Category: Random Retail

So, I have a bit of a mystery on my hands. While it’s somewhat mundane, it’s been bugging me for basically a couple of years now. You see, anytime I’ve ever posted about Base’s Hamburgers down in Texas City, I always get a few comments recalling how it used to be called Babe’s. That in and of itself isn’t a big mystery; restaurants change names all the time, and Base’s is only a letter off …

The days are numbered for the Krogers at 239 W 20th St, Houston, TX 77008, and 6060 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77379. These two stores will close permanently in the next few weeks as part of a larger round of closings that have put multiple stores across the country on the chopping block this year. The primary cause of these closures is likely a mismatch between rent increases and store sales. In a recent article, …

The Taco Cabana at 700 North Loop, 610 West Freeway, Houston, TX 77018 quietly closed last weekend, as reported on Reddit. The location opened in 1987 and marked Taco Cabana’s return to Houston, after the first location rebranded as TaCasita earlier that year. The company split was resolved in 1992, but until a franchisee opened a second location in 1987, this was briefly Houston’s only Taco Cabana. History aside, this closing comes only a few …

Howdy folks, and welcome back to HHR. Today, we’re taking a bit of a vacation, not too far away, just to San Antonio, to feature a chain that once flourished in Houston, Handy Andy. These photos are from a visit I made not too long ago, during Big Lots’ bankruptcy, to visit what was then the oldest intact example of a Ranch Style Handy Andy location open to the public. These photos are from December …

Howdy folks, today’s post is going to be a short one. Honestly, I didn’t plan on doing posts this week in honor of Spring Break. However, time is of the essence as the Kroger at the northwest corner of Kuykendahl and FM 2920 will close in about a month. The store opened in April 2003 and managed a good twenty-three-year run before succumbing to what was likely a management decision. The store led a rather …

Newcomer to brick-and-mortar retail, Vevor, will officially hold its grand opening on Monday, 9th, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Located at 10951 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77070, the store held a soft opening about a month ago and has since operated while continuing to build out operations. While focusing on hardware, the store does stock a broad selection of items similar to those on its website. In addition to tools and gardening …

The Houston area is set to gain a new Dave & Buster’s location for the first time in ten years. The new family entertainment center will be housed in part of a former Gander Mountain location in the River Park Shopping Center. The Gander Mountain opened with the shopping center in 2004 and has largely sat untouched until construction began last year. When Gander Mountain filed for bankruptcy in 2017, the Sugar Land location was …

Walmart Drones have arrived at certain locations in the Houston area. The service is an expansion of an existing partnership between Walmart and third-party drone operator Wing. Test flights began about a month ago, and deliveries began around the start of the year. At present, the service is offered at no fees or upcharges, but it offers only a limited selection of mostly “grocery store” items. Drone delivery is limited to an area of about …

The old Weingarten’s in the heart of Bellaire was sadly demolished last week, as the property awaits a new fate. The former grocery store, which was located at 5130 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401, opened in July 1959 as the area’s first Weingarten’s grocery store. The store was second in a race to open, losing out to an A&P across the street that has since been demolished for the current two-level HEB. While they were …

Howdy folks, and welcome back to HHR. Today, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a piece of grocery history we’ll soon lose. Specifically, the Kroger at 239 W 20th St, Houston, TX 77008 will close next month, and after it does, it will likely be demolished. Before we speculate on the future, though, let’s hop back to the past. Specifically, back to the late 1800s, when this area of Houston was being planned out. …