ABOUT NORTHPARK CENTER
In the early 1960s, Dallas developer Raymond D. Nasher leased a 97-acre cotton field on the edge of town to build what would become the largest climate-controlled retail center in the world. While cows grazed across the street, NorthPark Center took shape as a work of art with clean, modern lines and open space to display the developer’s fine art collection incorporated into the design. On July 22, 1965, NorthPark Center officially opened with four anchors - Neiman Marcus, Woolworths, Titche-Goettinger and the largest JCPenney store in the Southwest.
Since that day, NorthPark Center has defined retail in the Southwest. Today NorthPark is consistently ranked among the top five shopping destinations in the country and, with more than 26 million visitors annually, has been named the top attraction in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex by the Dallas Business Journal and as one of the "7 Retail Wonders of the Modern World" by Shopping Centers Today. NorthPark's present anchors—Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's and Dillard’s—consistently perform at the top of their respective brands in sales volume.
In 1995 Raymond D. Nasher sold his stake in NorthPark Center to his daughter, Nancy A. Nasher, and her husband, David J. Haemisegger, who continue a bold legacy. They completed a 1.2-million-square-foot, $250 million expansion in 2006, returning to Omniplan, the architectural firm that originally designed NorthPark Center, to shape the expansion. The result utilized the sensibilities of the original design and materials, including a million bricks specially made in NorthPark’s signature white color.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN A 94-ACRE COTTON FIELD A FEW MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN.
NORTHPARK TAKES SHAPE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DEVELOPER RAY NASHER, ARCHITECTS EG HAMILTON
AND KEVIN ROCHE, AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS LAWRENCE HALPRIN AND RICHARD VIGNOLO.
THE SHOPPING CENTER OPENS TO GREAT FANFARE ON AUGUST 19, WITH MORE THAN 80 STORES,
A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, AND A MARCHING BAND.
THE COMMUNITY FLOCKS TO NORTHPARK FOR EXCITING EVENTS
LIKE SMU RALLY DAYS, FASHION SHOWS, AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES.
THE FIRST EXPANSION IS COMPLETE, ADDING 300,000 SQUARE FEET
OF LEASING SPACE INCLUDING LORD & TAYLOR AND A SECOND LEVEL.
NORTHPARK PRESENTS SUMMERTOP, A WILDLY POPULAR EVENT DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR
THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. WILLIE NELSON, TONY BENNETT, AND ELLA FITZGERALD PERFORM.
RAY NASHER HOSTS A 15TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY FOR FRIENDS, EMPLOYEES, AND COLLABORATORS.
TO MARK 25 YEARS, NORTHPARK INSTALLS OVER 30 WORKS FROM THE RAYMOND AND PATSY NASHER COLLECTION AND DEBUTS AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FEATURING LINDA EVANGELISTA PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK DEMARCHELIER.
IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL FAVORITES LIKE THE PECAN REINDEER AND STORYTIME WITH SANTA,
THE 1995 HOLIDAY SEASON FEATURED PENGUINS FROM THE DALLAS WORLD AQUARIUM.
THE SHOPPING CENTER DOUBLES IN SIZE WITH ITS SECOND EXPANSION. AMC NORTHPARK 15,
MACY'S, NORDSTROM, THE FOOD COURT, AND CENTERPARK GARDEN ARE ADDED.
FASHION AT THE PARK BRINGS RUNWAY SHOWS, DESIGNER APPEARANCES, AND MOVIE PREMIERES TO DALLAS.
LADY GAGA PERFORMS IN OCTOBER 2008, SHORTLY AFTER THE RELEASE OF HER FIRST SINGLE "JUST DANCE."
NORTHPARK CELEBRATES 50 YEARS WITH SPECIAL EVENTS, FASHION SHOWS,
AND A GIVING INITIATIVE THAT SUPPORTED 50 LOCAL NONPROFITS.
THE NORTHPARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LAUNCHES IN 2017. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, 87 AMBASSADORS HAVE PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 40 NONPROFITS TO BRING AWARENESS TO IMPORTANT CAUSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
GLOBAL FASHION BRANDS DOUBLE DOWN ON DALLAS, WITH MORE THAN
35 NEW, RELOCATED, OR REDESIGNED STORES OPENING AT NORTHPARK IN A SINGLE YEAR.
ABOUT NORTHPARK CENTER
In the early 1960s, Raymond D. Nasher and Patsy R. Nasher leased a 94-acre cotton field on the edge of town to build what would become the largest climate-controlled retail center in the world at the time. While cows grazed across the street, NorthPark Center took shape as a work of art with clean, modern lines and open spaces constructed of white brick and polished concrete. On August 19, 1965, NorthPark officially opened with Neiman Marcus, Titche-Goettinger, the largest JCPenney store in the Southwest, and more than 90 other stores and restaurants.
In 1995, Nancy A. Nasher and her husband David J. Haemisegger acquired the majority interest in NorthPark from her parents. At the time, NorthPark was less than 900,000 square feet. A few years later, Ms. Nasher and Mr. Haemisegger began plans for a $250 million expansion that would more than double the size of the shopping center, bringing it to a whopping 2 million square feet. Omniplan, the architectural firm that originally designed NorthPark, was brought on to help shape this expansion. The result utilized the sensibilities of the original design and materials, including a million bricks specially made in NorthPark’s signature white color. Once the expansion was completed in 2006, NorthPark was home to four department stores, a state-of-the-art movie theatre, 200 retailers, and a variety of dining establishments.
Today, NorthPark has become a hub where fashion, art, culture, and philanthropy intersect. From fashion show fundraisers to live performances, NorthPark partners with over 50 leading organizations in North Texas each year to raise awareness and funds for important causes in the community. Many of NorthPark’s stores are considered flagships by the brands with the widest and most diverse selection of merchandise, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tiffany & Co., and more.
Beyond its unparalleled retail selection, NorthPark is considered by many to be a “shopping museum,” with over 200 world-class works on display from the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Collection. From the looming Ad Astra by Mark di Suvero to the playful CLEAN SLATE by KAWS, renowned works have a permanent place at NorthPark and become integrated into the everyday lives of visitors. This fusion of high-end retail and art in a public setting earned NorthPark the title of "One of the Seven Retail Wonders of the Modern World" by Shopping Centers Today.