 22, 1977)."Mall plans make it largest in Austin".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 63, no. 276. Austin, Texas. p. B2. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Frink, David (June 21, 1977)."Southwest Austin mall planned".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 63, no. 275. Austin, Texas. p. B1. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Frink, David (October 23, 1977)."Construction in S. Austin zooms".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 107, no. 82. Austin, Texas. p. C6. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Frink, David (March 30, 1978)."MoPac uncertainty stymies giant mall".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 107, no. 239. Austin, Texas. p. B20. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Coggins, Cheryl (June 17, 1980)."State hears gripes on creek's runoff".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 110, no. 331. Austin, Texas. p. B1. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Collier, Bill (August 28, 1979)."Protection plan urged along creek".The Austin American–Statesman. Vol. 109, no. 33. Austin, Texas. p. B1. RetrievedMay 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
