Update 3\/9\/26 3 p.m. Despite briefly reopening, the Crayola Experience has closed once again. According to its website, Crayola Experience Plano is temporarily closed due to “administrative issues.” The company says it is working to reopen the facility and noted that all valid tickets, annual passes\u00a0and gift cards will remain honored once operations resume.\u00a0For any booked group visits or birthday party reservations, contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Local Profile reached out to Crayola for comment, but did not receive a response prior to publishing.<\/p>\n The original story continues below.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Mall In Transition<\/p>\n When The Shops at Willow Bend first opened in 2001, it held the distinction of being the last traditional enclosed mall built in Texas. Though the mall never seemed to find its footing<\/a>\u00a0and struggled almost from the start. The mall opened just weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks, which triggered an economic slowdown and sharply reduced consumer spending. At the same time, it faced immediate competition from Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, which had opened a year earlier and quickly became the region\u2019s dominant shopping destination.<\/p>\n In the years that followed, newer developments such as The Shops at Legacy and Legacy West further pulled shoppers away with more modern, open-air concepts. Today, Willow Bend often feels like a relic of a retail era that has largely faded.<\/p>\n In the last several years alone, multiple major anchors have exited or announced plans to leave the mall. Dillard\u2019s<\/a> has already closed, Macy\u2019s announced its departure in 2024 and Neiman Marcus is set to follow<\/a>.<\/p>\n As those closures mounted, the property\u2019s owner, Centennial, began moving forward with a sweeping redevelopment plan designed to reimagine the site.<\/p>\n The Bend: A New Vision<\/p>\n Centennial\u2019s proposal would transform much of the existing mall into a mixed-use development called The Bend<\/a>.<\/p>\n The concept<\/a> calls for demolishing large sections of the current enclosed mall and replacing them with a more modern district built around open-air streets and public spaces. Plans include new retail and restaurant concepts, entertainment venues, residential apartments, a hotel, a seven-story office building and green space designed to create a walkable environment.<\/p>\n The redevelopment reflects a broader shift happening across the country, as aging malls are repurposed into mixed-use destinations that blend living, working and entertainment spaces.<\/p>\n Arena Speculation Adds Another Layer<\/p>\n At the same time redevelopment plans are taking shape, The Shops at Willow Bend has also emerged as a possible location for something even larger: a new arena for the Dallas Stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n The NHL franchise\u2019s lease at American Airlines Center runs through 2031, and the team has been exploring long-term options for a new venue that could provide additional revenue opportunities.<\/p>\n In late February, Dallas City Council member Chad West told WFAA<\/a> that the city of Plano submitted a letter of intent<\/a> to the team regarding a potential arena project. Plano officials have since clarified that no formal offer has been made.<\/p>\n City leaders have confirmed, however, that discussions with the Dallas Stars have been ongoing for roughly a year about the possibility of an arena and entertainment district at the Willow Bend site.<\/p>\n For now, any potential deal remains speculative.<\/p>\n What Comes Next<\/p>\n As redevelopment conversations continue and rumors about a future arena circulate, the reopening of the Crayola Experience offers a small sign of normalcy at a property that has spent much of the past year in transition.<\/p>\n Whether the site ultimately becomes a mixed-use district, a sports and entertainment hub or some combination of both, one thing is clear: the future of Willow Bend is still being written.<\/p>\n![\"screen-shot-2025-02-04-at-13158-pm\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/screen-shot-2025-02-04-at-13158-pm.png;w=960.png\"\/)
\nPhoto: Centennial
<\/p>\n