Category: News

Retail News: Living Spaces, to take over former HEB spot at Westheimer & Fountain View

For the past 7 years, a prime piece of real estate just west of the Galleria. The former HEB at Westheimer and Fountain View shut their doors in early 2015, after a replacement location opened on San Felipe. As a grocery store, this location was notable as it was Houston’s first full-line HEB location, replacing the Pantry Foods concept. After shutting its doors 7 years ago, the space has temporarily reopened for pop-ups like Spirit Halloween. The first permanent tenant to secure the space is furniture retailer Living Spaces. The new furniture retailer had its start in California in 2008 …

Keep reading

Retail News: Tim Horton’s Expansion Plans go beyond Katy

Tim Horton’s is on the brink of arriving in Houston. The Canadian Coffee and Donut Shop marks one of many chain doughnut shops trying their hand in Houston at the present time. Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme still fall second in terms of notoriety to local chain Shipley’s. At this point, Timmy’s has filed permits for three locations in Texas, all located within the Houston area. These stores represent the chain’s furthest Southern stores, outside of a failed attempt at expanding to Flordia in the 1980s. According to an interview with the Houston Chronicle, the new stores are coming to town …

Keep reading

Retail News: Gordon Foods takes Belden’s spot in Braeswood Square, and Ollie’s plans for Katy

The trees and awnings have been removed from the former Belden's

Gordon Foods will become the “National Grocer” in Braeswood Square HHR was able to break the news a few weeks ago, that a national grocer was making its way back to Braeswood Square. It would mark the first time in nearly 35 years that a national chain had held occupied that space, which most recently served as Belden’s until early 2020. Based on permits filed by the new grocer, it seems that Gordon Food Service Stores will become the national grocer in Braeswood Square. GFS stores are not traditional Supermarkets. Rather, they’re hybrid Food Service/Grocery Stores that don’t require a …

Keep reading

Retail News: Work underway on transforming 3 former JCI locations to Cabo Bob’s

The former JCI at 1960 and Cutten Road is a bit further along than the Meadows Place location, but Mason will likely open first. Cabo Bob’s the Austin-based California-styled burrito restaurant, opened its first Houston location quietly towards the end of 2019 at Fountain View and San Felipe. The chain’s expansion, however, comes with much more fanfare. Cabo Bob’s first announced these new stores back in April, only a couple of weeks after James Coney Island shuttered the Meadows location with the other two closing about a month prior. While I think JCI will be around for a bit longer, …

Keep reading

Retail News: The Kirkwood and Westheimer Half Price Books is on the Move!

  Houston’s oldest operating Half Price Books location will soon likely be on the move to the Westchase Shopping Center. According to the Houston Chronicle, HPB leased space at 10915 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042. This portion of the shopping center was originally part of the mall space, between Target and Weingarten. The space to be developed into the bookstore has most recently been Spirit Halloween and Mattress One. Prior to this, it was a Shoe Carnival, originally serving as a Walgreens in the mall days, and for a few years after. Attempts by Houston Historic Retail to confirm the …

Keep reading

Retail News: Final Vacant Carl’s Jr. buildings take on new feathers as Slim Chickens

Carl’s Jr. left Houston in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Down to just a few locations, and seemingly unable to find staffing over the past few years, Carl’s had a less than grand time in the Houston market. The chain had only been in the Houston market about 10 years before pulling the plug. Various locations have found one-off tenants, like a subdivided 24 Subway, or even Taco Bueno’s reentry into the Houston market. However, starting early last year, permits were filed for a single Slim Chickens location in a former Carl’s Jr. on S. Main, signaling …

Keep reading

Retail News: Phonecia’s got company, as 99 Ranch Market lands ex-CompUSA spot

This Beauty Supply Store was in the process of moving

Howdy folks, and welcome back to HHR. In this week’s news brief 99 Ranch Market lands an anchor spot, on Westheimer, and Quiktrip prepares for its first Houston proper location. 99 Ranch Market lands former CompUSA spot on Westheimer across from Phonecia Nearly two months ago, I posted some photos to Facebook of the old CompUSA/Goodwill Computer Works spot on Westheimer near Kirkwood. The interior of the buildings was being gutted, and nearly every tenant had moved out. It was clear something was in the works, but no one knew what new anchor tenant landed in this spot. Sitting vacant …

Keep reading

Retail News: Burlington likely to move out of Almeda Mall and Ollie’s makes plans for Friendswood Babies ‘R Us

Welcome to Retail News: This week we learn about a big tenant loss for Almeda Mall, a new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet pops up in a familiar location! Almeda Mall Burlington is likely to close as a new nearby store is being planned The Burlington (Coat Factory) at Almeda Mall has operated at Almeda Mall for just shy of 15 years at this point. The store opened in 2009 replacing JC Penney after they chose to relocate in 2006. While ambitions seemed to be for the space to end up subdivided between multiple tenants, only Burlington ever occupied the space. Their …

Keep reading

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 plans to shut their Randall’s location at 3346 Hwy 6 S, Sugar Land, TX 77478. The store which opened on November 14, 1982, traces its …

Keep reading

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

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

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. With the impending sale of the shopping center, Half Price Books opted not to renew their lease, citing rising rent prices as their determining factor. …

Keep reading