Construction continues to advance on the transformation of the former San Jacinto Mall site in Baytown, Texas, into the new San Jacinto Marketplace, a 105-acre mixed-use development led by Fidelis Realty Partners. Crews have moved into vertical construction across multiple sections of the project, with work progressing on new retail buildings, restaurant spaces, and the future Sam’s Club location. The redevelopment is replacing the aging enclosed mall with an open-air destination designed to combine shopping, dining, entertainment, and public gathering spaces near Interstate 10 and Garth Road.

Developers have also expanded the confirmed tenant lineup in recent months, adding several major national brands expected to begin opening in phases from late 2026. Confirmed tenants include Sam’s Club, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, HomeGoods, and restaurants such as Texas Roadhouse and Pluckers. The project will also feature a central community space known as Pelican Green, while future phases are expected to introduce residential, hotel, and office components as the broader redevelopment continues toward completion later this decade.

San Jacinto Mall in Baytown, Texas, first opened its doors in 1981, is now undergoing a transformation into San Jacinto Marketplace, a hub for shopping and dining in the area. Fidelis took over the mall back in 2015 with a vision to demolish and revamp it into the go to spot for family shopping, in the region. The San Jacinto Marketplace is designed to create an inviting atmosphere where locals can come together to enjoy a variety of dining options and explore a mix of stores and entertainment venues in a delightful and visually pleasing environment.

Nearly two years after demolishing the last components of the former San Jacinto Mall in Baytown, Houston-based Fidelis Realty Partners has broken ground on the project to redevelop it into San Jacinto Marketplace.

October 4, 2024 Fidelis Realty Partners held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future San Jacinto Marketplace property, with Baytown city officials in attendance, including Mayor Brandon Capetillo.

Development Specifications

The 105-acre future mixed-use development at Interstate 10 and Garth Road will include a 550,000-square-foot shopping center with open green space, 10 anchor tenants making up 75% of all retail space, restaurants, multitenant buildings and pad sites; one or two three-story apartment complexes; a hotel; and office buildings. The development will provide about 2,500 surface parking spaces.

Fidelis Realty Partners and Baytown officials first celebrated the project’s groundbreaking in 2023, calling the redevelopment a major milestone for the city after years of delays. Since then, the project has moved from demolition and site preparation into active construction, with several major retailers now confirmed for the development.

The redevelopment of the former San Jacinto Mall site into San Jacinto Marketplace is already reshaping Baytown’s retail and economic landscape by replacing a long-vacant property with a modern, high-density commercial hub. As construction advances, the project is expected to significantly boost local job creation during the buildout phase and later through permanent retail and service employment once stores open. Beyond jobs, the development is positioned to draw regional shoppers back into Baytown, strengthening sales activity and increasing traffic along the Interstate 10 and Garth Road corridor.

Long term, the project is also expected to elevate Baytown’s profile as a regional shopping and lifestyle destination, introducing a mix of national retailers, dining options, and planned public spaces that support community activity. By converting an underutilized mall into an active mixed-use environment, the redevelopment is anticipated to stimulate surrounding property values and encourage additional investment in nearby commercial and residential developments, reinforcing broader growth momentum in the area.

San Jacinto Marketplace construction timeline

The team aims to complete Phase 1, including all retail and restaurants, by December 2026. They are still figuring out details for the second phase, which includes multifamily, hotel, and office spaces. But they might build the apartments concurrently or a year later, Hassenflu said.

A third-party hotel developer will build the hotel, and Fidelis has already spoken to some hotel operators, he added.

Project Completion

Depending on market demand for the San Jacinto Marketplace; Phase 2 components, Hassenflu estimates they will develop the entire 105 acres by mid-2028.

Fidelis is yet to disclose the overall development cost.

“The era of indoor retail facilities has likely ended, at least for the foreseeable future,” Hassenflu said. “They’re too expensive to operate, and you have to pass that cost back to the tenant, which harms their profits. They also offer less convenience for people to enter.”

Fidelis’ Journey from San Jacinto Mall to San Jacinto Marketplace

The 1.6 million-square-foot San Jacinto Mall, which opened in 1981, had declined for a while when Fidelis decided to acquire and redevelop it into an open-air shopping center.

The developer put together the mall property by obtaining parcels from seven owners over a span of seven years. Initially procuring the 40 acres comprising the area without the anchors, from Triyar. An investment firm based in California. In 2015 was just the beginning. Subsequently acquiring anchor spaces, for Mervyns Service Merchants Marshalls Sears JCPenny and Macys between 2016 and 2022 were some of the steps taken sometimes involving bankruptcies and store closures according to Hassenflu.

San Jacinto Marketplace Project Factsheet

Project Overview

• Project Name: San Jacinto Marketplace
• Location: Baytown, Texas
• Site: Former San Jacinto Mall location
• Address: Interstate 10 and Garth Road
• Total Area: 105 acres
• Developer: Fidelis Realty Partners

Development Timeline

• Property Acquisition Period: 2015-2022
• Groundbreaking Ceremony: October 4, 2023
• Construction Start: Q4 2023
• Phase 1 Completion Target: December 2026
• Full Project Completion Estimate: Mid-2028

Project Specifications

• Shopping Center Size: 550,000 square feet
• Parking Capacity: 2,500 surface parking spaces
• Retail Configuration: Open-air shopping center
• Green Features: Open green spaces with patio restaurants

San Jacinto Marketplace Project Components

Phase 1

• Retail spaces
• Restaurants
• Multi-tenant buildings
• Pad sites
• 10 anchor tenants (comprising 75% of retail space)

Phase 2

• 1-2 three-story apartment complexes
• Hotel (to be developed by third-party developer)
• Office buildings