Economic Impact
Post Oak Mall was the first mall in the city of College Station, and as of 2008, it is the largest mall in the Brazos Valley. There were concerns that the mall would hurt existing area businesses, but CBL was certain the mall would have a "trickle-down" effect that would result in the Harvey Road area to be "fully developed with smaller strip shopping centers." Before the mall opened, plans were already underway for one such center, Post Oak Village, which began constructed to the west of the mall along Harvey Road. Farther west, zoning was approved for new office complexes and commercial developments. Immediately south of the mall, an additional commercial zone was approved, along with 36 acres (15 ha) along the freeway.
The mall's opening helped create the impetus for growing economic and commercial developments for College Station. Before its opening, the city did not have a highly developed retail community. It is now the largest taxpayer in College Station, and the second largest in the Brazos Valley, even though the anchor stores are freestanding units that are privately owned and taxed separate from the mall proper. Over 75 percent of retail sales in the Brazos Valley coming from sales at the mall's stores and it continues to be one if the area's largest employers. As predicted, the Harvey Road/Earl Rudder Freeway intersection became a major entry point into College Station, with Harvey Road now boasting a long stretch of retail businesses and restaurants. It is considered an "area of bustling activity" by the city. According to Joan Ghani, the marketing director of the mall, the mall sees eleven million visitors walk through its door annually. While the large college population from Texas A&M University boosts the mall's revenue, the average mall shopper is in their 30s and come from both within the Brazos County and the twelve surrounding counties.
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