OK, I admit that I am somewhat of an old goober because I have not visited the place since late 2003, but it is definitley a place that I can get use to visiting more often. Let me say that I am not a big fan of malls, but the place overshadows all the negative sterotypes that malls have. From some of the other places that I have been to, I felt that it is definitely a leader in design, urban infrastructure (I know that sounds like somewhat of an oxymoron when dealing with malls), but it definitely has it with underground and garage parking, it is definitely an awesome mixed use development for being built in the 70's with hotels and retail space, and I found that some of the stores were somewhat pedestrian friendly such as the Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and the stand alone Tiffany store. I have found that the place holds some awesome claims as far as European retailers headed to the states, that cities like NYC cannot even claim, which is easily the retail mecca in the U.S. I admit, I'm from Boston and I am a sucker for sidewalk retail and I would love to see these stores in more of an urban outdoor environment, but there are definitely no complainmts here after my recent visit. Is anybody on the same page as I am? I guess mainly Houstonians could only anwer this question.

I don't live in Houston but I have visited the Galleria a number of times and can say it is definately in the top 3 in N.A. I've been to quite a few across NA including Short Hills, Tyson's, Lenox, King of Prussia, Southcoast, Eaton Centre, Bal Harbour, Galleria Dallas, Caesar's Palace, Watertower Place and many more. One of my favorite.

In the early 80's, my wife and I would get drunk and go to the top floor of Neiman's where she would try on furs. We liked it.

I have not been to that many malls across the country to say if it is the average mall, but it was the first to bring the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele concept to the states which you see so much of now and it has become a popular place for overseas retailers to locate to and a destination for wealthy Latin Americans. There ares some retailers where there are only a select few in the country and even the world such as the new CH Carolina Herrera boutique, which I believe is the largest in the nation, but I really cannot answer your question from experience. Oh yeah, just a pointer, mall threads do not do well at SSC in the southeast section, because they are figured to be all the same.


Here are some pics

I found that the new expanded side seems kind of average because it has somewhat a kiddish feel to it as fas as design, but I would not go to far to say even that. Yeah I know the pictures do not do the place justice.

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/1433/a7kl.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/2479/aa7dc.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/5544/aa27di.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/2827/aa44hu.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/7473/aa54xo.jpg

Don't ask, but the Vuitton store is one of the largest in the US.
http://img86.echo.cx/img86/8027/aa69xx.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/4981/aa72uf.jpg

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/2584/aa81cj.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/terry2_mcmanus/image/24674417.jpg

As a visitor, I really like the Galleria, and the Galleria Uptown area. It has alot of shopping and very upscale.


I also like the near by Highland Village.
http://p.vtourist.com/1880802-Lights_on_Westheimer_Road_at_Highland_Village-Houston.png
http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Shops-Shopping/BUSH1002.jpg

^Crate and Barrel rocks.:guns1:

Does it have a roller-coaster?

I love the Houston Galleria. It's one of the nicest malls I've visited.

ummm...no

Damn Texasboy those pics are nice. That is not an average mall.

the galleria is the ONLY mall i have been in in about 5 years becuase i hate malls but the galleria is a few notches above the typical mall (and i live across the street) but i have noticed places like churches' chicken and mcdonalds opening up in the past few years replacing better "sit down" restaraunts like becks prime.

you do not order fried chicken in the same facility you buy a $1200 armani suit.

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/8027/aa69xx.jpg

because of this picture, i'll refrain from making a smartass comment in this thread. what a nice mall indeed. :)

-

Hey that's what I did last time I was there. Ate some Popeye's fried chicken then bought a purse for a present at the Louis Vitton store. I think that's neat. This mall has something for all income levels.

No roller-coaster or log ride?

I'll go with the Mall of America.

LOL, Hey if it tastes good! Popeyes gave Beyonce a "free for life" pass, as if she needed it :sleepy:

I guess this will date me, but I can remember when the Neiman Marcus was a "free standing" store. That may explain why it may be a little more pedestrian friendly than most mall stores. Back then, the only development in the area was the Neimans and the Joske's (Dillard's) across the street. There were a few small strips on Westheimer, but back then it was considered to be on the far edge of town.

I love The Galleria in Houston. I Christmas shop there every year, (usually the second weekend of December), and have a great time. I think it is tops with the shopping experience out of all malls or shopping centers in the United States, and they definitely do it right during the holidays. It's only a 50 minute flight from New Orleans to Houston, so, it's very easy to enjoy the Galleria for individuals that live in New Orleans. We just don't have a Neiman Marcus, and that's the draw for citizen's of SE Louisiana...to be quite honest.

In the early 80's, my wife and I would get drunk and go to the top floor of Neiman's where she would try on furs. We liked it.

HAHAHAHAHHAHA sounds amusing and VERY fun.....we need more people like that in the world.

Why do people always photo some teenage stereotype group of hoochies !?

The Houston Galleria is one of the nicer MALL developments in the country, to answer your question.

One of the things the Galleria has going for it is that it is a complex more than just a mall. It is linked to a couple of hotels, is surrounded by other free standing stores (Dillards) and other points of interest like the Williams Tower and Water Wall to name a few. Plus, other than the embarrassment of adding a McDonald's and a Church's, there are many cheapo stores at the Galleria, so your shopping is generally of the higher caliber.

It also has a well-designed interior for the most part.

I know there is a McDonald's but I don't think there is a Church's in the Galleria, Unless they have added it since last month. There is also a Chick-Fil-A in there.

In the early 80's, my wife and I would get drunk and go to the top floor of Neiman's where she would try on furs. We liked it.

Ok, why did this strike me so funny. I can just picture you guys drunk and laughing while trying on those furs.

Today, I am sick as a dog and really could have used a good laugh. This did it. Thanks sleepy.

Now, with regard to the Galleria, I can't say that I am exactly a mall connoisseur but I have to admit it is one of the better ones I've visited. Truly not meaning to start a war of any kind, but the Houston Galleria impresses me more than the infamous Beverly Center in Los Angeles. I heard about the place for years on different television shows, and in magazines, etc., but I was really underwhelmed. Sorry Los Angelenos.

But I suppose the Galleria is pretty good as far as malls go.

As a visitor, I really like the Galleria, and the Galleria Uptown area. It has alot of shopping and very upscale.


I also like the near by Highland Village.
http://p.vtourist.com/1880802-Lights_on_Westheimer_Road_at_Highland_Village-Houston.png
http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Shops-Shopping/BUSH1002.jpg
The first picture is the River Oaks Shopping Center, on West Grey.

The first picture is the River Oaks Shopping Center, on West Grey.
No its not, Look at the picture really well, you will see Tootsies behind the trees.

yeah, it's highland village...a shopping center i have never been to except to look at couches at crate and barrel one time.

I don't even live there and know both of those pics are of Highland Village.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Galleria You guys should check it out.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/The_Galleria_-_Exterior.jpg

HAHAHAHAHHAHA sounds amusing and VERY fun.....we need more people like that in the world.

The great thing about Houston is that as greasy-looking and drunk as you might appear, you were always treated with the greatest respect.

Those people at the Neiman's Galleria didn't know if we were rich oil folks from West Texas in our dirty jeans and tee shirts, or what--and there are plenty of those in Houston. They knew better than to care about what you looked like--I think that says a lot about Houston. And of course, we didn't act like drunk buffoons, but treated the sales people with respect also. It was just a lark on our part.

My wife lived in Houston. I lived in New Orleans. Houston was entirely different in its sense of egalitarianism--white, black, yellow, brown, you were treated not so much on appearances.

I have seen better luxury malls than the Galleria which I have been to. The mall of Georgia and Phipps Plaza Mall in Buckhead are the best looking ones I have seen so far in the US.

The Galleria Mall is nice though. I like the entire Galleria area with its futuristic street furniture.

The thing is, IMHO, the Galleria used to look like crap inside until the recent renovation. The areas overlooking the ice rink, and such had some old black metal railings, and the entire place reeked of the 70's and 80's:


http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Leisure/PELE1008.jpg

http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Galleria/SKGA1021.jpg

http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Galleria/SKGA1023.jpg


http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Galleria/SKGA1029.jpg


Look at it now (same pics posted by Texasboy on first page):

http://www.pbase.com/terry2_mcmanus/image/24674417.jpg

And the new part:

http://img86.echo.cx/img86/5544/aa27di.jpg

The Houston Galleria is far above the average mall.
To borrow from O.A.Bum Phillips. "I don't know what class it's in, but it don't take long to call the roll." (Spitting out some tobacco juice for emphasis.)

Good ol' Bum. Dummy Adams had to fire 'em. Dummy.

It looks great. Isn't the Lord & Taylor closing its store though (along with all stores in the South and Great Plains? What's going in there? There isn't a Bloomingdale's there... (There's Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy's, and Foley's also.)

Bloomingdale's is exacty what people have been saying is coming to the Lord And Talor spot.