Plano Dillard's to Close, Mall Redevelopment Will Remake Willow Bend

On November 14, 2025 a state WARN filing and subsequent reporting revealed that the Dillard's department store at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano is scheduled to close in January 2026. The filing said roughly 93 employees will be laid off when the store shutters. The announcement comes as the mall owner and developer moves forward with a transformational redevelopment of the aging center, which has been rebranded in planning materials as The Bend.

Redevelopment plans call for demolishing portions of the enclosed mall to make room for mixed use construction including townhome style and single family housing, a hotel, expanded green space and other community amenities. Local reporting has also raised the possibility that the site could be considered for a future professional hockey arena, though planning remains at an early stage. The Dillard's closure is being framed by stakeholders as a necessary step to clear space for the larger reinvention of the property.

For Collin County residents the immediate consequence is the loss of 93 retail jobs and the disruption that entails for workers and their families. In the near term displaced employees will face an abrupt income shock and local employment services and labor market programs may be called on to provide assistance. At the same time the large scale redevelopment is likely to generate construction jobs and, upon completion, new positions in hospitality, property management and services that could partially offset retail losses over the medium term.

Market implications include a continued shift in demand away from traditional enclosed malls toward mixed use, amenity rich districts that combine housing and services. For local real estate markets additional housing supply at the site could moderate pressure on home prices if unit counts are substantial, while new retail and hotel components could expand the commercial tax base. The conversion will also raise planning issues for traffic, utilities and schools that city officials and planners will need to address as project details and timelines crystallize.

The Dillard's closure and the proposed remake of The Shops at Willow Bend reflect broader long term trends in retail real estate and suburban redevelopment as property owners reposition aging assets to meet changing consumer preferences. Residents and local policymakers will be watching the project timeline, permitting steps and community impact as The Bend moves from concept toward construction.