[6] The mall is located off Interstate 45,[7] and it is also in proximity to Webster and the NASA Johnson Space Center.

[7] The anchor stores are Star Cinema Grill, Dave & Buster's, Dillard's, JCPenney, H&M, Macy's, and Forever 21.

It is located 18 mi southeast of downtown Houston at Interstate 45 South and Bay Area Blvd.

For that reason, the mall was not built on a grand scale, and instead as an energy efficient, compact shopping center.

[12] The mall opened with 77 merchants, including: Joske's, Montgomery Ward, Sears, Luby's, Radio Shack, and Zale Corporation.

[14] The grand opening of the new expansion of 20 retail stores, plus Mervyn's, was held in March 1984,[15] with Gifford Nielsen as master of ceremonies.

The area growth was reflected at Baybrook, and many stores expressed interest in leasing space.

[32] After 30 years at Baybrook, original tenant Luby's lease expired, and they left the mall to relocate to a new location across the Gulf Freeway in 2008.

In March 2014 Baybrook was at almost 100% leasing capacity, and considered the premiere shopping destination for the southeast quadrant of Houston.

[34] This is in part to help compete with the Tanger Outlet Mall in Texas City and the Pearland Town Center.

In November 2015, Baybrook Mall completed the first part of its two-phase expansion, the 285,000 square foot Lifestyle Center.

The Lifestyle expansion included a green space, stage, 22' x 12' digital screen, retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

New tenants included Dave & Buster's, Star Cinema Grill, Bar Louie, Z Gallerie, Kendra Scott, Yard House, Perry's Steakhouse, Zara (retailer), Arhaus, Maggiano's Little Italy and many other establishments.

[38] The power center, constructed adjacent to the lifestyle expansion, features Dick's Sporting Goods (one of five throughout Greater Houston) as one of the anchor tenants.

[39] Other retailers in the power center included The Container Store and Total Wine & More, which would be their first locations in the southeast side of Houston.

Foley's completely renovated the building, and added an additional 100,000 square feet of retail space.

[43] After 128 years in business, Montgomery Ward announced in December 2000 they were filing for bankruptcy, and closing all stores.

Upon Foley's move to the renovated original Joske's building in 2004, J.C. Penney announced they would open a store at Baybrook.

It ceased operations at the end of 2005 when Mervyn's parent company closed 62 underperforming stores, 28 of them in Texas, and vacated the Houston market.