Elizabeth K.
Yelp
After visiting Katy Mills today, I realized I have never given my two cents about the Katy Mills experience.
This was "my mall" growing up. Fifteen years ago versus now, it is a completely different mall on the inside. It's a completely different mall on the outside, as well. And neither of those comments are intended to mean anything close to the same thing, and here's why.
Katy Mills has gone through a complete change, inside and out. The Hot Topic isn't a cave any more, Earthbound is minimalist and doesn't smell like Patchouli, the teen fashion stores aren't pumping out that nauseating scent into the pathway, and every single spot in the food court has turned over except for Burger King. I knew this place when there was a Johnny Rockets and the Tilt was an FYE! I would say five to seven years ago was probably Katy Mills' lowest point, with a lot of empty store fronts and rumors of human trafficking in the parking lot. They have put in a TON of effort since then, sprucing up the inner decor and putting in classier vendors like Victoria's Secret and Coach! It's a great mall inside.
But the outside of Katy Mills, to put it bluntly, is in a STATE right now. The paint is so faded, the parking lots look terrible, there is construction spray paint markers left and right, plywood boards fixed to the ground, trees ground to the stump, half the neighborhood entrances don't have the welcoming intercom any more...it needs a TON of work. I feel like they're chipping away at the whole thing all at once, but this makes the mall look absolutely decrepit. Not knowing what's inside, I would compare this mall to Greenspoint. I hope they get Katy's facelift nipped and tucked soon because it's almost embarrassing walking in there now.
Katy deserves a mall that rivals The Woodlands, truly. It isn't there quite yet, but when it is, I will be happy to bequeath five stars.