Founder Keith Duncan said the notice came just after the organization invested further into its facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we had just completed a $12,000 upgrade to our Stage 2, turning it into a world-class podcast studio right before we got the alert from mall management,\u201d Duncan told Local Profile.<\/p>\n
The organization has invested roughly $300,000 into building out the studio, including a recent upgrade, but that investment will no longer serve the Plano community once it leaves Willow Bend. Thankfully, most of the setup can be taken apart and relocated, and will likely be rebuilt in a future space once a new location is secured.<\/p>\n
The timing mirrors a larger shift inside the mall, where long-standing tenants are being asked to leave as the property prepares for its next phase.<\/p>\n
Not The Only One<\/p>\n
The Movie Institute is far from alone.<\/p>\n
Owner and developer Centennial confirmed plans to begin demolition<\/a> within the next year, part of a sweeping redevelopment that will transform the property into a mixed-use district known as The Bend<\/a>. As those plans take shape, multiple tenants have already been affected.<\/p>\n North Texas Performing Arts previously announced<\/a> it was asked to relocate from its longtime home inside the mall. \u201cNorth Texas Performing Arts was advised in mid-February that it must relocate from its home at the Shops at Willow Bend within the year,\u201d the organization said.<\/p>\n Other anchor tenants have steadily departed in recent years, including Macy\u2019s, Dillard\u2019s<\/a> and the Crayola Experience<\/a>, while Neiman Marcus<\/a> is expected to close in 2027. For tenants still inside, the message is becoming clear: the mall\u2019s current form is nearing its end.<\/p>\n A Studio In Transition<\/p>\n For The Movie Institute, the challenge now is finding a new home, and quickly. Duncan said the group has not found strong local support in Plano to remain in place, while Dallas has stepped forward with interest in offering space.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had hoped to remain in Plano, but thus far, there has been no direct community support from anyone in Plano that can help us remain here,\u201d said Duncan.<\/p>\n He added that discussions are already underway with the Dallas Film Commission, Visit Dallas and a Dallas City Council member about relocating the headquarters and establishing a new studio in the city.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will definitely be an unfortunate interruption of available services as we search for new studio space,\u201d Duncan said.<\/p>\n But, according to Duncan, the group had already been considering a move, given the uncertainty surrounding the mall.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mall has been in real flux since Macy’s left,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were not surprised at the mall owner’s move; we just thought it would have been a little later, say in May 2027. We had been looking for a more permanent space for a few months now.\u201d<\/p>\n From Mall To Mixed-Use \u2014 And Maybe More<\/p>\n Centennial\u2019s plan<\/a> for The Bend replaces the enclosed mall<\/a> with an open-air district centered on walkability, green space and a mix of uses, including retail, restaurants, residential units, office space and a hotel. Some portions of the property will remain operational during early phases, but large sections are expected to be cleared.<\/p>\n At the same time, the site has emerged as a possible location for something even bigger: a new arena for the Dallas Stars<\/a>. The team\u2019s lease at American Airlines Center runs through 2031, and discussions with Plano officials have been ongoing for about a year. No formal deal has been announced.<\/p>\n Still, the overlap between redevelopment and arena speculation adds another layer of urgency to what\u2019s happening on the ground now.<\/p>\n A Changing Landscape<\/p>\n Opened in 2001 as the last traditional enclosed mall built in Texas, Willow Bend is entering a new chapter, one that is already reshaping who gets to be part of it.<\/p>\n As more tenants exit, the transition from mall to mixed-use district is no longer a distant plan. It\u2019s underway, one departure at a time.<\/p>\n![\"view_03-ground_a-final-01c-02\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/view_03-ground_a-final-01c-02.jpg;w=960.jpeg\"\/)
\nRendering: Centennial
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