North Star Mall food drive to benefit San Antonio Food Bank

North Star Mall be be hosting a food drive on Friday October 30 during which those who donate five or more items will receive a Cowboy Boots Fiesta Medal. Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission.

North Star Mall is holding a food drive on Friday, October 30 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.  A San Antonio Food Bank truck and red donation bins will be on site to receive food items all under gray tents with orange trim — the orange symbolizing hunger awareness — at the corner of Rector and San Pedro. North Star Mall staff and volunteers from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Society for Design Administration (SDA) will man the contactless collection point.  While supplies last, they will also be handing out a commemorative, limited edition, Fiesta Medal of its iconic Cowboy Boots, including stars that light-up, to those donating five items or more. (North Star Mall, 2020)

The San Antonio Food Bank’s 12 most wanted foods are: peanut butter, cereal, tuna, beans, rice, mac ‘n cheese, canned chili and soups, baby food, canned meats, pet food, full meals boxed or canned and pop top food items.

The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 500 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security.

 “We created the medal to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the World’s Largest Cowboy Boots, along with the memory of its creator, the late Bob ‘Daddy-O’ Wade. It was our intent to offer the medals during Fiesta, but no one could foresee the impact of COVID-19. The pandemic also affected our ability to host CANstruction, an event where we would have typically partnered with architects, engineers and contractor teams representing the San Antonio chapters of the AIA and SDA. The event benefits the SA Food Bank during Hunger Action Month. This is our way of giving back to the community and helping such a worthy cause.” – Brenda Crawford, Sr. General Manager, North Star Mall.

North Star Mall boots celebrate 40 years

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The North Star Mall boots celebrates 40 years this month.  In honor of the artist, Bob “Daddy O” Wade, a commemorative limited edition Fiesta medal will be out in February.  Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission.

The adage that everything in Texas is bigger and better is best illustrated by the massive cowboy boot sculpture that adorns North Star Mall’s northern face. The “World’s Largest Cowboy Boots” sculpture stands an impressive 35-feet, three inches tall, 30-feet long, nine–feet wide and weighs in at 10,000 pounds. (North Star Mall, 2019)

Artist Bob “Daddy O” Wade was 36 years old in 1979 when he was contacted by the Washington Project for the Arts out of Washington, DC to create a Texas-themed sculpture to be featured in an empty lot, mere blocks from the White House. Built on site, Wade created two structures that in 2016 became Guinness World Record-certified Cowboy Boots – the largest such sculpture in the world. Approximately forty feet high and thirty feet long, the boots are made of tubular steel sprayed with polyurethane foam. Wade is known for several other giant creations, including a 40-foot long iguana that now sits atop the Ft. Worth Zoo, dancing frogs that can be found on the roof of a Taco Cabana in Dallas and a 70-foot high saxophone in Houston, among others.

Shortly after its creation, a bidding war ensued between a company in Houston and The Rouse Company, then owners of North Star mall, who purchased the landmark for $20,000. Getting them from DC to San Antonio is a story that includes getting stuck under an overpass. From that point on the truck drivers responsible for moving the boots took back roads all the way to Texas.

The World’s Largest Cowboy Boots is celebrating its 40th anniversary in January. They have become iconic – used in commercials and highlighted in every San Antonio event that garners state and national attention. According to Wade, they’ve even been the subject of a master’s thesis – a fitting study for boots that have earned their place in Texas culture.

“The North Star Mall family was deeply saddened to learn of Bob Wade, artist of the World’s Largest Cowboy Boots, passing on Christmas Eve.  In his honor and memory, we are creating a commemorative Fiesta Medal that will be available in February. Please check our website and Facebook page for details. The Boots, much like the artist who made them, are larger than life and have a special place in San Antonio’s heart. Bob will always be an important part of North Star Mall history; may Bob’s legacy live on through his sculptures.” Brenda Crawford, Sr. General Manager, North Star Mall

BoxLunch opens San Antonio location at North Star Mall

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BoxLunch will open its North Star Mall location on Wednesday August 21. Photo: BoxLunch, used with permission.

BoxLunch a pop culture gift store with a cause, announces that it will open its newest location in San Antonio on Wednesday, August 21 at the North Star Mall. BoxLunch offers a thoughtfully curated selection of officially licensed apparel, accessories, collectibles, beauty, home goods and gift and novelty merchandise for everyone from the most dedicated fan to the more casual pop culture enthusiast. The new store will celebrate its grand opening weekend, Saturday, August 24 to Sunday, August 25 from 12p.m. to 4p.m. with DJs spinning live music, in-store giveaways and trivia games. (BoxLunch, 2019)

To fulfill its civic mission of “Get Some. Give Back”, BoxLunch will donate one meal to Feeding America® for every $10 spent in-store or online. BoxLunch is proud to support national hunger-relief efforts as well as local efforts through Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks, including San Antonio Food Bank, which will directly receive a percentage of the donations raised at the North Star Mall BoxLunch store.

  • In-store campaigns will highlight BoxLunch’s exclusive Back-to-School assortment inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and merchandise from the Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli.
  • BoxLunch’s store design features a bright, organic design that encourages the customer to journey through its collection of licensed pop culture product offerings by providing a tactile and exploratory shopping experience

“We are thrilled to bring BoxLunch back to San Antonio. Our mission is simple, sell the best product and use our business to inspire and implement solutions to help fight the hunger crisis on both a local and national level,” – Robert Thomsen, senior vice president, general manager of merchandising and marketing, BoxLunch.

BoxLunch at North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78216

North Star Mall hosts 14th Annual Canstruction Design/Build Competition

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‘The Ban of Hunger’ won first place for Best Original Design at last year’s competition. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

This September, North Star Mall will host the 14th Annual Canstruction® design/build competition, one of the San Antonio Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month events to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief.  From Monday, September 9, through Sunday, September 21, massive structures built using cans of food by the city’s most noted architecture, engineering and contracting firms will be on public display at North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro. (North Star Mall, 2019)

Two competitors in last year’s local contest took home awards from the International Citywide Competition. Out of more than 1,000 entries submitted worldwide, Alamo Architects and Turner Construction won first place for “Best Original Design” for “The Ban of Hunger,” which featured a bigger than life matador standing behind his cape which appeared to be in motion. Luna Middleman Architects took home fourth place for “Structural Ingenuity” with their creation, “El Luchador Mask.” Just as its title suggests, the structure was a massive mask reminiscent of those worn by the famed Mexican wrestlers.

San Antonio’s 14th annual Canstruction® competition is part of an international drive to expand public awareness of the hunger crisis worldwide. Canstruction® combines the competitive spirit of a design/build competition with a unique way to help feed the hungry.  It also showcases the talents of local design and construction industry professionals and the students they mentor.

Seven teams representing the San Antonio chapters of The American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration are given 12 hours on Sunday, September 8 to defy expectations, logic and gravity as they assemble amazing sculptures using approximately 30,000 cans of food.  The sculptures remain on display throughout North Star Mall’s common areas during mall hours through Saturday, September 21.

The following day the supersized masterpieces will be judged at the Canopener awards ceremony attended by industry professionals and special guests.  Teams will vie for award categories in Structural Ingenuity; Best Use of Labels; Best Meal; Juror’s Favorite; Best Use of the Color Orange; and two Honorable Mentions. Cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award to be announced on September 22, voting details on site at North Star.

The competing teams include: RVK Architects with Lundy & Franke Engineering and F.A. Nunnelly General Contractors; Alamo Architects with Turner Construction; RS&H Architecture, Engineering & Consulting; Rogers O’Brien Construction; and The Art Institute of San Antonio. Two teams of architecture students from the AIAS Chapters of San Antonio College and UTSA are being sponsored by Broadway Bank.

The public is encouraged to donate canned food at a simultaneous food drive within the mall at participating retailers. All canned goods used to create the unconventional art exhibits at North Star Mall will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank at the close of the competition.  Over the last decade, Canstruction® has donated more than 472,095 pounds of food.  As the major supplier of food for the hungry in Southwest Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank helps provide food for about 58,000 individuals each week through a network of more than 530 partner agencies within a 16-county service area. Every donation, every SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign button worn and every means of public outreach helps to fight hunger and feed hope.

Fiesta Confetti Madness at North Star Mall

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Shoppers can celebrate Fiesta at North Star Mall this Friday and Saturday. Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission. 

Everyone is invited to celebrate Fiesta at North Star Mall for the ultimate Confetti Experience on Friday April 19 and Saturday April 20 from noon to 4p.m. Shoppers will have a chance to enter a large wind tunnel confetti booth for a chance to grab the golden ticket to win a $250 shopping spree.  There will be five winners per day. Shoppers will receive a commemorative collectible North Star Fiesta Medal, while supplies last. (North Star Mall, 2019)

Mariachis and a DJ will provide festive music as the backdrop to activities that include flower crown making classes, fashions and make-up demonstrations. The Easter Bunny, furry, fluffy and full of hugs will be available for visits. Commemorative photo packages start at $29.99. All children under 12 receive a complimentary surprise when they strike a cozy pose with Ms. Easter Bunny located in front of Macy’s. The Easter Bunny will greet visitors during mall hours through Saturday, April 20, when she leaves to deliver eggs to children around the globe.

North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro
Confetti Booth, Saks wing and Easter Bunny, in front of Macy’s
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 340-6627

Easter Bunny at North Star Mall

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The Easter Bunny will be at North Star Mall through Saturday April 20. Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission.

Easter is right around the corner and everyone is invited to come visit and sit for a special Spring-time photo with the only female Easter Bunny in Texas, exclusively at North Star Mall. Commemorative photo packages start at $29.99. All children under 12 receive a complimentary surprise when they strike a cozy pose with Ms. Easter Bunny, located in front of Macy’s. (North Star Mall, 2019)

Ms. Easter Bunny is furry, fluffy and full of hugs. She is also fashionable and easy to spot in her brightly colored, polka-dot apron with deep pockets that sometimes hold additional surprise treats for her pint-sized friends. The Easter Bunny will greet visitors during mall hours beginning Tuesday, March 26 through Saturday, April 20, when she leaves to deliver eggs to children around the globe. The Easter Bunny does take occasional carrot breaks. North Star is closed Easter Sunday.

PET NIGHTS: Ms. Easter Bunny also welcomes cats and dogs for three nights only, Monday April 1, Thursday April 4 and Monday April 15 from 5p.m. to 8p.m.Pets must be on a leash and guests are asked to use the entrance by The Cheesecake Factory.

Tuesday, March 26 through Saturday, April 20
Monday through Saturday 10a.m. to 8p.m.
Sunday 12 noon to 6p.m.

North Star Mall
Located inside the mall in front of Macy’s
7400 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 340-6627

North Star Mall cowboy boots light up for the holidays

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North Star Mall’s cowboy boots will light up starting Thursday November 22. Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission.

The world’s largest cowboy boots at North Star Mall will light up after sunset on Thursday, November 22 as a beacon for the holidays. The glow from 8,000 red and white LED lights that adorn North Star’s 35-feet tall Cowboy Boots during the holidays serve as a guiding light for Santa Claus and officially symbolizes the beginning of the holiday season. The boots will glow nightly from 5:45p.m. to 7a.m., November 22 through December 31. The Boots are located at the frontage road of Loop 410 in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. (North Star Mall, 2018)

The boots stand 35 ft. high, are 8 ft. in diameter and weigh five tons, that’s 5,000 lbs. each. Artist Bob Wade, a native Texan, originally created the boots in 1979 for the Washington Project for the Arts, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. The black, brown and white simulated plucked ostrich skin boots took Wade six weeks to build. In November 2014, Guinness World Records officially declared the art sculpture that symbolizes cowboy phenomena the “World’s Largest Cowboy Boot Sculpture.”

North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 340-6627

North Star holiday parade to honor hometown heroes

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The North Star Mall holiday parade will be on Black Friday, November 23. Photo: North Star Mall, used with permission.

This year’s North Star Mall annual holiday parade will honor hometown heroes. “Celebrating Our Hometown Heroes” is the theme for the parade which will feature representatives from the United States (U.S.) Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, San Antonio Fire Department, The Salvation Army and Elf Louise. (North Star Mall, 2018)

The public is invited to join Santa and Mrs. Claus for the Christmas Celebration Parade at 10a.m. on Black Friday, November 23. The parade starts in front of Dillard’s and winds its way through the mall to Santa’s home for the Holidays in front of Macy’s at IT’SUGAR.

Parade participants:
Brackenridge High School March Band, under the direction of Alfonso Alvarado
United States Air Force, Army and Navy representatives
San Antonio Firefighters representatives
San Antonio Police Department representatives
Bear-a-me, Build-A-Bear Mascot
The Cookie Man, Great American Cookie Company
Chick-fil-A, “eat mor chikin!” Cow
Android characters, Think Geek
Melinda Lou “Wendy” Morse, Wendy’s Restaurant
Elves, Elf Louise Christmas Project
Salvation Army
Mrs. Claus and Santa Clause

North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro Ave
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 340-6627