Galleria at Sunset is one of only three enclosed non-outlet malls in the Las Vegas Valley away from the Las Vegas Strip. The layout is a two-story "Y" shape and includes a total of 1,051,000 ft² of space as of 2007. The decor is Southwestern, and architectural elements, such as indoor fountains, have gained praise; Frommer's described it as the "most aesthetically pleasing" of the Las Vegas Valley's malls. The mall has 133 stores and boutiques, including 5 anchors, an indoor car dealership, the community relations office of the Henderson Police Department, and two full-service restaurants.
History
In 1986, southern Nevada developer Leslie Dunn showed a group of prospective investors the vacant property that would eventually become the site of the Galleria at Sunset mall. Most of the investors joined Dunn to construct the mall, forming Ranch Property Development. The company partnered with Forest City Enterprises to create the mall, and its construction spurred a period of rapid commercial development in the area surrounding the mall, including the Sunset Station hotel-casino across the street. The Galleria at Sunset opened on the morning ofFebruary 28, 1996, as Henderson's first shopping mall. An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the opening. Shows starring Disney characters were staged around the mall as part of the opening celebration, and continued in the following days to promote the mall's Disney Store. The mall included a southwestern theme and skylights. The food court, decorated with chess-piece topiaries, included 12 eateries, such as Cinnabon, Dairy Queen, and Hot Dog on a Stick. Also included were two full restaurants. The mall is located at 1300 West Sunset Road, west of the U.S. 95 Expressway, on. It cost $150 million to build. The mall contained and had 114 stores, with a 95 percent occupancy. The mall opened with four anchor stores in its first phase:
Two additional anchor stores were planned for a second phase, with the tenants to be determined later. The mall's second phase was scheduled to open in late 1997 or early 1998. The mall parking lot contained 6,000 spaces, and valet parking was offered at the time of its initial opening. Approximately 300,000 people lived within a 10-mile radius of the mall, which planned to stage family-oriented activities throughout the year to appeal to those residents. The target clientele was females between the ages of 25 and 54, a demographic group that was prominent in Henderson. In 1997, there were plans for the Santa Fe Galleria Hotel to be built on property adjacent to the mall, with the two buildings being connected. The hotel project was ultimately cancelled. In 2002, the mall opened a 121,000 ft² expansion on the northeast edge that added a new Galyan's location as well as multiple other stores. By late 2005, the mall was 99 percent occupied. As of March 2006, it had five anchor stores, 140 other stores, and approximately 3,000 employees. In 2013, Queensland Investment Corporation acquired a 49 percent ownership stake in the mall. In April 2013, it was announced that Galleria at Sunset would receive its first full-scale renovation since its opening in 1996. The $7-million renovation project included upgrades to the mall's food court and main spaces, as well as adding extra amenities including free wi-fi throughout the mall. The mall was to be rebranded and restyled as a sophisticated desert oasis, aiming to attract more upscale merchants and buyers. H&M and upscale Boutique Talulah would join the newly renovated mall when the project was complete in fall 2013.
