Nip, Tuck and Refreshed: Arlington Highlands Gets a Shopping Center Facelift

Sometimes it’s time for a nip and tuck for those so inclined to look in the mirror and want to fix a few things. Maybe a facelift to smooth out the wrinkles and define the contours. Well, sometimes a shopping center needs to go through a little smoothing and redefining on its own. An aging Arlington shopping center just got a radical remodel that’s a trend-setting example of what’s fashionable in retail settings today.

Arlington Highlands, located at the northeast corner of Interstate 20 and Matlock Road in Arlington, just completed phase 1 of its refresh — The 18-year-old, 714,935-square-foot shopping center underwent a $30 million facelift. Fairbourne Properties and AEW Capital Management recently completed the first phase of a renovation aimed at modernizing the operation, looks, and function of the Arlington shopping destination.

What Shoppers Want

Walkability, entertainment sites, and green space are what’s popular now with shopping centers. Giving people a reason to linger, gather, socialize, and be entertained is part of the new thinking for successful shopping destinations. That’s the goal for the team behind Arlington Highlands’ fresh look.

“This is the trend, outdoor shopping,” said David Harvey, president of Fairbourne Properties, one of the partners behind the shopping center.

Fairbourne Properties and AEW bought Arlington Highlands in 2011 from Retail Connection and the Dallas-based Mathis family, who developed the shopping center between 2007 and 2009. The remodel embraces a new concept combining retail with entertainment and fun, giving shoppers a reason to extend their visits.

“It’s a mixed-use lifestyle property,” Harvey said. “It has a significant entertainment component with specialty leasing and entertainment. We hope to have a much more refined children’s play area, a small dog park component, and public art.”

Aging shopping malls and even iconic retailers across the U.S. have struggled to maintain their relevance in an era dominated by online retail. Experiential shopping destinations, especially those with walkable pathways and entertainment spaces, much like Southlake Town Square, are proving popular.

Although Arlington Highlands was performing satisfactorily, the decision to create a better gathering space was key. The renovations’ first phase, which opened April 1, focused on a public park space, making the shopping center more walkable with space planned specifically for entertainment.

That space will make its debut May 10, the day before Mother’s Day. “Mom-umental at Arlington Highlands will celebrate mothers with various pampering stations, flower arranging, balloon creations, and live music. The special event is planned to be the first in a series of public, seasonal events.

Now, Arlington Highlands claims the nation’s only remaining Black-Eyed Pea restaurant among its more than 30 restaurants. Among its 116 businesses are well-known names such as Kendra Scott, Lululemon, Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, Studio Movie Grill, and Pottery Barn Outlet. Estimates are that the shopping area attracts between 600,000 and 800,000 per month, with many of those tourists drawn to Arlington by the major sports team and entertainment venues such as Six Flags Over Texas.