La Palmera - "The Shopping Destination of the Coastal Bend"

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Published on Monday, 02 May 2011 10:46

LA PALMERA – “THE” SHOPPING DESTINATION OF THE COASTAL BEND

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Following La Palmera’s redesign and $50 million two-year renovation, the 1-million-square-foot regional mall has emerged as a cutting edge shopping and leisure destination and local economic development machine.

“We took a distressed 1970s mall and have literally transformed it into something spectacular,” said La Palmera General Manager Fred Walters. “We’ve added a great mix of new tenants and dining options and numerous amenities such as free Wi-Fi, expanded Concierge service, valet parking, and community programs, all of which greatly improve the guest experience.”

Since Trademark Property and partner Institutional Mall Investors, LLC, acquired the mall in July 2008, 33 new stores and restaurants have opened including Coach, Zumiez, Vans, Charming Charlie and the Aveda Institute Corpus Christi. Shoppers are also enjoying the variety of new food court and snack options plus popular sit-down restaurants such as Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and P. F. Chang’s.

Customers can stop by Concierge, located on the main level near Forever XXI, to find out about special store events and discounts, and to receive La Palmera’s exclusive Passport to Savings coupon book worth hundreds of dollars in savings. 

As Texas continues to grow as a U.S. shopping destination, nearly $2.3 billion in annual sales come from Mexican Nationals. La Palmera now provides the first Tax Refund Visitor Center in the Coastal Bend region. The venture, operating since June 2010 in partnership with TaxFree Shopping, Ltd., caters to international visitors coming to the Corpus Christi area processing paperwork for them to receive their purchases tax-free.

La Palmera highlights include: a 600-seat food court with a palm court dining patio and 4,500-gallon feature aquarium; one-of-a-kind ocean-themed children's play area; revamped Center Court featuring a coffee bar and 20-foot-diameter fountain; a new outdoor main entrance featuring stores and restaurants, interactive pop jet fountains, and valet service; a community room; the incorporation of expanded natural lighting, as well as new tile, carpet and furniture upgrades in public seating areas throughout the mall.

 The design, construction and new ongoing operation of La Palmera was carefully planned to incorporate as many “green” elements as possible. As a result of its careful planning, La Palmera is pre-certified LEED-Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council, and will be the first enclosed mall in the U.S. to receive the prestigious designation.

La Palmera is also working with tenants on cutting edge “green” ideas, including the construction of a 70-foot wind turbine at the back of the mall to generate power for the new Aveda Institute Corpus Christi. In keeping with Aveda’s environmental policies, the Institute also has treadmills and elliptical machines for mall patrons to use, which helps generate power as well.

LA PALMERA

Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, La Palmera is a 1-million square foot super-regional mall with more than 100 retail and restaurant tenants including Dillard’s, JCPenney and Macy’s. Obtained in July 2008 by Trademark Property, La Palmera is the first mall to be LEED-CS pre-certified pursuing Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Following a $50 million renovation, the mall features a new outdoor main entrance featuring P.F. Chang’s and Grimaldi’s, 600-seat food court with a 4,500-gallon feature aquarium and a children’s ocean-themed play area. For more information on La Palmera, go to lapalmera.comor call (361) 991-5718.

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