COMMENT OF THE DAY: WAIT, THERE’S AN OPEN SEARS IN MIDTOWN? 
“No joke, I’ve lived here for 4 years now – always in Midtown – and I had no earthly idea that the Sears at Richmond and Main was actually an open and operating retail location until I read the comments on this post. It looks abandoned from the street! Mind blown.” [RS, commenting on Southeast and Southwest Houston Sears Stores Going South] Photo of Sears at 4201 Main St: Fox E.
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My grandmother had a thirty year career as an interior decorator for Sears, working out of this location. She was in many River Oaks homes over the years, which illustrates just how far Sears has fallen. She retired back in the early 80’s.
Really? You’ve seen a Sears sign lit brightly every night for 4years and you thought it was closed? Really? Mind blown that the commenter lives up to general sterotype of cluelessness of Midtowners.
Hey, thinking it was closed is understandable …. the windows are mostly bricked up, the homeless sleeping under the overhangs and very few cars in the parking lot.
This was the Sears George W. Bush had worked at in the summer of 1966. According to a biography about him.
This was the sears built after the great flood wiped out the original location at Montrose and Allen Parkway (then buffalo drive), which was seriously flooded. Building later became the first iteration of Baylor College of Medicine, then was a paper distribution center and now is an empty lot that what supposed to be a Muslim temple or something, but just sits there thanks much Aga Kahn.. While not as historic, this building still represents some history..
heh. glad to hear the Sears is still open… I keep hearing rumors of its impending demise but I hope that doesn’t come to pass; having a real department store in that neighborhood is a great resource. When I lived around Midtown/3rd Ward/Museum District I frequently shopped at the Sears (and the Fiesta Mart across the street) and the convenience vs having to navigate traffic getting to a Target was much appreciated. Despite the outward appearance, the inside of the store is clean, modern, well-stocked (I spent a lot of time in the tool section in the basement!) & full of customers. I’d chalk up the lack of cars in the lot to the adjacent light rail & bus station & the fact that it’s location means it’s actually within walking distance of where people live. Long live Midtown Sears!
For my grandmother and her friends, who were grown, married women at the time, this Sears was their amusement park! The would visit the store just to ride the escalators. I think it was one, if not the first public building in Houston to have escalators!
This was a beautiful Art Deco building until the 50’s, when it was defaced in the interest of looking “modern”. Don’t know if the old exterior flourishes are concealed under the modern skin or not, but if they are it would be nice to see the building restored once Sears finally gives up the ghost.
The Sears on North Shepherd is also a beautiful building.
I still get my keys made here and buy appliances and other things in the basement. Many childhood memories. Of course the parking lot smells like urine at times, but it is what it is.
See the original building (hiding under the slipcovering) – it would be great to see it again. This area was the first suburban shopping area. Combination of the freeway slicing through and malls opening further into the suburbs cemented the demise. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/The-Sears-That-Was-6198716.php#photo-7817116
Y’all got us htown natives are rolling our eyes. You can even get appliances there! *gasp*
And those homeless folks under 59 have lived in midtown longer than you. Think on that.
Well Sears has been a nieghborhood store for several decades now and has suffered a few bad modernization that give the appearance of being closed. Once Inside however you find everything you might need. I’m glad Sears is still in Midtown!