Dallas: Then, Now & Next | Part Two. Remember Collin Creek Mall? From Plano Shopping Destination to a Whole New Neighborhood

There was a time when going to the mall wasn't just about shopping.

It was where you met your friends, spent Saturday afternoons, wandered from store to store, grabbed something to eat and maybe even came home with something you actually needed.

For generations of North Texas residents, Collin Creek Mall in Plano was one of those places.

I remember it well.

Growing up in North Dallas, I spent plenty of time at Collin Creek with family and friends. It was a fun place to go, and like so many people who grew up around here, I have memories tied to those afternoons at the mall.

What I couldn't have imagined back then was that decades later, I'd be helping clients purchase a beautiful townhome on the very property where we used to shop.

But that's exactly what happened.

And it's one of the reasons I find the transformation of Collin Creek so fascinating.

THEN: When Collin Creek Was the Place to Be

Collin Creek Mall opened on July 29, 1981, along North Central Expressway in Plano.

At the time, Plano was growing rapidly, and Collin Creek gave the surrounding communities a major regional shopping destination close to home.

The two-level mall eventually encompassed approximately 1.1 million square feet and became a familiar part of everyday life for families throughout Plano, Richardson and North Dallas.

There were department stores, specialty shops, places to eat and plenty of reasons to spend an afternoon there.

But Collin Creek had something else that made it memorable.

Remember the Indoor Creek?

Yes, Collin Creek actually had a creek inside the mall.

The original design included an indoor water feature with fountains, landscaping and a waterfall. There was also an area called the Village Walk, featuring smaller shops in a setting intended to feel different from the typical mall corridor.

Those features helped give Collin Creek its own identity.

Much of the original creek and Village Walk disappeared during a 1992 renovation, but for those who remember the earlier mall, they remain part of its story.

And if you grew up going to Collin Creek, you probably remember more than the stores.

You remember the people you went with.

The familiar entrances.

The places you always stopped.

And the feeling that the mall was a destination in itself.

When the Shopping Mall Started Losing Its Magic

Of course, Dallas-Fort Worth didn't stop growing in 1981.

As new shopping centers opened across North Texas, consumer habits changed and competition increased.

Collin Creek gradually lost some of the energy that had made it such a popular destination.

By its final years, empty storefronts and declining traffic told a very different story from the mall's heyday.

The mall officially closed on July 31, 2019.

But before the doors closed for good, thousands of people returned for a farewell celebration.

There was music, nostalgia, 1980s-themed festivities and one last opportunity to walk through a place that had been part of so many lives.

It was more than the closing of a shopping center.

For many people, it felt like saying goodbye to a little piece of growing up in North Texas.

NOW: From Shopping Destination to Residential Neighborhood

Here's where this story comes full circle for me.

I recently helped clients purchase a beautiful townhome in the new Collin Creek community.

And I have to say, there's something pretty remarkable about helping someone find a home in a place where you once spent afternoons shopping with friends and family.

The transformation is real.

What was once dominated by an enclosed shopping mall and surrounding parking areas is being redeveloped into a community designed around a different idea of how people want to live.

Instead of making a special trip to a shopping destination, the vision is to create a neighborhood where people can live, walk, gather, shop and spend time outdoors.

New homes are already part of the landscape, including townhomes like the one my clients purchased.

It's an interesting contrast.

The old Collin Creek was a place people drove to for an afternoon.

The new Collin Creek is becoming a place people come home to.

And that may be the most meaningful change of all.

NEXT: What's Planned for the New Collin Creek?

The redevelopment is being led by Centurion American Development Group, with a long-term vision for a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use district.

According to the developer's January 2026 plans, the completed project is envisioned to include approximately:

• 500 single-family homes

• 2,300 multifamily residences

• 308,000 square feet of retail

• 40,000 square feet of restaurant space

• 1.3 million square feet of office space

• Eight acres of parkland

• 1.6 miles of walking trails

• Hotel, service and independent-living components

These are development plans, not completed improvements, and the final mix and timing may change.

That's an important distinction, particularly for anyone considering purchasing property in an evolving mixed-use community.

The residential component has already made visible progress, while other portions of the redevelopment remain in various planning and construction stages.

The larger vision is about creating a destination that works differently from the traditional suburban mall.

Rather than separating shopping, housing, dining and recreation into different places, the development aims to bring those uses together.

Whether every element is ultimately delivered as originally envisioned remains to be seen.

But the direction of the transformation is clear.

What Collin Creek Says About the Future of Plano

One of the most interesting things about this project is what it represents beyond the property itself.

For decades, suburban growth often meant building farther outward.

New subdivisions.

New shopping centers.

New roads.

New commercial corridors.

But as established cities like Plano mature, redevelopment becomes an increasingly important part of the conversation.

Land that once served one purpose can be reimagined for another.

And a large former mall property presents an unusual opportunity to introduce housing, public spaces and commercial activity into an already developed part of the city.

Of course, projects like this also raise important questions.

How will traffic patterns change?

How will public spaces function once the community is more fully occupied?

Will the planned retail and restaurants create the walkable environment residents envision?

And how will the neighborhood evolve as additional phases are completed?

Those are the kinds of questions worth following as Collin Creek continues taking shape.

From Valley View to Collin Creek: Two Malls, Two New Futures

If this story sounds familiar, that's because we recently explored another North Dallas shopping landmark in this series.

In Part One of Dallas: Then, Now & Next, we looked at Valley View Mall and the possibility of a future Dallas Mavericks arena and entertainment district on its former site.

Both Valley View and Collin Creek were once major shopping destinations.

Both eventually closed.

And both became the focus of ambitious redevelopment visions.

But their paths are different.

At Valley View, the proposed arena district represents a potential new entertainment destination, with major approvals and development decisions still ahead.

At Collin Creek, the transformation into a residential and mixed-use neighborhood is already underway.

Two former malls.

Two different redevelopment strategies.

And two examples of how North Texas is rethinking properties that once helped define suburban life.

Sometimes the Most Interesting Real Estate Stories Aren't About Houses

As a REALTOR® and Dallas native, I spend a lot of time thinking about how neighborhoods change.

But I also think about the memories tied to those places.

Collin Creek is a perfect example.

I remember going there with family and friends when the mall was thriving.

Now I've had the opportunity to help clients become homeowners in the new community taking its place.

That's a pretty incredible before-and-after to experience personally.

And it reminds me that real estate is about much more than buildings and property values.

It's about how we use places.

How communities grow.

And how a piece of land can become something entirely different for the next generation.

The Collin Creek I remember is gone.

But a new chapter is already being written.

And this time, people aren't just visiting.

They're moving in.

More Dallas: Then, Now & Next

This article is Part Two of my Dallas: Then, Now & Next series, where we explore familiar Dallas-area landmarks, the stories behind them and what may be coming next.

Previously: Part One — Remember Valley View Mall? What Was There, What's There Now & What Could Be Coming Next

From the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas to the transformation of Collin Creek in Plano, these stories offer a fascinating look at how our communities continue to evolve.

Follow the series for more local history, development stories and the places shaping the next chapter of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Thinking About Buying or Selling in Plano or North Dallas?

Whether you're considering a new-construction townhome, an established neighborhood or a home in one of North Texas' emerging mixed-use communities, understanding what's happening around a property matters just as much as understanding the property itself.

I've been helping buyers and sellers navigate Dallas-area real estate since 2000, and I'd love to help you explore your options. Let's chat!

Sometimes the best opportunities come from knowing not just what a neighborhood is today, but what it's becoming.

Kelly Reber, REALTOR® | eXp Realty LLC | Texas License #0483312
Licensed since 2000
Dallas | Richardson | Plano | Addison | North Dallas
Dallas native Kelly Reber has been helping buyers, sellers, relocating clients, and investors navigate North Dallas real estate since 2000. She combines deep local knowledge, data-driven strategy, and straightforward advice to help clients make confident real estate decisions.

Learn more: About Me