Just over a year ago, Lowe’s Outlet announced plans to come to Houston. The store, like other large chain outlets, offers scratch and dent, return, and overstock items at deep discounts compared to their parent retailer. This location is the second Lowe’s Outlet in Texas to be beaten out by a location in Irving, which opened in 2021. Unlike the Iriving store, which takes up a small portion of a former full-line store that closed in 2019, the Houston location is in a former Stein Mart, which closed during bankruptcy in 2020. When Lowe’s Outlet was initially announced for Houston, there was much reassurance that this would be just another Lowe’s, with outlet merchandise thrown into the mix. However, for anyone beyond the rank of observer in the retail world, we knew this was bunk. Outlet stores for flagship brands have long existed, with Best Buy staking its claim in Houston years ago. Lowe’s has also been in the outlet game since 2019, previously opening stores in the Orchard Supply chain they tried to tank around that time. During their first year, I had little desire to visit a Lowe’s Outlet because I felt like I knew what it would be like. So, around the anniversary, I felt compelled to visit the store and see if there was anything I was missing out on.
So, what did I discover at Lowe’s Outlet? Well, not much more than I was expecting. To start with the expected, the store is mostly large appliances. As mentioned, this stock is mostly scratch and dent, returns, and overstocked items. The prices didn’t seem outrageous and were cheaper than Lowe’s, but I believe Lowe’s has always been the pricier option than Home Depot. As with any outlet store, there was a scant selection of appliance accessories being sold at full price. (240v power cables, washer and dryer hookups). Being a former Stein Mart, the store was much smaller than a typical Lowe’s but not far from what I’d expect for a Sears Outlet or similar. The store also had a few obvious overstock items, like tools, fire pits, yard furniture, again not much out of the usual. That’s not to say there were things I didn’t expect to see. For example, the store had a large collection of Halloween decorations, with some floor displays being put up as I was walking around. The store also had oddities like large packs of Mexican Cokes and laundry detergent on pallets. These items might be overstocked, but they were not priced to move. So, in the end, what do I think of Lowe’s Outlet concept? It’s not the “essentially a normal store” idea promised, but it’s not bad for an outlet concept, either. With the recent death of the remains of Sears Outlet, I’m all for keeping the outlet premise going.
I’ve driven past this Champions Lowe’s Outlet many times on my way to the neighboring Randall’s over the last year. I’ve never had any desire to stop in the Lowe’s Outlet, though I suppose I might be compelled to do so if I’m ever in the market for a new major appliance. Otherwise, I don’t see much reason to visit this store.
This building used to be a HJ Wilson’s/Service Merchandise catalog showroom and I certainly spent a lot of time there back in the day buying all kinds of things. I certainly miss that store and the Willowbrook Service Merchandise by the old Venture/Kmart which replaced this store, while nice, wasn’t as enjoyable to me as this original location. Stein Mart was nice for a closeouts clothing store, but unfortunately, Lowe’s Outlet certainly doesn’t match the ambiance that Wilson’s/Service Merchandise and Stein Mart once had. The newish TJ Maxx in the other part of the Wilson’s/Service Merchandise building doesn’t look too bad I suppose and, of course, the neighboring Randall’s still keeps this shopping center classy.
I remember when there were no stores in that location, just a pretty forest on the south side of JackRabbit Road aka 1960.
Address of Lowe’s Outlet?
5319 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77069. The store is next door to the Champions Randall’s.