Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Mexico City Galerías Plaza de las Estrellas
AO Edited

Galerías Plaza de las Estrellas

Likely Mexico City's most eclectic shopping mall, with its own version of the Walk of Fame.

Mexico City, Mexico

Added By
linkogecko
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Plaques for journalists.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The peculiar print for El Compayito.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The “provocative” prints of TV presenter Facundo.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Sesame Street and Ronald McDonald.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
These vertical plaques celebrate the entire teams of famous telenovelas.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Boxer Julio César Chávez’s appropriate hand and fist prints.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Bangkok Restaurant, believed to be the city’s first to serve Thai cuisine.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Tribute to a star.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
One of the entrances to the mall.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
International celebrities are included too.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
A statue of classic Mexican comedian Cantinflas.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Opened in 1982, Galerías Plaza de las Estrellas was one of Mexico City's first indoor shopping malls. In order to stand out from its competitors, a Walk of Fame was installed inside. Some peculiar prints are to be found here, boxer Julio César Chávez left his right fist, for example. A TV presenter known mononymously as Facundo, famous for his provocative, often controversial gonzo reporting style, left one hand doing the ILY sign, while the other raises its middle finger. These make a fair amount of sense, but there are some that require more explanation.

The character of El Compayito is somewhat similar to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, as it is played by the performer's hand, with him voicing it almost like a ventriloquist. However, whereas Triumph was a puppet, Compayito was a bare hand with a pair of plastic eyes affixed on top. A t-shirt on the performer's wrist often stood for the character's "body". His "handprint" is probably the most unique to be found here.

One might consider Ronald McDonald's clown shoe print, or that of Abelardo's avian feet (he is Big Bird's Latin American cousin on the localized Plaza Sésamo) a bit absurd, but the walk's most one-of-a-kind print is unfortunately now gone. Keiko, the orca that portrayed the title character in Free Willy, had its tail molded and the "print" featured prominently on display in this mall. In addition to the tail mold, its display proudly announced its Guinness World Record as "the world's largest print of the whale Keiko" (probably not the most contested record).

The mall has a history beyond its walk of fame, as in 1985, it saw the opening of the first Thai restaurant in Mexico City. Restaurante Bangkok, which was still in operation as of early 2022, might have even been the first in the country and maybe in Latin America. As the cherry on top of the sundae of uniqueness that is this mall, it also has an "esoteric passage." This passage is a series of shops selling supplies for witchcraft such as candles and soaps, as well as statues of Santa Muerte and New Age items such as crystals and incense.

Related Tags

Malls Celebrity

Know Before You Go

The mall is open daily from 10am to 10pm. In addition to the indoor section, the mall has access to a large outdoor square where events are often hosted. You can see the current ones on their website.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan: Astronomy, Pyramids & Mayan Legends

Mayan legends, ancient craters, lost cities, and stunning constellations.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

linkogecko

Published

June 26, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://jorgalbrtotranseunte.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/iconos-de-la-ciudad-keiko/
  • https://www.maspormas.com/ciudad/galeria-bizarreces-sacada-otra-dimension/
  • https://www.local.mx/ciudad-de-mexico/galeria-plaza-de-las-estrellas/
Galerías Plaza de las Estrellas
193 Cto. Interior Melchor Ocampo
Mexico City, 11300
Mexico
19.435786, -99.170617
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mexico City National Cemetery

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Museo Casa de Carranza

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

El Halconazo Memorial

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico

Places 180
Stories 17

Nearby Places

Mexico City National Cemetery

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Museo Casa de Carranza

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

El Halconazo Memorial

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico

Places 180
Stories 17

Related Places

  • An overhead view of the aquarium.

    Okinawa, Japan

    Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom Aquarium

    Located in the large-scale shopping mall is an otherwise unassuming aquarium featuring species native to Okinawa waters.

  • The site of the Shochiku studio.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Shōchiku Ōfuna Studio Site

    Iconic Japanese movies were made at this forgotten film-studio-site-turned-mall.

  • Shinsegae Department Store.

    Busan, South Korea

    World’s Largest Department Store

    The Shinsegae Department Store is the largest of its kind in the whole world.

  • Jacksonville, Florida

    The Alhambra Theatre & Dining

    The oldest continuously-running professional dinner theater in the United States.

  • Look down.

    Wigan, England

    Wigan Roman Bathhouse

    A reconstructed section of a Roman bathhouse sits next to an otherwise ordinary shopping mall.

  • Jupiter, Florida

    Al Capone’s Tomato Farm and Burt Reynolds Ranch

    Before this area was filled with luxury homes, it was a movie star's 160-acre ranch and a gangster's hideout.

  • Matthew McConaughey

    Uvalde, Texas

    Giant Matthew McConaughey

    A 17-foot-tall cutout of the Texas-born actor stands alongside the highway.

  • Suehiro Shrine

    Tainan City, Taiwan

    Suehiro Shrine at Hayashi Department Store

    On the roof of the oldest department store in Tainan stands a Shinto shrine dating back to the 1930s.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.