Tag: Retail

Downtown, Galleria, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Retail, Shady Acres, Upper Kirby

5 Comments

The almost here, the already here, and the soon-to-be-departed:

Opening Soon: City inspection issues having been conquered, Hubcap Grill‘s new Heights-ish outpost in Shady Acres is now aiming for an opening “mid/late” next week, tweets burger-slinger Ricky Craig. The converted drive-up at 1133 W. 19th St. is just around the corner from Cedar Creek. Plenty more patio seating in back.
Already Open: So sorry you missed the christenings, but the nightclub, restaurant-bar, and wading pool carved out of the former Settegast Kopf funeral home at 3320 Kirby, have been open and holding events for a week or 2 already. That place wearing its paneling on the outside is Hendricks Pub and Eatery. Roak is the nightclub; the atrium pool has its own name: Rush. The bars and their neighbors in the David Crockett subdivision immediately to the west will have plenty of time to become acquainted with each other before their court date next May. Some local residents have filed suit against the bars’ owners, claiming the clubs are in violation of local deed restrictions:

77008, 77010, 77056, 77098, Bars and Clubs, David Crockett, Deed Restrictions, Downtown, Galleria, Grocery Stores, Lawsuits, Neighborhood Disputes, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Restaurants, Retail, Shady-Acres, Upper Kirby

Quicklink

07/14/11 11:08am

A Microsoft Store for Sugar Land?

Franchises and Chain Stores

Retail, Sugar Land

3 Comments

A MICROSOFT STORE FOR SUGAR LAND? Chron tech guy Dwight Silverman zooms in on Microsoft COO Kevin Turner’s map showing the 75 new retail stores the software company plans to open in the next 2 to 3 years. And yes, that sure looks like a tiny Windows flag flying somewhere Sugar Land-ish. (The flag over the red dot indicates the store Microsoft opened last month in the Galleria, the company’s first Texas location.) A Microsoft spokesperson hedges on the map, saying it’s only “representative of the types” of locations that might be considered. But Silverman doesn’t buy it: “Given that Turner offered a very specific number in his speech, and the locations on the map seem to be specific as well, I suspect this is more than just a case of the ‘mights.'” [TechBlog; previously on Swamplot] Image: Microsoft

77478, 77479, Retail, Sugar-Land

07/08/11 11:18am

New Houston Steak â€™n Shakes Ready To Bake

Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Restaurants, Retail

15 Comments

NEW HOUSTON STEAK â€™N SHAKES READY TO BAKE Thirty years after its first big move into Houston (with 5 locations that didn’t last too long), fast-food burger operation Steak â€™n Shake is ready to roll into town in a big way again. Chodrow Realty Advisors’ David Littwitz says he’s been working to get 5 new franchises of the national chain open here soon — 1 this year, and 4 next. A Steak â€™n Shake restaurant on FM 1960 at Eldridge has been open for 3 years; a second location on the I-10 feeder at Westgreen in Katy opened last year. [Houston Business Journal; history] Photo: Robert S.

Fast Food, Franchises, Proposed Developments, Restaurants, Retail

Openings and Closings

07/05/11 2:20pm

New Quick Stop for Slow Foods in River Oaks

Renovations, Retail, River Oaks

9 Comments

This building at 3951 San Felipe, just west of Willowick, may have started out as a gas station, but it’s also spent time as a cleaners and most recently was a bank. Since its soft opening last week, it’s been Relish Fine Foods, a small new market for the River Oaks crowd, specializing in natural and seasonal gourmet food, with shout-outs to local vendors. There’s still plenty of room to fill the wide-open 2,300-sq.-ft. interior with more merchandise, reports photographer Candace Garcia. (More than the current deli and olive bars may show up before the official opening next week.) But where better to start a little Houston grocery that supports the slow food movement than in this drive-up-friendly grab-and-go location? Parking-lot-facing sandwich munchers, there’s even a marble bar set up along the west front of the building set up just for you:

77019, Grocery Stores, Openings and Closings, Renovations, Retail, River Oaks

Hobby Airport

07/01/11 11:54am

New Hong Kong Market Moving in Close to Hobby

Renovations, Retail

5 Comments

The long-rumored fifth Hong Kong Market will soon take over this former flea-market building (on the right in the photo) just southwest of the intersection of Airport Blvd. and the Gulf Freeway, a reader reports. Work is already going on inside the building, which was originally a Sam’s Club. The 2 pagoda-themed strip buildings flanking the building’s parking lot that were put up a few years ago are still mostly empty — only a pho restaurant and a nail salon have moved in. The Pulgita con Aire, aka the National Marketplace flea market, now has its own building with an attached parking garage directly south of its former home (barely visible in the background between the 2 buildings), along Mosley Rd. at 9820 Gulf Fwy. D. Back in February, the owners of the Hong Kong Market agreed to pay $1.8 million in back wages and a $200,000 fine for underpaying the Houston grocery chain’s workers and misleading investigators about its labor practices.

National Market Place (Flea Market #1) [Google]
Hong Kong Market chain to pay $1.8 million in back wages [Houston Chronicle]
Great Day Weekend: Shopping at Hong Kong Market [KHOU.com]

Photo: Swamplot inbox

77034, Grocery Stores, Hobby Airport, Renovations, Retail

Evictions

06/30/11 5:03pm

Like Pulling Teeth: Screwed Up Records Won’t Be Evicted Easily

Houston Landmarks, Quicklink, Retail, South Park

1 Comment

LIKE PULLING TEETH: SCREWED UP RECORDS WON’T BE EVICTED EASILY Houston hip-hop landmark Screwed Up Records & Tapes is facing eviction from its longtime South Park storefront, says the Houston Press. The building’s owner, Dr. Zeb F. Poindexter III, reportedly has plans to expand his dental business into the store’s space at 7717 Cullen Blvd. From early 1998 until his death in late 2000, the CD and tape shop served as the musical headquarters for Robert Earl Davis Jr., also known as DJ Screw, who pioneered Screwston’s “chopped and screwed” sound. The store has been run by family and friends ever since. Blog reporter Rizoh says an eviction judge has ruled in Poindexter’s favor, but that Screwed Up Records & Tapes has filed an appeal and is waiting for a new court date. [Rocks Off; store info and samples]

77033, Evictions, Houston Landmarks, Leasing, Retail, South Park

Leasing

06/27/11 12:24pm

More Heights Second Locations: Sonoma Wine Bar Aims for Studewood

Nightlife, Proposed Developments, Restaurants, Retail, Stude

38 Comments

Coming next April to this Studewood corner just across 8th St. from Antidote Coffee, according to My Table: a second, more food-focused location of the Sonoma Retail Wine Bar and Restaurant on Richmond that backs up to the art galleries on Colquitt. Venture Commercial’s leasing package for the property shows the existing 2,160-sq.-ft. building at 803 Studewood spiffed up, with this adjacent apartment building knocked down to make room for 24 parking spaces:

77007, Bars, Houston Heights, Leasing, Proposed Developments, Restaurants, Retail, Stude

06/27/11 10:45am

American General Clamps Down on Wayward Montrose Whole Foods Parking Lot Action

Parking, Retail, Streets, Traffic

25 Comments

As of Friday evening, new we’re-gonna-tow-you-if-you-park-here signs have been installed along D’Amico St. just north of the new Waugh Dr. Whole Foods Market, reports the Swamplot correspondent who’s been monitoring the parking situation there — and taking in the scene at the new store: “I think the traffic and mass crowds might be worth it,” was the first conclusion, even before the clampdown. These photos, showing the new signs and an American General security detail along D’Amico just west of the office complex parking garage, were taken on a later visit Saturday morning after a follow-up shopping expedition — where our correspondent happily scored 50 bucks’ worth of soda and candy.

Previously on Swamplot: Later on Opening Day: Whole Foods Montrose Afternoon Parking Report

Photos: Swamplot inbox

77019, Grocery Stores, North Montrose, Parking, Retail, Streets, Traffic

06/22/11 7:15pm

Later on Opening Day: Whole Foods Montrose Afternoon Parking Report

Openings and Closings, Parking, Retail, Streets, Traffic

18 Comments

“I don’t know about the Whole Foods parking lot,” writes a Swamplot reader, “but it’s certainly getting real on D’Amico!” Here’s a photo sent in with that report, taken just past the American General Center garage north of the new store on D’Amico St., shortly after 4 pm. But there was plenty of neighborhood-street spillover earlier, too: “Around lunch time, if there was a curb there was a car . . . on both sides along D’Amico, bumper to bumper from the light to just under the garage.” How long will this sort of thing keep up? Our tipster imagines AIG American General will soon put out no-parking signs “along any parts of the street that is their property, such as along the entrance to a parking lot across from whole foods and by the garage. Other areas on the campus have no parking signs where people tend to stop. I know you can’t park within a certain distance to a stop sign, does the same apply to stop lights? If so, some people risked a ticket just to get some groceries! It would be cheaper to pay for parking in the AIG lot or the garage visitor parking.” And no rush, folks. Those free chicken breast coupons are good until next Tuesday.

Previously on Swamplot: Opening Day: Itâ€™s Getting Real Crowded at the Montrose Whole Foods Parking Lot, Beer, Wine, Art, and BBQ on Tap: Hereâ€™s Your New Whole Foods Market, Montrose, This Kind of Whole Foods Thing, Getting Real on Waugh at West Dallas This Weekend,

Photo: Swamplot inbox

77019, Grocery Stores, North Montrose, Openings and Closings, Parking, Retail, Streets, Traffic

06/22/11 11:11am

Opening Day: It’s Getting Real Crowded at the Montrose Whole Foods Parking Lot

Openings and Closings, Parking, Retail

18 Comments

I’ve been waiting here like 10 minutes, man! No, no no . . . this is my parking space man. Just like the video already? “Despite all that concrete, there is not a single space available as I look out the window,” reports a reader who’s been monitoring today’s grand opening of the new Whole Foods Market on West Dallas and Waugh from an office window high above — and has already started grumbling about the potential evening traffic: “The parking lot has been full all morning.” This photo was snapped around 10:15.

Previously on Swamplot: Beer, Wine, Art, and BBQ on Tap: Hereâ€™s Your New Whole Foods Market, Montrose, This Kind of Whole Foods Thing, Getting Real on Waugh at West Dallas This Weekend, North Montrose Whole Foodsâ€™ Rendezvous with Groceries, Austin Powers the New North Montrose Whole Foods, The New Whole Foods at West Dallas and Waugh, Whole Foods Galleria and North Montrose: Still on Track, In and Around the New North Montrose Whole Foods, A Few Signs the Montrose Whole Foods Market Is On Its Way

Photo: Swamplot inbox

77019, Grocery Stores, North Montrose, Openings and Closings, Parking, Parking-Lots, Retail

06/17/11 11:40pm

Beer, Wine, Art, and BBQ on Tap: Here’s Your New Whole Foods Market, Montrose

Openings and Closings, Retail

24 Comments

The Montrose Whole Foods media frenzy has begun! Did the company’s Walmart-alum store-development manager really tell the Chronicle‘s Nancy Sarnoff that Whole Foods decided not to build the store at Waugh and West Dallas on top of 2 levels of structured parking because “the amount of concrete required . . . would have created a ‘huge heat island’”? Meanwhile, bullet-pointed fact sheets announce the 45,000-sq.-ft. store’s smaller-scale innovations: Like LED lighting, 2 electric-vehicle chargers out front, a bike station with tools and an air pump, and much more parking lot than you’ll find in front of the Kirby store. Plus: fascinating facts, like the number of linear feet devoted to prepared items in the chef case (18), bulk foods (44), a beer cooler (32), and smoked seafood (8)! Take a look for yourself:

77019, Grocery Stores, North Montrose, Openings and Closings, Retail, Whole Foods

06/16/11 2:41pm

This Kind of Whole Foods Thing, Getting Real on Waugh at West Dallas This Weekend

Openings and Closings, Parking, Retail

11 Comments

Okay, okay! It ain’t exactly here, but y’all want to see this, so here ya go. North Montrose’s little bit in this game doesn’t open until . . . this weekend.

Previously on Swamplot: North Montrose Whole Foodsâ€™ Rendezvous with Groceries, Austin Powers the New North Montrose Whole Foods, The New Whole Foods at West Dallas and Waugh, Whole Foods Galleria and North Montrose: Still on Track, In and Around the New North Montrose Whole Foods, A Few Signs the Montrose Whole Foods Market Is On Its Way

Video: Fog and Smog Films

77019, Grocery Stores, North Montrose, Openings and Closings, Parking-Lots, Retail

Openings and Closings

06/14/11 5:32pm

Internum Takes Over Where Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Took Off

Retail, Upper Kirby

4 Comments

This photo, sent straight from the street by a Kirby-cruising reader, shows the brief sign-free interregnum between the rule of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and its replacement, Internum, at 3303 Kirby. There’s been no change of ownership at the home furnishings store, and Internum will continue to sell MG+BW lines — at least for a little while. But luxury-goods company European Designs, operator of MG+BW stores in Houston, Miami, and Mexico City, is renaming and revamping its locations, adding in additional furniture brands like Poltrona Frau, Kenzo Maison, Baxter, Cappelini, and Flexform. European Designs also operates the Roche-Bobois stores in Houston and several other U.S. and Mexican cities.

Photo: Swamplot inbox

77098, Openings and Closings, Retail, Upper Kirby

Openings and Closings

06/09/11 12:10pm

Openings and Closings: Reverse Kaboom, the Coming Gap Gap

Retail, Rice Village, Woodland Heights

6 Comments

Your latest retail edition:

Closing and Expanding: New Orleans import Kaboom Books has shut down its Studewood location in the Heights strip center next to Antidote Coffee. Open now: more space for books and readers in the 3116 Houston Ave. storefront at the end of Bayland in Woodland Heights. The expanded store incorporates the north end of the streetfront building, and includes a back yard and reading area.
Moving: The storefront division of PH Design Shop, from its Shepherd Dr. hangout next to Sugarbaby’s Cupcake Boutique, to a larger 1,440-sq.-ft. space at 2414 Rice Blvd. in the head-in-parking paradise of Rice Village, later this month. The new store will allow the addition of gifts and tabletop items to the store’s mix of custom mix of funky paper goods and custom design services.

One more: