Galleria redo: jewels to gleam in retail and housing

HOUSTON – The Galleria is currently undergoing multimillion-dollar renovations and new construction.

Highlights include:

A stand-alone, 14,000-sf building dubbed “The Jewel Box” to be built on the Cheesecake Factory’s existing parking deck facing Westheimer Rd. The space will house luxury retailers who want visibility.

Saks Fifth Avenue will move into a renovated 198,000-sf space located next to its existing space. Saks is set to open in early 2016.

The existing Saks building will be renovated, providing 110,000 sf of space for new restaurants and retail. Construction will begin on this space after Saks moves into its new building. Saks will stay open during the renovation.

Saks will take up part of Macy’s Inc., which will consolidate into its Galleria store facing Hidalgo St.

A new multifamily tower will also be built on the former Macy’s site.

Several new stores have signed leases with the Galleria over the last few months. Vera Bradley is the latest store to join lineup, with plans to open a 2,303-sf store this summer.