Woolco Shopping Center At 14083 South Main St.

[hbcu]

talk about a corner that has never lived up to its potential....the intersection sits in a prime area to FB County and Harris County....there are alot of people living south of the center and north on hillcroft but for as long as I can remember I rarely saw the strip center attract any business that was worthwhile...

I remember the apartments on Hillcroft and Main go to the dogs before reopening up....pizza inn used to be there, burger king, church's chicken or ron's and a BBQ place further down on Willowbend in a red trailer....the scuba place is still there, etc. One of the better Frenchy's locations still stands before he lost it and sold it to the Vietnamese.

However, the big shopping strip at Main and Hillcroft I was told used to house a Safeway temporarily, I remember a place called Bazaar taking its place in the 80s, there was a drug store where the Fitness Center is now and the outparcels in the parking lot contained some businesses. Now, the big areas in the center house furniture stores.

Why do you think it never took off despite the location? 2234 in the 80s might've had an impact as middle class blacks and whites had Randalls, Kroger and Safeway to shop at. But in a prime area...I would've assumed someone would've took a chance...

now, the opportunity might be lost as FB Parkway, Hillcroft and The Beltway has that big strip with alot of national retailers committed and building...

I lived out there for 24 years and never would've had thought a Chili's would locate out there.

Great area with access to all parts of Houston within minutes

[LarryDallas]

I think the problem mainly had to do with what a mess S. Main has been for as long as I can remember. In the 28 years I have been in Houston S Main has always had orange barrels out there and turns into a mud pit when it rains. Just recently have things been changing for the better on that roadway. Compared to how it has looked since the 1980s it seemed much more orderly in the 1960 photo someone posted in the Westbury Square thread.

I think people just did not want to go to that area because of this mess and how poorly lit HWY 90 has been at night. This type of thing allowed undesirable business like sleazy night clubs, fast food joints, and shadytree mechanic car shops to proliferate in the area. The mall that is on the SW corner of Hilcroft and S. Main has tons of potential but it all needs to be demolished and rebuilt. Instead of putting the store they built in MeyerPark I think Walmart should have placed a SuperWalmart at that location. It would have done wonders for the lighting problem and attracted smaller reatilers to set up shop. Places like cell phone stores, shoe stores, car stereo, etc.... Look, we have to face reality....we are not going to get Tiffany or Saks to open a store on Hwy 90. The goal should be to just get it out of the totally junkyarded state it has been in for a long time.

As much as I like how the new Hwy 90 looks I can't stand how the Ft. Bend tollway dumps traffic right into Chimney Rock. The traffic is a nightmare in the AM because everyone drives north to W. Belfort to connect to the loop. If HPD set up 4 police cars at the intersection of Greenwillow and W. Bellfort to run a speed trap they would collect millions of dollars a year in ticket revenues. People normally go over 50 mph on W. Bellfort weekdays between 6am-9am.

[hbcu]

Since they completed the Tollway I had already moved to the northwest side so I've never experienced a commute in the morning.....I do wonder though does traffic backup on main when you get to 610 since there's no on-ramp to 610?

that location needs something to attract the masses...it makes no sense that the meyer park wal-mart isn't a super wal-mart but wal-mart rarely takes chances in minority areas in Houston unless the area changed after the store was built.

with home depot near, the restaurants, neighborhoods and banks nearby someone is going to take that corner but I just don't know who and when.....too much traffic not to do something...

but have you noticed, the gas station that used to be at the corner has been demolished twice?

[LarryDallas]

I live about a 5 minute drive from the Home Depot in Westbury so I do not go on S. Main much to go anywhere. It is just the impact the Chimney Rock traffic that is having on W. Bellfort that is horrible. S. Main is probably a nightmare going north in the AM since people try to avoid US 59 and come up the other way. I think the beltway and 59 to downtown ride is over 1 hour in the mornings. This is a major reason I decided never to move out there. It might have worked in the 50s and 60s when our population was less than half what it is now.

The Walmart in meyerpark has been a disaster IMHO. That whole mall is surrounded by a pretty good area. The home to the south are in the 250K-350K price range. The apartments next to the mall are kept in excellent condition. Also, you have that small duck pond there which is a nice place. Walmart draws in people from as far as Fondren out west and as far as Griggs out east becasue it is the closest one to them. The attitude Walmart has about not wanting to set up shop in less desirable areas is BS since their customer base is not exactly the elite class of the United States.

When the golf range was where Walmart and that self storage thing is it was a nice mall to go to. People used to come to that AMC 16 from all over Houston before the stadium seating was put in about 10 years ago in the movie houses with 36 screens. Just a few years ago some old lady was robbed at gunpoint in the Randalls parking lot and later died in the hospital. This type of thing was unheard of in this area.

[hbcu]

you think how I'm thinking in regards to wal-mart....that's the closest Wal-Mart for people all the way from MLK, 3rd ward, etc. to Fondren and places nearby...as funny as it sounds...I was at Toyota Center back in 2004 and needed to make a quick run to a store closeby for a ink cartridge....Office Depot off OST was closed and I could not think of anywhere to go....got on the freeway and realized wal-mart off 610 was the only major store close.

where I grew up we're only 5 minutes from Highway 6 and 10 from Pearland so we're in pretty good shape....

The AMC 16 WAS the place to be in the early 90s as it was the talk of the town..I remember going out there plenty of times as a kid....don't know if TCBY yogurt is still out there but I've seen electronic stores come and struggle...Media Play, etc.

[hbcu]

I think it turned to Blockbuster Music or maybe it was next door?

The ultimate plan is to extend 610 to main street down Post Oak.....

as for Airport...has anyone noticed it begins South of Main but then picks back up north of main?

[JLWM8609]

you think how I'm thinking in regards to wal-mart....that's the closest Wal-Mart for people all the way from MLK, 3rd ward, etc. to Fondren and places nearby

For the folks in 3rd ward and MLK, the Wal-Mart in SilverLake is a straight shot down 288, I've done the mileage and it's the same distance for me to choose either location from Riverside Terrace.

The AMC 16 WAS the place to be in the early 90s as it was the talk of the town..I remember going out there plenty of times as a kid....don't know if TCBY yogurt is still out there but I've seen electronic stores come and struggle...Media Play, etc.

TCBY is still there, in fact, I contemplated going there yesterday.

Was this Tollway supposed to condemn part of South Post Oak or build right in the middle of it? I can't believe they would build something and dump everyone off on a busy street.

That's just temporary, seeing as the highway has been in the books since the 60's. The Fort Bend Tollway will trench under S. Main and go up Chimney Rock and turn to the west just north of S. Main. It'll snake around some neighborhoods before turning back onto S. Post Oak and hooking up with the little stub built in 1986.

I think it turned to Blockbuster Music or maybe it was next door?

The ultimate plan is to extend 610 to main street down Post Oak.....

as for Airport...has anyone noticed it begins South of Main but then picks back up north of main?

I-610 itself will not be extended down S. Post Oak. I-610 is a loop around Houston, any extension from that point southward would be designated as State Highway 122, the Fort Bend Tollway, or the Bay City Freeway since the highway will ultimately be trenched underneath Highway 6 at its southernmost terminus and run to Bay City. Also, as stated before, it will not extend all the way down S. Post Oak to S. Main, but do some curving around to Chimney Rock.

Sections of W. Airport north and south of S. Main will be eventually connected to each other via an overpass over S. Main and "feeder" road connections.

[LarryDallas]

The ultimate plan is to extend 610 to main street down Post Oak.....

Oh GOD I hope not. If 610 had an elevated freeway that ran all of the way from W. Bellfort to S. Main where S. Post Oak is the traffic in the area would just explode. Fewer people would jump off 610 where S. Main intersects it since they would be able to, in theory, take the other way without ever hitting the brakes.

Speaking of that area what were they thinking when they designed that off ramp that you take coming west bound on 610 to exit on S. Post Oak? People try to get off on W. Belfort and have to jump 3 lanes over to do it. I have seen tons of wrecks there. It might have worked when people used to drive under 70 mph on the freeway and our population was low. Now, it seems as if the cheap solution would be to build a wall that would force drivers to exit on S. Post Oak instead of crossing 3 lanes to get off on W. Bellfort if they are coming from 610 west. The expensive solution would be an elevated bridge sort of like the one that allows you to get off on Westheimer from 610 going north where you do not have to cross any lanes at all and it dumps right out on Westheimer. That would cost millions of dollars while a wall would probably cost under 10% of an elevated bridge.

[hbcu]

if it curves on Chimney Rock wouldn't the Willowbend area take a direct hit? Whose land is lost? I can't think of any open land unless it snakes through the area on Gasmer where there's land left.

[LarryDallas]

It would have to be built elevated to retain at least 2 lanes going each direction on S. Post Oak. It would look sort of like the intersection of Willowbend and S. Main near the Al's Formal wearhouse. It would be a mix of freeway and surface streets; a concrete nightmare full of smog.

The gasmer land has already had the WillowWaterHole built on it plus the land that Shell owns they would probably not mess with.

[JLWM8609]

Now, it seems as if the cheap solution would be to build a wall that would force drivers to exit on S. Post Oak instead of crossing 3 lanes to get off on W. Bellfort if they are coming from 610 west.

That would be just absurd, that just caters to folks who can't drive and shouldn't be on the road, I mean who can't check their mirror, signal, slow down if needed and change lanes? Possibly being a little aggresive if need be? It would be an insult to safe drivers who can handle that manuever without a problem. I have driven that interchange just about every week for the past 5 years since I've gotten my license, and have riden through it with family since the late 80's, never had a problem.

[Fringe]

talk about a corner that has never lived up to its potential....the intersection sits in a prime area to FB County and Harris County....there are alot of people living south of the center and north on hillcroft but for as long as I can remember I rarely saw the strip center attract any business that was worthwhile...

I remember the apartments on Hillcroft and Main go to the dogs before reopening up....pizza inn used to be there, burger king, church's chicken or ron's and a BBQ place further down on Willowbend in a red trailer....the scuba place is still there, etc. One of the better Frenchy's locations still stands before he lost it and sold it to the Vietnamese.

However, the big shopping strip at Main and Hillcroft I was told used to house a Safeway temporarily, I remember a place called Bazaar taking its place in the 80s, there was a drug store where the Fitness Center is now and the outparcels in the parking lot contained some businesses. Now, the big areas in the center house furniture stores.

Why do you think it never took off despite the location? 2234 in the 80s might've had an impact as middle class blacks and whites had Randalls, Kroger and Safeway to shop at. But in a prime area...I would've assumed someone would've took a chance...

now, the opportunity might be lost as FB Parkway, Hillcroft and The Beltway has that big strip with alot of national retailers committed and building...

I lived out there for 24 years and never would've had thought a Chili's would locate out there.

Great area with access to all parts of Houston within minutes

The first house my wife and I bought in the mid 70's was only a few blocks from that center. We watched it build up then go downhill. You have to look at the people that gradually moved into the area to see why everything in the area went downhill. In the 70's the apartments in the area were new and catered mostly to young middle class folks. Like every area in Houston dominated by apartments, things change eventually for the worse and during the 80's the whole area became a ghetto. We got the hell out in the 80's. Got way to scary, even in our formally quite peaceful neighborhood. Still wouldn't go over there without packing a weapon and wearing body armor.

[Vertigo58]

The first house my wife and I bought in the mid 70's was only a few blocks from that center. We watched it build up then go downhill. You have to look at the people that gradually moved into the area to see why everything in the area went downhill. In the 70's the apartments in the area were new and catered mostly to young middle class folks. Like every area in Houston dominated by apartments, things change eventually for the worse and during the 80's the whole area became a ghetto. We got the hell out in the 80's. Got way to scary, even in our formally quite peaceful neighborhood. Still wouldn't go over there without packing a weapon and wearing body armor.

Bravo!

Thanks for your honesty! Ok kiddoes, you heard it 1st right here!

and why is this even topic under "Historic Houston"???

should be under "Other neighborhoods or SW Houston" or "Off topics" because anytime anyone brings up SW Houston it leads straight into CRIME and race issues! Guaranteed. Lock all doors & windows, hide your children! PS...Watch tonights news there were more drive-by's in SW Hou!

[Fringe]

Bravo!

Thanks for your honesty! Ok kiddoes, you heard it 1st right here!

and why is this even topic under "Historic Houston"???

should be under "Other neighborhoods or SW Houston" or "Off topics" because anytime anyone brings up SW Houston it leads straight into CRIME and race issues! Guaranteed. Lock all doors & windows, hide your children! PS...Watch tonights news there were more drive-by's in SW Hou!

Sometimes the truth hurts. Unfortunately these days this seems to apply to all areas of Houston,

[Vertigo58]

Sometimes the truth hurts. Unfortunately these days this seems to apply to all areas of Houston, not just the SW.

Exactly,

Pretty soon we will all have to take Charlie Manson's advice by taking all of the family and hide out in the Mojave Desert for a while. Either that or live in a MadMax type world. Then there's Waterworld...

[GoneGator]

Either that or live in a MadMax type world.

I lived near that intersection during the mid-70s at Hillcroft Square. Started to see a slight turn then, but the real damage was done during the all too well-documented rental rule change of the 80s. The businesses were marginal before the turn but had no chance once things declined. The two commercial buildings the complex had built were a bust. One housed only a convenience store for a few years. The other remained boarded up and never opened.

The last time I drove by about 5 years ago was a complete shock. Even some of the surrounding houses were trashed. Really sad to see.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go hoard the last of the V-8s, then search for the Precious Fuel.

[Fringe]

Since we are on the subject of this neighborhood, anyone remember the name of the club on Haviland St (behind the apartments) near the railroad tracks. Had a big outdoor area that often had live music. It was a pretty cool place in the 70's.

[GoneGator]

Since we are on the subject of this neighborhood, anyone remember the name of the club on Haviland St (behind the apartments) near the railroad tracks. Had a big outdoor area that often had live music. It was a pretty cool place in the 70's.

I'm thinking it was the "Glass Hat Garden". I'm certain about the "glass" part as kids would throw rocks from the RR tracks at the "GL" in the sign to get the predictable result...

[hbcu]

I grew up in Briargate.....once the majority of the whites moved out and in came the first wave of educated blacks in the 70s. The area hasn't changed drastically since I left for college in the 90s outside of families moving to Sugar Land and other homes being rented out...on my street, it has remained fairly stable and some of the original owners have returned.....we haven't had problems with our house ever..well-built

Hillcroft is one of the last remaining parcels that hasn't been developed but is changing...you got a set of apartments coming up (Harris County side) and a huge retail center...anything close to the Beltway is prime real estate

[ArchMemoH]

Do you drive on fondren at the beltway

[LarryDierker]

[ArchMemoH]

remember when chimney rock cut to fuqua

[ArchMemoH]

Where was the safeway on Hillcroft @ Main?

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

southwest corner, methinks

[ArchMemoH]

where was the pizza inn on hillcroft @ south main, passed the burger king

[hbcu]

pizza was at the corner where a club is

burger king is a tax office

ron's chicken/church's is a daycare

frenchy's is not the same frenchy's..owned by asians 

safeway/weingartens/bazaar was where the old international ballroom is

the church renovated an old pharmacy

 

when did chimney rock go to fuqua?  blueridge may have but it was a bumpy road

[ArchMemoH]

the church's was an ice cream company

 

 

chimney rock cut to fuqua, in 04 they constructed chimney rock starting from the beltway

[hbcu]

I remember Chimney Rock stopping at Main.... starts up as Rockwell Blvd. and terminating at the Beltway before going through...it always went from Fuqua to 2234

[ArchMemoH]

remember domino on fuqua @ chimney rock

[lokithebubba]

I think the racetrack was is now where Bulter staduim is

 

No.  Meyer Speedway and Butler Stadium were next door to each other.  Meyer Speedway was the where the empty land now is between Butler and Hillcroft.  I grew up in South Westbury, between Chimney Rock and Hillcroft.  I could listen to track meets with my window open back then.  If you look closely at Google Earth you can see the outline of the old oval.  The north edge is about even with the baseball field at Butler.