Author: Mike

Last week, Conn’s HomePlus announced that it was closing about 100 locations as part of an impending bankruptcy filing. The locations included both Conn’s stores and Badcock Home Furniture, a chain that Conn’s picked up at the end of 2023. However, between the release of the initial closing list and the publication of court documents, the tide apparently turned, with Conn’s choosing to completely wind down operations instead. There are around 45 Conn’s locations in …

Eight years ago, 59 Diner shut down after a 29-year run; now, the building sits waiting for a return to use. During the very end, I sat tableside and watched Rome burn. The diner’s start occurred in 1987 when a group of restaurants from Dallas took over a building from the 50s that was most recently known as Phil’s Restaurant. Phil’s had been a perennial favorite since the 50s, moving West as the town grew, …

Special shoutout to HHR reader Ty J. who let me know about the new signs going up. Dollar General Market signs surprised Houstonians this week, as they were recently hung on a closed Walgreens on the west side. The former drug store, located at 1838 S Kirkwood Rd, Houston, TX 77077, permanently closed late last year as part of Walgreens’ broader cuts. Dollar General quietly filed plans to open a store here earlier this year, …

The internet has been abuzz the past week with the release of the proposed sell-off by Kroger and Albertsons in preparation for their planned merger. I won’t bury the lead, but this is all contingent on the merger occurring, and we’ll expand on that in a bit. Houston makes out like a bandit compared to other cities. Of the 28 divested locations in Texas, only two in the Houston area will be separated from the …

Drone Photos Courtesy of David (hindesky) The former Garden Oaks Sears on North Shepherd is being demolished to redevelop the approximately 12-acre plot where the former store sat. The massive chunk of land was part of an expansion technique in which Sears would pick up oversized parcels, build a store, and sell off the rest of the land to other retailers. While portions of this Sears property were sold off over the years, the remaining …

When 7-Eleven announced they were returning to Houston over ten years ago, it was an exciting time for many. The company was in Houston from the 1950s until leaving in 1987. Many Houstonians remembered Slurpees fondly and were excited to see a major C-Store chain return to a city that most majors avoid. However, 7-Eleven has not easily built its reputation back up. Let’s start with how 7-Eleven even ended up back in Bayou City. …

Barnes & Noble opens its newest store in Houston today, which will soon be followed by two more across the metro area. The bookstore opening today is located at 5510 Weslayan St, Houston, TX 77005. It could be considered a “technical replacement” for the Vanderbilt Square Barnes & Noble, which closed just over two years ago. However, it is in a completely new location, taking up the former spaces of Tuesday Morning and Famous Footwear …

Howdy, folks, and welcome back to HHR. Today, we’re diving into a topic at least some of you will remember: Sunbeam/Flowers Bakery Thrift/Outlets. Growing up in Houston, visiting the Bakery Thrift store was always a treat. It was a chance to get your hands on goodies and junk food at such a discounted price that there was no way mom or dad would turn you down! The Bakery Thrift Store, or Bakery Outlet, as they …

The number of Hooters “breastaurants” suddenly deflated over the weekend as many locations across the United States closed without warning. The chain has been struggling with sluggish sales recently and targeted underperforming restaurants nationwide to shut down. Texas has the lion’s share of closing restaurants, with over a third of the 44 locations on the chopping block being in the state. Closed restaurants include 2519 Southwest Freeway near Kirby, one of the oldest continually operating …

Howdy folks, and welcome back to Houston Historic Retail! Today, we’re using a unique opportunity to take a look at some reused retail. We’ll be checking in on the former Incredible Universe store, now HCC’s West Loop Campus. Before we go inside, I will warn you that nothing from the old store has remained beyond the reused entrance. For anyone outside of Houston, HCC is Houston Community College, and this building is not generally accessible …