The mall generates over 75 percent of the area's retail sales through its approximately eleven million annual visitors.

In the early 1980s, the demand for shopping opportunities and other businesses was growing with the populations of the side-by-side cities of Bryan and College Station.

The city and developer CBL & Associates Properties began making plans for the opening of a large regional mall in the area, with the first choice of location being in Bryan near the intersection of Earl Rudder Freeway (Texas State Highway 6) and Briarcrest Drive (FM 1179).

[3] Construction began on Post Oak Mall in the summer of 1979 at the intersection of Earl Rudder Freeway and Harvey Road.

[4] Developer CBL & Associates Properties hired Eugene "Buck" Schimpf to act as the project manager.

The mall walkways were decorated with a variety of small potted trees and plants in large atrium areas, with tiered glass ceilings above.

[6] Plans were already underway for a second phase of construction that would expand the mall to hold up to 130 stores and push it up to 1,020,000 square feet (95,000 m2).

[citation needed] In the first year, it was projected that the mall would employee 2,500 employees—instantly making it the largest employer in the city; this was expected to expand to 3,500 with the completion of the second phase.

[3] The mall also added new burdens to city services, with building inspectors having to work overtime to inspect each store area as it was completed.

Traffic signals were added to the mall's main entrance, while long-term plans were made to both expand the freeway and add additional interchanges along Harvey.

The city planners felt it would only be a passing fad for local rural and lower-income families, who would still return to downtown Bryan due to its proximity.

[15] On January 19, 2012, CBL Properties announced, among others, that Post Oak Mall would receive major renovations sometime during 2012.

There is a small indoor children's play area located in the food court, a night club, and recruitment centers for the United States Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines.

[18] When it opened, the mall contained a three-screen movie theater owned by Cineplex Odeon, which was later bought out the Plitt chain.

[6][19] The Post Oak Mall theater location was eventually sold to Carmike Cinemas before closing for good by 1999.

[23][24] Both Dillard's locations, Foley's, JCPenney, and Sears were all independently owned, separate from mall ownership, and considered "stand-alone" buildings for tax purposes.

In addition to the more "traditional"[weasel words] mall offerings, including a Charley's Philly Stakes, a burger place, an Asian restaurant, and a pizza stall, the food court houses the locally operated Taste of the Tropics, a maker of pure fruit smoothies, and a Nestlé Toll House Café.

[18] A McDonald's was located in the mall for fifteen years, but left in 2002 as part of regional owner Ron Blatchley's overall renovation plans.

Immediately south of the mall, an additional commercial zone was approved, along with 36 acres (15 ha) along the freeway.

[9] The mall's opening helped create the impetus for growing economic and commercial developments for College Station.