Big changes are underway in Plano as The Shops at Willow Bend undergo a major transformation in a bold reinvention of the site. What was once a traditional mall is evolving into The Bend — a modern mixed-use development designed for how people live, work, and play today.
Project Overview
Developer: Centennial Real Estate Management LLC
Location: West Park Boulevard & Dallas North Tollway, Plano
Scope: Redevelopment of the mall’s southern half into a vibrant lifestyle destination
What’s Coming
965 residential units
18-story hotel
7-story office tower
Retail spaces & restaurants
Dog park & public gathering spaces
Timeline Highlights
Early 2025: Macy’s closure + rezoning approval
Q4 2025: Construction begins on the south end
Ongoing: Central portion remains operational; anchor tenants stay; some retailers temporarily relocated
Why It Matters
Once a retail hotspot, The Shops at Willow Bend saw a decline post-2019. Now, this redevelopment aligns with a broader regional trend of reviving aging malls into thriving mixed-use communities — just like at Collin Creek Mall and Valley View Center.
Takeaway
The Bend isn’t just another project — it’s a signal of how suburban retail spaces are being reimagined into something more livable, walkable, and relevant. Whether you’re a local resident, investor, or urban design enthusiast, this is one to watch.
Plano City Council Approval
Centennial Real Estate Management LLC has passed a major hurdle in its plan to redevelop the Shops at Willow Bend. On Feb. 24, the Plano City Council voted to tear down the southern half of the mall—Macy’s included—to make way for a mixed-use community called The Bend. The other half, from Neiman Marcus to Dillard’s, will be saved as part of the renovation.
Macy’s has already said on Jan. 9 that it would close its Plano store, along with 66 other stores nationwide, this year. Earlier in the month, on Feb. 3, the Plano Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the redevelopment plans.
The council approval is a giant step towards Centennial’s vision of revitalizing the Shops at Willow Bend mall into a vibrant lifestyle destination where people can work, play, and live. The Bend, when completed, will consist of 965 residences, an 18-story hotel, a seven-story office tower, and a dog park.
Following the Feb. 12 rezoning vote on approximately 89 acres of the property, Centennial Executive Michael Platt indicated council approval for demolition would have construction on the south side underway as soon as the fourth quarter. The central shopping center will remain in operation, and initial building will be on multifamily dwellings. Anchor tenants will stay, but some retailers can look forward to being temporarily moved, a Feb. 4 release said.
Read also: South Hills Mall Redevelopment Project, Cary
Shops at Willow Bend History
Built in 2001 as a 1.4-million-square-foot shopping center
Formerly housed major retailers including Sephora, Anthropologie, and Victoria’s Secret
Experienced declining traffic after Apple’s departure in 2019 and throughout the pandemic
Acquired by Centennial in 2022
Shops at Willow Bend Reinvention: Current Status
Northern half (Neiman Marcus to Dillard’s) will be preserved and renovated
Central shopping center remains operational during construction
Some retailers will be temporarily relocated
Anchor tenants will remain
Broader Context
Part of regional trend of mall redevelopments
Similar projects underway at Collin Creek Mall and Valley View Mall
Read also: $700 Million Old Indian Springs Mall Redevelopment
Read also: $1.2 Billion Lakeforest Mall Redevelopment Project, Gaithersburg
