New signage is up, it appears, on the Heights General Store at 350 W. 19th St., and an executive chef has been named: Antoine Ware, who’s been cooking at The Hay Merchant. The store, whose logo gives a typographical nod to its predecessor here at the corner of 19th and Ashland, Harold’s in the Heights, will include a market, restaurant, and bar. (Though it’s in a dry area, a private alcohol “club” will be put into practice to sidestep that restriction.) The opening is set for October.
- Previously on Swamplot: What’s Becoming of Harold’s in the Heights?, Torchy’s Tacos Taking Harold’s Old Corner Spot in the Heights, The Last-Ever Sale at Harold’s in the Heights Is Over, Harold’s in the Heights Is Closing Down
Photo: Heights General Store
I’m pretty excited about this place opening, but that logo/font choice is inelegant.
Cant wait!!
It is a nice tribute to Harold.
I hope that they refer people to Michael Wiesenthal’s new men’s shop http://mwiesenthal.com/
Sucks they went with Antoine Ware. Ate a couple times at Hay Merchant when he was the chef…very underwhelming.
Another private club side stepping the alcohol restrictions of the neighborhood.Do private clubs have restrictions on their proximity to schools and churches?
what is up this @harolds ? if your not over 60 would anyone know or care I thought it was sold? if it’s that pop why not name it Harolds?
It’s not the @harold’s that’s off, it’s the color scheme and goofy awning over the H. Those aren’t tributes, those are swings and misses. Can’t wait for this place, but the logo misses the mark. Will they be able to sell craft beer for people to buy and take home, or must it be consumed on premises?
Is it just me, or is this ‘craft beer’ trend getting annoying? Seriously. Just sell normal stuff…. It seems like every wannabe chef in Houston is opening a burger+craft beer, or hotdog+craft beer, enough already!!!! very few of you will be around in 3-4 years (about the time the loans to your parents, aunts + uncles, grandparents are paid off) These places aren’t money makers, and anyone who says otherwise is a fool.
Seriously that logo sucks. Did they draw it in Microsoft Paint? Or did they just tell the sign company a basic description of what they wanted, before ending with “oh yeah….. add an awning, or something around the top”
@Robert – do you have a problem with people over 60, and preserving a historic area with mentioning an iconic Heights business run by generations of native Houstonians? I am not over 60; in fact, I am well under 60, and recognize the great tribute that Heights Grocery has made, and I will be one of their customers.
The “private club” aspect will hopefully confuse people from outside the neighborhood enough to preserve 19th Street for residents with taste. I will concede White Oak/Studewood for good restaurants stretching from Downhouse to Shepherd and ending at Shepherd.
Still hard to believe we still have dry areas in Houston.
@Tito
Yeah, the “crat beer” thing can get a little irritating. But even more irritating is having to drive to 11th street Kroger when I just want a sixer to watch the game with. I live almost next door to HGS and would love to be able to walk to the beer sto’.
Can someone explain to a non native Houstonian how this “private club” thing works? So you can’t sell alcohol in some areas, but you can if you’re a ‘private club’? So what’s to stop anyone that wants to open any regular type of place that sells booze to call themselves a private club?
.
I don’t mind the booze ban. However it was created, it was created and whatever ways it could be undone, it hasn’t. So I might think it’s dumb but its there. However, it seems pointless to have a ban if there is an easy loophole around it.
The logo is great. Love it. The little awning is extra cute. Great color scheme too. The Harold’s tribute is a great idea. I think they preserved one of the Harold’s signs and will put it back up when the building is finished. The private club licenses in the dry areas do an excellent job of keeping out the Washington Ave-esque bars and crappy chain restaurants. Only those who are truly committed to the neighborhood will go through the feats of strength necessary to deal with the private club license. And my only problem with craft beer is that I can no longer drink anything else. I had some Shiner the other night and could barely finish the bottle. I am sure this place will have a learning curve, like Revival Market did. But, I think they have a great idea that the neighborhood will turn out in droves if it is good.
Yeah, what’s the deal with this “craft beer” craze of people wanting higher quality beer that doesn’t taste like water with light beer flavoring? This trend won’t last. Where can a guy go to just get a Bud Light?
Cody, exactly. IMHO, those too desperate to stagger, bike or drive to a bar, restaurant, or store to get their alcohol need to supply their addresses so that the beer and Sysco trucks know where to park. Or, join a 12-step program.
100% on board with Old School on this one. I am so excited that this place is opening up just a few short blocks away.
WOW, all of a sudden we have bars worthy of the private club designation in a dry neighborhood. We have been saved OMG LOL
Maybe it has something to do with craft beer oftentimes being more delicious that regular beer.
These are not private clubs for special groups or a specific membership. These are public eating establishments making a profit for themselves and City Hall.God bless America.
You should start painting some protest signs since it obviously bothers you so much.
Signs only work on Ashby where the big $$$ are. Actually 19 th good use a couple of nice watering holes and I like a good IPA or STOUT (at room temperature). Padora’s box is open and this is an irreversible process influenced by Lobbyist and City Hall. Best of luck to everyone. Adios
@Russell I’m 60 & it wasn’t Grocery but Clothing & I wouldn’t open a restaurant targeting my age group with a tribute to a clothing store building that peaked and sold before it would close from an era gone by. Not even successful stores tribute each other Macy’s @Foleys, which they are blowing up this weekend. The Restaurant business is risky enough, they have a year and a half to make it & will need more than Harold’s fans to stay open, holding on to the past won’t help.
Signs are for hippies… ill let the free market take care of this place. Besides hippies dont even own in this neighborhood, the rent garage apts from people like me… now go get me a Coors light.
Throwing “@harold’s” on the sign pleases a few and makes zero difference to the rest, so it’s actually fine marketing. Any frustration over it just appears to be crotchety picking of nits.
Excited about this place, I live a couple blocks away so I walk by it all the time, its making great progress. And they did leave the large “Harolds” sign up on the terrace above the store, facing the old folks home; its a bit hidden by the trees. You’ll get a good view of the sign if you eat up on the terrace above the Heights General Store.
But, do we know if that gray paint is staying, or is it just primer? I really hate that gray, and I’m actually hoping they’ll commisson some local artists to paint a cool mural on the outside over what I hope is the gray primer… that’d bring in the 19th street character more than that bland gray.