Westchase Shopping Center on Westheimer at Wilcrest.
This category was a fan favorite – added courtesy of the Best of Westchase nominations process. The winner is one of the oldest shopping centers in Westchase District, but it always manages to look fresh and contemporary. The Westchase Shopping Center, located on the southeast corner of Westheimer and Wilcrest, features some of the most popular names in retail, from Whole Foods Market and Torchy’s Tacos to Kirkland’s and Five Below. Fronted by local favorites, including Taco Cabana and Jason’s Deli, this center is one where you can fulfill most of your shopping needs.
Groceries, pet food, linens, tuxedo rental for prom: check, check, check and check. Owner Weingarten Realty is one of the nation’s premier real estate investment trusts, specializing in grocery-anchored retail centers. Originally built in 1981 as an indoor mall, the center has been remodeled many times over the years, most recently in 2016.
The center’s storefronts were modernized with the recent addition of the Whole Foods Market, which moved over from another Weingarten-owned center across the street, Torchy’s Tacos and Kirkland’s. “Whenever new tenants come in, we modernize the store fronts to keep it looking fresh,” said Property Manager Anthony Blunsen.
The pending departure of Palais Royal leaves a vacancy for Weingarten to fill. Blunsen predicts the space won’t be vacant long; they’re already working with a potential new tenant. “Grocery stores bring people to the center regardless of the economy. Tenants want to be there because they know they’ll have foot traffic. We look for a new tenant that will fit well with our current tenant mix.”
