Howdy folks, prepare for a short Permit Roundup this week, while we do have a good cross-section of retail represented, this was a slow week for permitting in the city, likely somewhat due to the uncertainty of Hurricane Ida. So let’s keep our thoughts with our neighbors to the East this morning and throughout the coming weeks. Let’s start off with the good stuff, Walgreens at 2221 Fulton appears to be starting on an earlier announced Village Medical location. The permits filed are for demolition on interior walls, and were filed for “2221-A” while the name Village Medical doesn’t appear …
Keep readingMonth: August 2021
This Week in Demolition: Buffalo Bayou Partnership takes aim at Turkey Bend redevelopment
Good Afternoon HHR readers, this week in demolition we see the start of something big, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s redevelopment of the eastern portion of Buffalo Bayou. According to a demolition permit filed by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, it seems that some preliminary work will occur at the former Turkey Bend Barge Docks. Concept art released in 2019 showed most of the support structures at the dock being left behind, and warehouses transitioned into a “gathering space”. The Turkey Bend project was one of three pieces of the enormous Master Plan to get a jump start thanks to a $10 …
Keep readingLake Oil Co, a lesson in identifying old gas stations in Texas!
Old gas stations are not an expertise of mine. I like to look at them well enough! Especially, when they’re still operating as a modern gas station, but I don’t know too much about them. When you look at most of the companies and stores represented on this website, I chronicle their existence in the conscious mindset (so from the 60s forward really). This is mostly because retailing has expanded quite a bit over the years. This particular gas station was likely built in the 1920s, and think about it like this, how many people still shop in grocery stores …
Keep readingWhat’s going on inside the vacant Luby’s and Fuddruckers in Cinco Ranch
Howdy Folks! Today we’re taking a look at a recently closed Luby’s/Fuddruckers Combo. This store at 24033 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy, TX 77494 represents the final generation of stores built, and was an older “new” location originally opening in 2014. This store was significant as being the second combo location to open, as the Fuddruckers deal was still relatively fresh at the time. During bankruptcy, this location was put up for sale. While both restaurants continued to operate until sometime around June, it seems that the fate of all the restaurants put up for sale was sealed, as Luby’s likely …
Keep readingPermit Roundup: Sugar Factory Express is coming to Houston, and Memorial City Target remodels
Howdy Folks, I hope Monday is treating you well so far! As far as new permits go this week, we’re not seeing too much but what we do have is yummy, so we’ll start with the new end with the old. Sugar Factory Express has filed a demolition permit for the space they’re moving into in Galleria I. If you’re like me, then you’ve probably never heard of Sugar Factory, much less their Express variant. So let’s talk a moment how this place ended up in the title this week. Sugar Factory seems to be an experiment in excess, it’s …
Keep readingThis Week in Demolition: Old Folks temporarily out of 2100 Memorial, and a few interesting homes
This Week in Demolition, the big story is 2100 Memorial Drive. Originally built as a, Holiday Inn, opening in 1970, the location made it to 1986, before shutting its doors as a hotel. For the next 10 years, the vacant hotel would become an eyesore looming above Buffalo Bayou. While initial plans to convert the space into senior living date all the way back to 1987, plans were delayed for multiple reasons. The City of Houston invested a considerable sum of money early on, expecting to receive federal support for the planned old-folks home. However, these funds never came, and …
Keep readingRetail News: Costco Business Center sets a grand opening date, while Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stalls
Welcome back folks, it’s been a bit since our last news update, and as per usual not much too crazy has gone on in that time. So let’s start off by checking on some older bits of information. We first became aware of Costco’s Entry into Stafford’s GRID development (the former Texas Instrument Plant) back in 2020. The store was to replace what was originally intended to be an interactive driving range in the style of Top Golf. While the removal of this large entertainment piece throws a wrench into the mixed used intents of the space, you’re sure to …
Keep readingWho’s living in Geoffry’s House now? The Houston Galleria Toys ‘R Us Failure
Howdy folks! I know if you’re here than by now, you know what to expect mostly retail from my blog, but today’s topic is probably one you’re familiar with even if you don’t follow retail goings-on. The bankruptcy of Toys ‘R Us took almost everyone by surprise back in 2018 (can you believe it was 3 years ago?!). Not to reiterate the entire story, but the situation that landed TRU in bankruptcy put them in a strange situation where their parent company could continue to operate and a licensee and even owner for some of their foreign stores. Almost as …
Keep readingPermit Roundup: New chains, meet old locations
Howdy, folks, and welcome back to another edition of Permit Roundup! Today we’re taking a look at a few retail developments throughout the Houston area. Let’s start off with some newcomers to town. It seems that the Post Oak California Pizza Kitchen, who closed their Texas outlets during a COVID induced bankruptcy, may be host to a new restaurant. Il Braco, a noteworthy Dallas Italian restaurant, has filed remodel permits at 1705 Post Oak Boulevard after announcing their intent to build a second location in Houston. While this is a few digits of CPK’s address, the only other vacant restaurant …
Keep readingThis Week in Demolition: AMC Dunvale falls for new Dunvale Village housing development
This Week in Demolition, we see the end of AMC Megaplex, and the start of a new housing development. The AMC 30 Theaters at 2949 Dunvale Rd, Houston, TX 77063 has an odd history. In 1992, Wal-Mart was looking to expand their presence in inner Houston by building a new side by side Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. The property selected for this new venture was one of the only major vacancies left along Westheimer by the 1990s. The 65 acre tract, which was originally farm land, had been bought up in the 1950s along with most other plots on the …
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