Author: Mike

My name is Mike and I am the founder of the Houston Historic Retail! I have been running this site since 2015. For more information check out the About page!
One of the nicest touches was a custom made covering for what had been the Optical Center, presumably Sears is hoping to rent this space out

Zombie Sears Pasadena Texas: All stocked up, with no one to shop

Howdy folks, and welcome back to Houston Historic Retail! Your blogging source for all things retail in Houston! Today, we return to the Sears Hometown where these horrible conversions all started. The former Marcoplaza Mall Sears reopened as the first example of a Sears Hometown Store in a closed Mainline store only a few months ago in late 2021. At the time the store was pathetically stocked, using a bit of leftover shelving to form …

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Retail News: Axiom Space to redevelop former Fry’s in Webster property and an NYC Chain chooses Pearland for their next location

Howdy folks and today we’ve got news! A former Fry’s Electronics space in Webster seems to be living up to its design scheme as a future part of the space race. On the same side of town, an NYC-based Korean Corn Dog chain is making its debut outside the Big Apple, in our Little Pear. Fry’s Electronics in Webster is being built out by Axiom Space In a move that no one could have directly …

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A guess at why Circle K has had trouble lately in Houston

Howdy folks and I’m glad you’ve found yourself back at HHR. Today we’re talking about what’s likely to become a local issue within the next few years, the underperformance of Circle K. Depending on your age, you may remember the giant red K’s, first go at Houston. Despite being founded in El Paso during the 1950s, Circle K has never had an easy go of Houston. Their first attempt at expanding here started in 1983 …

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The building on the far left, was originally a local drug store "Fisher's Pharmacy"

Could Houston’s oldest Safeway locations date back to the 1950s?

Howdy folks, welcome back to HHR. Today we’re dipping out of Houston proper for the quick drive over to central Pasadena, no not to make fun of the Sears Hometown in the old mainline store there, (that update will be coming soon). Rather, we’re checking out a building I have passed up many times when it was masquerading as a Value Village. However, after a new business popped up inside I took the chance to …

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Retail News: Randall’s in Sugar Land prepares to close as Sam’s Club in West Houston prepares to reopen

Edit: 5/3 Interested in following the status of the remaining Randall’s in Houston, then consider following Houston Historic Retail on Facebook or subscribe via email for updates! Welcome back to Houston Historic Retail, for another Retail News brief! This week we have some bad news for Randall’s fans and some good news for bulk shoppers on the West Side. Randall’s in Sugar Land prepares to close The headline this week is the announcement that Albertsons …

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Walking into the store, you can see the "window space" was updated, rather than covered up like most seem to do

Walgreens as a Family Dollar, now that’s more like it!

Howdy folks and welcome back to Houston Historic Retail. A little while back we took a look at a Walgreens that’s now stunting as a Dollar Tree. Based on your reactions, and overall view counts, we didn’t like it. So this week we’re instead trying out another former Walgreens. This time under the other side of the “Dollar Family Tree”. This Missouri City Walgreens originally opened in 2004 at 3403 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City, TX …

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From far away this doesn't look much like a Randall's anymore, but the closer you get...

A Spec’s in a former Randall’s? Robert Onstead must be rolling in his grave!

Howdy, and welcome back to HHR! Today we’re taking a look at one of the most scandalous grocery store conversions to take place. This former Randall’s has been divided into thirds, with Aldi, Planet Fitness, and Spec’s splitting up the building. The store at 3126 FM 528 Rd, Friendswood, TX 77546, opened as part of Randall’s 80s push. Which brought stores from the Westside back down to South Houston, where Robert Onstead had been introduced …

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The Half Price Books in North Oaks Mall, about a month ago

Retail News: North Oaks Mall loses Half Price Books, but we gain Gordon Food Service stores in Houston

Howdy folks, and welcome back to Houston Historic Retail. Today we have a brief news check-in! North Oaks Mall loses Half Price books, but re-signs Big Lots North Oaks Mall was recently put up for auction by the property owners. The former mall, now a shopping center, once housed interior corridors, and a larger number of shops. These days however, the tenant list is dwindling as more and more make their exit from North Oaks. …

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A grand building designed to look like a ranch house, it's actually a full sized store and warehouse all in one

Retail News: Thompson’s Antique Center permanently closes, after new location falls through

Welcome back to Houston Historic Retail folks, today we have some very sad news and a photo dump of a very odd store. It Looks like the final end is in sight for Thompson’s Antique Center and no unfortunately this is not an April Fools joke. After their surprise going out of business sale last December, things looked up for the antique mall. A new location had been announced via Facebook, the former Louis Shank’s …

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The signage looks a bit off.. I don't know how to explain it, maybe off centered?

Rising water might scare Walgreens, but Dollar Tree doesn’t seem to mind

Howdy folks, and welcome back to HHR! Today, we’re heading back to a familiar topic: drugstores in Houston. Recently we took a look at a couple of “Speckerd’s” locations, and a Walgreens now selling Skechers. However, today’s former pharmacy falls into a slightly different category. This is a Walgreens that didn’t just close without a replacement, but rather this store relocated nearby. While I don’t have anything to explicitly back this up, the proximity to …

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