aesthetic improvements

Galleria owner plans first multi-million dollar upgrades in 7 years

The Galleria is getting an upgrade.

Courtesy of Simon

Houston’s iconic Galleria, the largest shopping mall in Texas, will be getting a multi-million-dollar aesthetic renovation thanks to Simon Property Group, the development's owner that operates malls around the world.

“The Galleria is an iconic Houston institution and an international destination that has drawn the world’s most discerning shoppers for decades,” said Mark Silvestri, President of Development at Simon. “Simon is investing in The Galleria once again to ensure the center continues to raise the bar and set the industry standard for premier centers across the world. These modern improvements and fresh facades will further elevate the experience for our discerning patrons and complement the world’s most sought-after brands that call The Galleria home.”

A major portion of the changes will literally be a facelift. In keeping with the Galleria’s luxurious reputation, the northward and eastward facing valet entrances from Nordstrom all along Westheimer will be getting a tasteful upgrade. These include modernized entrances, recessed LED lighting, and ceiling enhancements. The new look is sure to add some extra pizzaz along the city’s foremost shopping street.

Other enhancements will contribute to the Galleria’s status as the place to buy designer couture, accessories, and other expensive trinkets. Gucci is currently expanding to a two-story space, and both FENDI and Saint Laurent have doubled their footprints in the last five years. Some of the new boutiques that will be making their way onto the floor soon are Etro and Frette. They join other premium storefronts for brands like Dolce & Gabbana. AMIRI, Maria Tash, Prada, Dior, and Alo Yoga,

The renovations are set to begin this summer and be finished by early 2025. This is the first major update to the Galleria since 2017.

“The Galleria continues to be one of the best shopping centers in the United States. Simon is reinvesting in this classic, beloved property to further cement The Galleria as a global leader in the luxury retail space,” said Velda Turan, senior vice president of luxury leasing at Simon. “We are literally and figuratively lifting luxury to the next level and expanding this offering to level two to meet the strong demand from these brands.”

First opened in 1970, the Galleria is one of Houston’s top tourist attractions. It sees 30 million visitors annually. In addition to the shopping, it hosts a massive indoor skating rink and a number of first-class restaurants such as The Oceanaire and Houston’s only Nobu and Musaafer restaurants.

income analysis

Texas families need to make this much money for one parent to stay home

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

With costs to raise a child soaring over $20,000 a year in Texas, some households might decide to have one parent work while the other stays at home to raise their child.

As the cost of raising a child balloons in major cities like Houston, many families are weighing the choice between paying for child care or having one parent stay home full-time.

A recent analysis from SmartAsset determined the minimum income one parent needs to earn to support their partner staying at home to raise one child in all 50 states. In Texas — not just Houston — that amount is just under $75,000.

The study used the MIT Living Wage Calculator to compare the annual living wages needed for a household with two working adults and one child, and a household with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child. The study also calculated how much it would cost to raise a child with two working parents based on factors such as "food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, incremental income taxes and other necessities."

A Texas household with one working parent would need to earn $74,734 a year to support a stay-at-home partner and a child, the report found. If two parents worked in the household, necessitating some additional costs like childcare and transportation, it would require an additional $10,504 in annual income to raise their child.

SmartAsset said the cost to raise a child in Texas in a two-working-parent household adds up to $23,587. Raising a child in Houston, however, is somewhat more affordable. A separate SmartAsset study from June 2025 determined it costs $21,868 to raise a child in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro.

In the report's ranking of states with the highest minimum income needed to support a family with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child, Texas ranked 32nd on the list.

In other states like Massachusetts, where raising a child can cost more than $40,000 a year, the report acknowledges ways families are working to reduce any financial burdens.

"This often includes considerations around who’s going to work in the household, and whether young children will require paid daycare services while parents are occupied," the report said. "With tradeoffs abound, many parents might seek to understand the minimum income needed to keep the family afloat while allowing the other parent to stay home to raise a young child."

The top 10 states with the lowest minimum income threshold to support a three-person family on one income are:

West Virginia – $68,099
Arkansas – $68,141
Mississippi – $70,242
Kentucky – $70,408
North Dakota – $70,949
Oklahoma – $71,718
Ohio – $72,114
South Dakota – $72,218
Alabama – $72,238
Nebraska – $72,966

texas income smartasset family