Richland Mall Waco: A Baylor Student's Shopping Guide
Every Baylor student ends up at Richland Mall sooner or later. Whether you need sneakers before the semester starts, a dress for an interview, arcade games for a roommate's birthday, or just somewhere to walk around in the AC when it's 104 degrees outside, Richland Mall in Waco is where you go. It's the largest shopping center between Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin — 708,249 square feet of stores, dining, and entertainment spread across 77 acres on the west side of the city. Knowing what's actually inside makes the trip worth it.
What Is Richland Mall Waco?
Richland Mall is located at 6001 West Waco Drive, Waco TX 76710 — about 5.3 miles west of 19Eleven Apartments on S 8th Street, which translates to roughly 10 minutes by car via I-35 North and the Waco Drive exit. The mall opened in 1980 and has anchored Waco's retail scene for over four decades.
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Parking: Free. The surface lot is massive and you'll always find a spot, even on the Saturday before fall semester starts when every Baylor student and their parents are shopping at the same time.
With roughly 95 stores and five major anchor tenants, this is the most comprehensive retail destination in Central Texas outside of Austin or the DFW Metroplex. If you can't find it here, it's probably not in Waco.
The Five Anchor Stores
Richland Mall Waco Texas has five anchor stores that anchor opposite ends and the middle of the mall:
Dick's Sporting Goods is the most useful anchor for students. You'll find gym bags, athletic shoes, workout gear, cleats, and sports accessories in one place. The footwear wall covers Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and New Balance across multiple price points. If you're outfitting yourself for intramural sports or just need a decent backpack that won't fall apart after a semester, this is the anchor to start with.
JCPenney covers the basics: dress shirts, slacks, jeans, and housewares. The sales are frequent — sign up for their rewards app before you go and you'll almost always have a discount code. This is a practical stop for interview clothes or replacing worn-out basics without spending the money you would at a department store.
Dillard's has two locations in the mall (north and south ends). More upscale than JCPenney. Good for Homecoming formalwear, business professional outfits for recruiting season, or gifts for parents visiting on Family Weekend. Dillard's clearance racks go deep — check the sale section before paying full price.
Tilt Studio is the entertainment anchor: arcade games, laser tag, bowling, go-karts, and mini golf under one roof. It's popular for Greek chapter events, birthday groups, and end-of-semester blowouts. Bowling lanes fill up on weekend evenings, so call ahead or book online if you're bringing a group.
Shoe Dept. carries budget-friendly footwear — sandals, boots, casual sneakers. Not the trendy athletic brands, but solid prices for shoes you'll actually walk through a Texas summer in.
Best Stores for Baylor Students
Beyond the anchors, these mid-mall stores see the most student traffic:
H&M offers trendy basics at prices that don't require a second job. A full outfit — jeans, a shirt, and a jacket — can run under $60 when they're running a sale. If you're building a wardrobe for the first time or replacing things that didn't survive a year in the dorms, H&M is the first stop in Waco Richland Mall.
Foot Locker carries Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and New Balance shoes in colorways you won't find at Dick's. Better for statement sneakers if you care about what you're wearing. Limited releases come through here, though don't expect the Houston or Dallas allocation.
Bath & Body Works runs semi-annual sales where 3-wick candles drop to $9.50 and hand soaps go to $4. Every roommate situation involves Bath & Body Works eventually — whether for air fresheners, lotion, or the annual gift swap. Stock up during November or the summer sale.
Hot Topic carries band merchandise, pop culture items, licensed fan gear, and novelty accessories not found elsewhere in Waco. If you want a specific graphic tee or a gift for someone with specific taste, this is the only option in town.
American Eagle sells affordable casual wear with regular 30-40% off sales. Their jeans consistently get good reviews for durability and fit across multiple body types. This is a practical store for the basics of a Baylor semester wardrobe.
Spencer's fills the gap for novelty decor, dorm accessories, and gag gifts. It's where the "ridiculous birthday gift under $15" shopping happens.
Food Court and Dining
The food court handles meals between stores. The usual lineup includes Chick-fil-A Express, Panda Express, Subway, and Auntie Anne's. Saturday afternoon is peak time — expect a 10-15 minute wait at Chick-fil-A from noon to 2 p.m.
The Chick-fil-A Express moves faster than a standalone location but doesn't serve every menu item. Panda Express is the fastest option if you need a full plate of food quickly. Subway is reliable if you're watching a budget closely.
For a sit-down meal, the parking lot corridor has additional restaurant options including national chains accessible without walking back through the mall.
Movies at Richland Mall
The Dickinson Theatre multiplex is attached to the mall complex and covers Waco's new release schedule. This is the main movie theater serving the Baylor area — for a city Waco's size, it has solid screen count and typically picks up the major blockbusters and some independent films.
Student discount pricing varies by show time, so check their website before buying. Matinee prices before 6 p.m. are typically the best value. A movie night from 19Eleven is practical: 10 minutes to the mall, grab food court dinner before the show, 10 minutes back. Total door-to-door is under 2.5 hours for a film.
Getting to Richland Mall from 19Eleven
From 19Eleven Apartments at 1911 S 8th Street, the drive is simple:
- Head north on S 8th Street toward campus
- Turn left (west) on University Parks Drive, or take I-35 North one exit to US-84 West (Waco Drive)
- Head west on Waco Drive — Richland Mall will be on your right at 6001 West Waco Drive
The fastest route most days is University Parks Drive straight to I-35, then one exit west. Google Maps will route you correctly regardless of time of day.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft serve the mall reliably. Expect 6-10 minutes from campus during normal hours.
Living on S 8th Street specifically makes the westward commute efficient — University Parks Drive connects quickly to I-35, cutting out the back-road routing you'd need from apartments further east or north of campus.
Back-to-School Shopping Strategy
If you're arriving for a new semester and need to stock up, here's the order that works:
- Dick's Sporting Goods — heaviest and bulkiest items first (gym bag, shoes, gear)
- H&M or American Eagle — clothes while you still have energy to try things on
- JCPenney — dress clothes, professional basics, or housewares
- Food court — mid-trip break, usually 2-3 hours in
- Bath & Body Works, Foot Locker, specialty stores — smaller items on the way out
If you're carpooling from 19Eleven with roommates, divide and conquer: send one person to Dick's, another to the clothing stores, and have a third handle the food court order so you're not waiting when you regroup. The mall's linear layout makes this easy to coordinate.
How Richland Mall Fits Into Waco's Shopping Landscape
Richland Mall is one of a few shopping options near Baylor, but it's the most concentrated:
- Magnolia Market at the Silos (1.5 miles from 19Eleven) — gifts, home goods, and Magnolia-brand products. Great for family visits and unique gifts, not for student basics.
- Walmart Supercenter on Valley Mills Drive — household staples, groceries, and budget essentials. Different use case from the mall.
- Downtown Waco and Speight Avenue boutiques — local independent shops, walking distance from campus.
For high-volume shopping — back-to-school, multiple-person gift runs, or replacing a full wardrobe — Richland Mall Waco TX is the right choice. Smaller or more specific needs are often better served closer to campus without the drive.
Ready to Live 10 Minutes from Waco's Largest Mall?
19Eleven Apartments at 1911 S 8th Street puts you 10 minutes from Richland Mall, 0.7 miles from McLane Stadium, and a short walk from Baylor's south campus entrance. The loft-style units — exposed beams, polished concrete floors, gated access, indoor pool — are designed for students who want to be close to everything without the markup of on-campus living.
Browse floor plans starting at $1,035/month or schedule a tour to walk the property before committing.
