A prototype for open-air shopping centers, The Shops at La Cantera is a modern retail oasis.
Attracting high-end tenants and affluent customers, The Shops at La Cantera is a luxurious shopping and dining experience that feels true to its locale. That sense of place comes to life through its award-winning Texas Hill Country design, commitment to partnering with market-exclusive retailers and restaurants, and ongoing mission to support the local community and showcase local artists.
Created as a prototype for the future development of regional-scale outdoor centers, The Shops at La Cantera features canopy-covered walkways, sculpted waterways, preserved indigenous trees, and bold, up-lighted columns. Committed to reducing its environmental impact, the shopping center recently installed 1,500 solar roof panels that generate approximately 590,000 kilowatt hours annually. To conserve water usage, the center’s water features are replenished with air conditioner condensate harvested from the adjacent buildings.
A crown jewel in Brookfield Properties’ portfolio of shopping centers and part of its Iconic Collection of 11 luxury retail destinations across the country, the 1.3 million-square-foot open-air regional shopping mall opened in 2005. Anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, and Macy’s, The Shops at La Cantera continues to raise the bar, recently welcoming such luxury brands as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, RH, Tory Burch, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and a 1,600-square-foot CHANEL boutique, the first of its kind in the city.
Coupled with exciting new retailers such as Aritzia, Golden Goose, Psycho Bunny, and Freebird— with Alo Yoga, gorjana, Mango, Nike Live, and Ray-Ban coming in 2023 — it’s no surprise that The Shops at La Cantera draws visitors from around the world.
According to Brian Schroeder, senior general manager of The Shops at La Cantera, international visitors, many coming from Mexico, benefit from Texas Tax Back, which provides sales tax reimbursement services to foreign shoppers who qualify. “The State of Texas allows international shoppers to receive sales tax refunds on merchandise purchased at The Shops at La Cantera and in Texas within 30 days of departure from the United States,” Schroeder explains. “Foreign customers shopping and utilizing this service are provided with a cash refund on the spot, which in most cases is spent back at the mall property. This program also allows The Shops at La Cantera to market this service as a travel benefit, attracting many foreign travelers to shop in San Antonio.”
More than just a shopping center, The Shops at La Cantera is also a local culinary destination. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, an award-winning steakhouse known for its butcher-fresh prime meat and exceptional tableside service, has been a fixture in San Antonio since 2011. Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar — named after its signature sticky toffee cake — delivers an elevated dining experience rooted in local sourcing and sustainability. Bovinos Churrascaria offers the traditional experience of the Brazilian churrasco concept, Palenque Grill serves up Mexican cuisine accompanied by live music, and Luciano Restaurant focuses on Italian favorites, including homemade marinara and pizza cooked in authentic, Napoletana-certified wood-burning ovens.
A true community hub, The Shops at La Cantera — together with its tenants, contractors, and vendors — employs nearly 2,700 community members. According to Schroeder, the center hosts an average of three monthly events that support the local San Antonio community, including blood drives, free outdoor yoga sessions, and onsite meeting and event space for local nonprofits such as the Autism Treatment Center, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, the San Antonio Humane Society, the San Antonio Salvation Army, the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute, and more.
The shopping center also supports the local art community by providing common area space for live outdoor painting sessions as well as a variety of performances and art events throughout the year, including an annual Art for Autism event in partnership with the Autism Treatment Center and featuring artwork created by artists with autism.
Whether they’re looking to shop, attend a community event, take in the local art scene, or just take a walking tour of this resort-like property, guests at The Shops at La Cantera can bring their well-behaved, four-legged friends along and enjoy a glass of beer or wine at the same time. “We have two beer and wine kiosks where guests can purchase a beverage to sip and shop throughout the property,” Schroeder says. “I really enjoy watching our shoppers have a great time at the center, knowing that we’re giving them an unforgettable experience.”
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