Nestled in the heart of Highland Park and across from SMU is a quiet shopping center geared toward all ages.
You’d never guess at first glance, but this shopping center – known as Snider Plaza – boasts more than 100 stores and restaurants catering to just about everyone.
Walking around Snider Plaza, you’ll see people of all ages – toddlers to teenagers, college students to parents.
“Throughout the plaza they have great restaurants that are family-oriented or places to have a business meeting. The stores kind of hit all the different age groups,” said Kelly Chamberlain, an employee at the Plaza-based clothing store Allie-Coosh.
Julia Murray, owner of The Muse agrees, “It is a very good mix. It is a very good spot for children of all ages. But a lot of people that come here are old enough to be grandmothers and grandfathers of those children and they have fun too,” said Murray.
Many of the store owners benefit from such a diverse group of visitors. A young woman may be buying a baby shower gift when a dress at Betty Cupcake catches her eye.
Owner of Betty Cupcake, Jacque Silverman said this happens all the time.
“We have an advantage of foot traffic. If they didn’t just come to Betty Cupcake to shop they are walking around after they’ve eaten lunch or gone into another store.”
With more than 100 stores and restaurants, there’s something for everyone at Snider Plaza, which has catered to the residents of the Park Cities since its opening in 1927. The plaza is a three-block shopping area complete with some of the Park Cities favorite home-style cooking restaurants, including Kuby’s and Bubbas.
While the restaurants draw the diners, the charming boutiques are the real draw to Snider Plaza. While many of the Snider Plaza stores cater to an upscale older clientele, many are geared to SMU students on limited budgets including Impeccable Pig, Cotton Island and Spicy among others. Other stores geared toward the SMU community are Betty Cupcake, Melanie Gayle and Blue Jeans Bar Dallas.
With many young, hip stores calling the shopping center home and more on the way, Snider Plaza already is a regular stop for the SMU community. As students increase their spending and time in its stores, Snider Plaza will continue its development as a great college shopping center.
Snider Plaza has definitely cultivated a loyal following. Chamberlain said her store, Allie-Coosh, “is more intimate with the clients,” adding that she sees many of the same women over and over.
“Our particular clientele, you’re not going to see them in the malls quite as much. It [Allie-Coosh] is a store for older women, 40s and up, so they are most likely going to find more in a smaller place.”
Julia Murray, owner of The Muse since the 1970’s says many of her clients have known her for most of her adult life. There are many people that keep coming back year after year, she said.
Murray said the busiest times of year for her are Halloween and Christmas, adding that Saturday is her busiest day of the typical week.
Silverman has also found the weekends the busiest at Betty Cupcake.
“Mondays are the slowest and it gets progressively busier. So Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we have a good amount. I would say 30-plus people walk in. That’s not necessarily buying, but we have a lot of people come in,” Silverman said.
When asking all the women their favorite part about working in Snider Plaza, they all had interesting answers. Murray said her favorite part is just talking to all the interesting people that come in. Silverman said she enjoys the number of different restaurants and that there is pretty much everything in one place. And Chamberlain likes the customization.
“You get to work with a great bunch of women. You get to work with different body shapes and customize to fit them. It’s just fun,” Chamberlain said.
The customizing of products and attention to detail the salespeople can play is another added perk to being in a smaller area versus a mall.
“Snider Plaza is a great place to be if you want to open a business. I think location has a lot to do with success,” Silverman said.
