With the recent move of G&G Model Shop, the strip mall at the corner of Shepherd and the eastbound 59 feeder road has become a senior center for stores that spent time in Rice Village back in the day. The photo above shows the 72-year-old model shop — a popular destination for Rice and UH architecture students, as well as model train enthusiasts — 2 doors down from fellow old-timer Times Barber Shop, which opened its original location in the Village before relocating 3 times and landing in strip center just north of Boulevard Oaks in 2007. G&G sold its 2522 Times Blvd. spot — home to the shop for 63 years — on August 17 and closed down 2 days later. The new location opened on August 29 in the 2029 Southwest Fwy. storefront abandoned several years ago by ticket reseller Ticket Connection.

Nan’s Comics and Games, pictured above to the left of G&G’s new location, was also a Rice Village tenant in the mid-60s before replacing Blue and Gray Pizza at 2011 Southwest Fwy. in 1988.

A sign from Pipeline Realty now lists the former G&G site for lease:

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The bigger sign still up on the store’s roof will be relocated to the new location.

G&G first opened in 1945 at 4009 Almeda, now the site of the 59 overpass above Almeda just south of Alabama. It moved a few blocks north to Isabella St. in 1948 before relocating to 2533 Times Blvd. in 1952. After 2 years in that location, it crossed the street to the 2522 location it occupied for decades.

A view through the window shows the former store’s stripped-down interior:

A flyer left on the windowsill announces the new location:

• History of G&G Model Shop [G&G Model Shop]

Photos: Swamplot inbox