There are 11 retailers in the Stonebriar Centre food court. (Karen Chaney/Community Impact)
Stonebriar Centre, a GGP property, opened in August of 2000 in Frisco.
The 1.7 million-square-foot center was anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s and JCPenney, which are still open today. Multiple non-anchor tenants—including Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and Abercrombie—have also surpassed the quarter-century mark at the mall, said Randy Barnett, Stonebriar Centre senior general manager.
Barnett credits the mall’s longevity to its ability to evolve with shifting demographics and to create experiences that encourage longer customer visits.
“Whether it be retail or any other business, you can't stay the same, because things change. We have to keep the centre fresh and maintain that entertainment component,” Barnett said. “You want to [create] what we call an ‘extended stay.’ You want customers to come and dwell for the longest length of time. Whether it be our food court ... or whatever it may be that allows them to want to stay longer, that gives us that opportunity to sell something—the longer they're here, the more opportunity we have.”
What’s happening
When Stonebriar Centre is fully leased, there are approximately 175 tenants. This number fluctuates based on the amount of space tenants occupy, Barnett said.
Stonebriar Centre employs between 1,500 and 2,000 people a year on average, Barnett said.
A list of new businesses including Urban Outfitters, Alo Yoga, Princess Polly and more are slated to set up shop in 2026.
Other mall happenings slated for 2026 is the opening of Dick’s House of Sport, which is under construction where Sears was previously housed.
“Dick's House of Sport, which is [Dick’s Sporting Goods’] new concept, will have interactives like sport courts and climbing walls,” Barnett said. “The Dick’s [Sporting Goods] here now will consolidate into the new [space]. We'll take back their existing space and redevelop it into something new.”
The majority of retailers at Stonebriar Centre are national chains whereas a minority are mom and pop shops. Barnett said some tenants are approached by GGP’s leasing agents while other businesses request information from the agents regarding becoming future tenants.
Noteworthy additions to the mall directory include KidZania, an immersive learning experience that debuted in the mall in 2019 and the 18-story Stonebriar Hyatt Hotel which opened in 2020.
Stonebriar Hyatt Hotel guests can access Stonebriar Centre through a connecting corridor near the food court. (Karen Chaney/Community Impact)
The outlook
When Stonebriar Centre opened in 2000, Preston Road and SH 121 was a four-way stop, Barnett said. He points to the Dallas North Tollway’s expansion as one of the driving forces behind northern development.
“If Stonebriar was going to be built today, I don't know that you would pick a different site,” Barnett said. “[SH] 121 and DNT are adjacent to us. There's this north growth that's happening, but we're still in a great area for our market.”
Quote of note
Barnett became senior general manager of Stonebriar Centre in 2013 and says the role’s intangible rewards are among his favorite aspects of the job.
“It’s ever changing and doesn't get boring. I get to interact with retailers, team members and customers,” Barnett said. “I'm a big proponent of spending quality time out on the floor. I may stand next to the directory and when people walk over, I ask if I can help them find something. Ninety-five percent of the time they say, ‘No, we’re just looking.’ But it helps with customer service and it's fun.”
