North Park Center is one of the most premier shopping venues in the country. The attention to detail is unfathomable, the shopping selection is first-rate, and the art is riveting. North Park is perhaps one of the top attractions you MUST see in Texas (second only to the Alamo); and those are big words as I might as well hand in my Houstonian card confessing anything to be better in Dallas.
1. North Park Is An Art Museum.
That’s right the walls and halls are lined with unique art from Warhol to Borofsky. The beauty behind this jewel is admission is 100% free. Wine, dine, shop, and enjoy one of a kind original masterpieces all around. Want to do it all the way? Check in with the Conceirge desk just outside of Neimans and pick up your own brochure that boasts of all the great insights and details of each piece.
2. It Was Listed As One of The 7 Retail Wonders of The Modern World
Not only were they listed but they were the only mall elected in its entirety in the United States! (How does that taste Mall of America?) It’s large open spaces, and beautiful surroundings made this mall shoe in for the countdown.
3. The Shopping Center is Family Owned and Operated
Since the day it was opened in 1965 the Nasher family has held a firm control over their magnum opus, and wouldn’t you? Founder Raymond Nasher’s daughter Nancy Nasher and her husband now run the facility. Her handprint, alongside her sisters’ footprints are still imprinted in the concrete of this mall in the south court. She grew up sliding down the tall curved planter beside the interior duck and turtle pond, and now she watches as she can assure children generations after her can do the same.
4. Was The Largest Mall In The Entire U.S. in 1965
It may not still be the largest mall in the country, but it still holds its place in the top 20, particularly after the giant expansion completed in the early 2000’s.
5. The Plants Are Chosen A Year or Two In Advance
You may notice the halls lined with azaleas at 10 am, and then round the corner again by 1 pm and find the same planters now bustling with gorgeous orchids. The botanics are a nonstop job of upkeep and these are each specially selected a year or two in advance by Nancy Nasher herself.
6. Game Stop Started at North Park
In 1984 Ross Perot put some money into a dream of two Harvard graduates, James McCurry and Gary M. Kusin, who wanted to start a little company called Babbages. A small shop that offered PC gaming supplies. Today that little shop in the North Park Center has grown to a foot print of over 7,000 locations under the name of Game Stop! (For More information on GameStop as a brand then and now, click here.)
7. It is the Only Mall with A Park
The newest expansion created a full enclosure of the gardens that lined the shopping center before. Now it is a 1.4 acre green area that sits at the heart of the mall, with sidewalk dining, children dashing, and amazing artwork this is one of my favorite spots to relax away a Sunday afternoon.
To find out more about North Park Mall, Please visit Their Website Here.
Until next time fan boys and girls—>
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That looks and sounds like a nice mall to be at. So many different things to see! Love the concept.
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That looks like an amazing Mall,Jess. I wasn’t aware of the background of Game Stop or that Ross Perot had a hand in it.
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I’ve never heard of a mall having a park and a museum before but I have now 🙂 Visting this mall would be far more intriguing,
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I have never heard of this mall, but it is beautiful. I think my son would have fewer fits at the mall if they all had a park.
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The place and the Museum seem quite amazing
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Wow, this place looks amazing. Museum, lovely plants and shopping in one place. Next time I am in Dallas I have to make of point of going!
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Love this list though. Will definitely check the places out.
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I would love to go there! I am not a huge shopper however, I love to roam around malls and just look at things. This sounds like the perfect mall for that.
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This is fascinating. I would love to see this mall in person! I love the idea of the handprints and footprints and it staying in the family. Hopefully it will for many more years to come.
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All new info for me.
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I used to go to Dallas a lot but never got to this mall. Weird.
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Gosh, I grew up walking this mall and still take my boys see Santa there every year!
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How great is that? I’ve lived in three states now since I became a mom five years ago and I still take them to Memorial City in Houston to do Santa Photos, (though I do not know how much longer I can convince my husband on the necessity of this expensive tradition.) 😉
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It’s been a long time since I’ve been to this mall so it’s probably improved a great deal since I was there last. I did get that art museum feel when I was there in the mid eighties, partly because it seemed so still and quiet there. I actually didn’t care for the mall then as a place to go shopping as at the time it seemed there were mostly upper scale clothing stores and such. I can’t even recall a food court. And I don’t remember any outstanding music stores which was what I was most interested in back then. It was a nice place to stroll around and that was as much as I can remember. Now I’d like to go back to check it out again. I’d probably like it better now.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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It’s still primarily upscale, but they have diversified greatly from strictly fashion over the years. The upper left level of the header picture is their present food court, and is, I believe, part of the expansion that the mall underwent in the early 2000’s.
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Nice post! I don’t live anywhere near this mall but you still managed to get my attention. 😎👍🏼
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Well if you ever find yourself down that way, now you can make a point to visit in person. 😉
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Looks really cool. I especially like the art museum and park.
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