With all the craziness this year I haven’t had much time to tend to my blog. I was hoping to have this post out much earlier, but today we’ll be talking about why the newest Target in Houston is so special. With the holiday season wrapping up, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a Target lately, or at least in their parking lot. Target has an old history in Houston, they were the second of the large national discount department chains to arrive following Kmart. Some photos of the building in its post Randalls pre Traget phase in June. …
Keep readingAuthor: 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!
This Week in Demolition: The Most Dangerous Gas Station in the World
Welcome back to another Demolition Report. I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments! This week we see more commercial properties, and some expensive new houses. Maybe some demo permits were issued as Christmas presents. Anyways, one building that caught my eye was the former Valero off of Highway 6. This gas station is about halfway between Westheimer and I-10 on Highway 6. For many years it was the only gas station on this stretch of road. As the years went by the gas …
Keep readingThis Week in Demolition: What’s Pappa’s Plan?
Welcome back to another Demolition Report. I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments! This week we see a far wider selection of homes, with Demolition permits coming in from all around the city. One house that stuck out this week is what appears to be an original 1930s house with a second story addition from the 1950s. Interesting enough in its own right, it seems that it is the final piece of a now demolished block that holds Pappa’s Warehouses. The question is, …
Keep readingThis Week in Demolition: The Heights loses a Theater
Welcome back to another Demolition Report. This time I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments! This week we see a large number of older houses on the South side being purchased by individuals. As well we take a look at the single commercial demolition from the week. This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.
Keep readingThe Ghost of Sears Past | Willowbrook Sears dresses up for Halloween
As of 2020 Sears has nearly left the Houston area. They have shutdown all but the Pasadena store, sold their outlet chain, and shutdown all area Hometown stores. It’s really a shame for a chain that once had a major influence over the Greater Houston area. Their presence in this town was built as the city grew starting downtown and expanding to the suburbs as our sprawl progressed. In 1978 Sears announced plans for three new stores along with two new malls to be built by the company’s Homart division. At FM 149 (Now TX-249) and FM 1960 would be …
Keep readingChecking in on Meyerland Plaza
Meyerland Plaza is one of Houston’s oldest continually operating shopping centers. Opening in 1957 as part of the Meyerland Housing Development it underwent an extensive renovation in the early 90s turning it from a more traditional outdoor mall to a department store anchored shopping center. Only a few original tenants managed to survive to the transition. The renovation added new features such as a second story and a new Venture Department Store. The mall has continued to change over the years and has been rather successful. Starting off Meyerland has received a new sign. This is the large sign along …
Keep readingRandom Retail: Sight-Seeing down 90-A
May 18th marked the 5th birthday of Houston Historic Retail, The site existed a few years prior as a free WordPress blog. Some readers have been here since day one and I thank you all for your unending support. Welcome back loyal reader! With the ongoing COVID crisis I haven’t really had any chances to get out and take that many photos. I have made some updates, like new photos of West Oaks Mall, and HEB Pantry Foods, along with new pages like Sunniland Furniture and Luther’s Bar-B-Q. One of the few trips I have taken during this time was …
Keep readingSteak ‘n Shake leaves Houston and Taco Bueno Arrives
Happy Fourth of July! To celebrate lets check out two chains both on their second run in Houston. Steak ‘n Shake returned to Houston in 2008 with their Eldridge and 1960 location. With the Katy, Pearland, and Webster locations opening 2012-2013. The previous incarnation of Steak n Shake dated from the mid-1970s and would only last until 1978. While I was never able to find an exact reason for them leaving Houston, it seems that lack of proper management was the largest cause. The second run of Steak ‘n Shake is deffinetly the winner for overall length, but there are …
Keep readingSpring Break Demolition Report: Bringing it to a Close
Today we say goodbye to the Spring Break Demolition Report, with a palty list of 3 demolitions. Saying goodbye doesn’t mean that I wont ever do this again. I anticipate a repeat next Spring Break, this was never meant to be a permanent solution but a tiding over. If you enjoyed this or not, let me know, I always appreciate feedback. This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the day before this post.
Keep readingSpring Break Demolition Report: Threading the Needle
Multiple older homes from prior to 1950 today. Also featuring a return to Westway, where we’ve been at least twice this week. This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the day before this post.
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