Crayola Experience in Plano Closes Permanently After Nearly Eight Years

The Crayola Experience at The Shops at Willow Bend has permanently closed, ending an eight-year run as one of the few remaining anchors at the struggling Plano mall near Park Boulevard and the Dallas North Tollway. Crayola confirmed the closure on its official Plano page, and multiple outlets reported the permanent shuttering on March 11.

The final closure followed a chaotic few weeks. The mall's landlord posted a lockout notice and changed the attraction's locks on Feb. 7, citing delinquent rent. The venue briefly reopened in early March for several days before closing again, this time for good. The Plano location had been operated under license by Brite Management/BrightColors LLC since opening on March 23, 2018.

"Crayola understands the closure is disappointing and frustrating to those in the Plano area who have enjoyed visiting Crayola Experience for the past eight years and those who have planned future events and visits," a company spokesperson said. Rick Stringer, Crayola's EVP of Consumer Experience, added that the brand remains committed to its broader entertainment strategy: "Crayola Experience is key to that strategy and an important representation of the Crayola brand as a family destination for interactive play that brings color and creativity to life."

Guests holding tickets, gift cards, annual passes, or reservations for scheduled parties and events can seek refunds and assistance at crayolaexperience.com/plano. Crayola Experience locations in other states remain open.

The closure adds to a mounting list of departures at Willow Bend. Dillard's has already shuttered its location there, North Texas Performing Arts was told by the landlord to make plans to leave, and Neiman Marcus is set to exit with the sale of its site. Little remains open inside the mall, according to reporting by FOX 4 News.

That vacancy has fueled speculation about what comes next. The Dallas Morning News first reported in October that the NHL's Dallas Stars were eyeing Willow Bend as the site for a potential arena estimated to cost more than $1 billion. The City of Plano has been in what the Morning News described as "earnest discussions" with the team about the site for the past year. For a mall that once counted a colorful, crayon-themed family attraction among its key draws, the permanent sign on the Crayola Experience door marks one more step toward whatever Willow Bend becomes next.