Rice Village History

[readam]

I just realized I got my streets completely wrong in an earlier post ( Oct. 2014)  Evans Music was in a small shop on the corner of Kelvin and UNIVERSITY not Rice.  It moved across the street to the strip center on Unversity than ran from Kirby to Morningside...My Dad's American Legion Post 77 was on Kelvin near Amherst on the East side next to a Toy store...Yes the Meyer Bros was on Kirby and University that now houses HPBooks with the circular stairway...I am stuck however on the name of a large store/ building that was located between Times and Amherst, west of Kelvin.  It was located in an area that was East of the notorious Cinema West.  Can some olde timer help another ?

Edited June 2, 2015 by readam

[Elbe]

On 20/10/2014 at 3:38 PM, Rexster314 said:

What was the name of the Mexican restaurant on University?

Before El Meson we went to El Patio there. 

[Elbe]

I worked several years at Breens Flowers on Kelvin and Dunstan. 

[Rexster314]

On 6/3/2018 at 5:13 PM, Elbe said:

Before El Meson we went to El Patio there. 

Wow, 4 years old, but thanks. That was it.

[57Tbird]

On 6/2/2015 at 10:02 AM, readam said:

I just realized I got my streets completely wrong in an earlier post ( Oct. 2014)  Evans Music was in a small shop on the corner of Kelvin and UNIVERSITY not Rice.  It moved across the street to the strip center on Unversity than ran from Kirby to Morningside...My Dad's American Legion Post 77 was on Kelvin near Amherst on the East side next to a Toy store...Yes the Meyer Bros was on Kirby and University that now houses HPBooks with the circular stairway...I am stuck however on the name of a large store/ building that was located between Times and Amherst, west of Kelvin.  It was located in an area that was East of the notorious Cinema West.  Can some olde timer help another ?

 

The large store you mention between Times and Amherst could have been Rodney's.  I'm an old timer who frequented that area in the mid-50's.

Edited June 9, 2018 by 57Tbird

[HardcoreHoustonian]

J. Rich Sports was at 2367 Rice Blvd. They sold Harley's for a while.

[Lisa64]

Rice Village was very different in the 70s and 80s, although University Boulevard has maintained some of its original character. 

 

World Toy and Gift was a huge toy store full of lots of wonders. I believe that the lady who ran the place was a holocaust survivor and even had a number tattooed on her arm. As kids that was something very odd to us. 

 

The Village Theatre was a porn house for as long as I could remember. 

 

My dad bought my mom's perfume - Arpege - at the Five and Dime until he closed his doors when the rent got too high. 

 

The Bead Shop was an awesome place to design your own jewelry and Karl always had a smile on his face. His shop is now on South Shepherd at Westheimer. 

 

The Beautique probably opened in the 80s and Crystal Beauty Shop a few blocks north eventually closed its doors in the late 90s or early 2000s. 

 

Baskin Robbins has been on University for ages and G&G Model Shop eventually relocated to Bellaire I think. Moeller's might have been on Times and is now on Bellaire and they still make the best petit fores (sp?) in Houston.

 

Kegg's was also in the Village until they moved to Meyerland. Sadly, after more than 70 years in business they are closing their doors in July. Best pecan treats (turtles) ever! Good news is that Chocolate Bar is hiring a lot of their staff and acquiring some of their recipes and will be continuing the tradition with some of their favorites. So, ironically, Kegg's is coming back to the Village after all these years. 

 

In the 80s, during college, I worked at the Corn Popper on Times Blvd. We served 30 flavors of popcorn and they were all delicious. I gave my favorite pair of brown suede Capezio butterfly cowboy boots - which are now back in style and on the market - to my manager who subsequently stole from the company and skipped town when I returned to Aggieland in my junior year. 

 

At the northwest corner of Kelvin and University there was a KFC with a perpetual sewage leak on the sidewalk outside. Very gross!!!

 

And where Hungry's now sits there was a Dairy Queen. And when you asked for a plain hot dog they dipped it in mustard and you ate it anyways after your dad wiped it off with a napkin.

 

In 1978 St. Anne's had its 8th grade carnival and we went to every shop in the Village and each of them gave us something for our auction. Sadly neither my classmate nor i ever sat down to write thank you notes. 

 

Blue Hand was new at the time and even they donated. 

 

And when we were really young my brothers and I would walk up to Rice Market and for a nickel (or maybe a dime) a machine would dispense a little cup that we would fill with ice and strawberry Fanta and it was the best stuff ever!

 

The Village was one cool place when we were kids with enough action to keep us occupied all day. It wasn't hip or trendy, just a nice place with a bunch of hard-working merchants and a close knit community. 

[Elbe]

I remember The Village Theater differently, although it did go south later on. I saw The Exorcist there in 1973.  I also saw other main stream movies there. My favorite store was Craigs on University. I still remember what the floor looked like and well, everything about it. It had a millinary department!

[57Tbird]

12 hours ago, Elbe said:

I remember The Village Theater differently, although it did go south later on. I saw The Exorcist there in 1973.  I also saw other main stream movies there. My favorite store was Craigs on University. I still remember what the floor looked like and well, everything about it. It had a millinary department!

 

I saw it there too.  The line for tickets went all the way around the side to the parking lot.

Did a lot of shopping at Harris' Men & Boys Wear across and up the the street.

[mkultra25]

14 hours ago, Lisa64 said:

Baskin Robbins has been on University for ages and G&G Model Shop eventually relocated to Bellaire I think.

 

G&G was still in their original location on Times until last year - they relocated right after Harvey and are now next door to Nan's Games and Comics in the strip center at 59 & Shepherd. 

[ArtieFufkin]

Does anyone know if the old sign above G&G's former spot in Rice Village is still up or whether it's been moved yet?

 

 

Swamplot said they were going to relocate it to the new location off 59.

 

http://swamplot.com/old-rice-village-shops-in-exile-reconvene-at-the-strip-center-off-59/2017-12-22/

[mkultra25]

17 hours ago, ArtieFufkin said:

Does anyone know if the old sign above G&G's former spot in Rice Village is still up or whether it's been moved yet?

 

Not sure if the sign's been removed, but if it has, it hasn't been installed at the new location yet. I passed by there last night and they still have a temporary vinyl banner up. 

[Fringe]

On 6/9/2018 at 3:59 PM, 57Tbird said:

 

The large store you mention between Times and Amherst could have been Rodney's.  I'm an old timer who frequented that area in the mid-50's.

That was it. My Mom used to work there when I was a kid. Knew Leonard Wells from there. Later opened his own men's store in the Galleria area (Fowler and Wells).  

[brunsonpark08]

Is this the village theatre in question at 1:33

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LSVHpX1CDN8

 

 

[Subdude]

10 hours ago, brunsonpark08 said:

Is this the village theatre in question at 1:33

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LSVHpX1CDN8

 

 

 

That is indeed!  Good catch!

[Subdude]

On 6/9/2018 at 3:59 PM, 57Tbird said:

 

The large store you mention between Times and Amherst could have been Rodney's.  I'm an old timer who frequented that area in the mid-50's.

 

I remember Rodney's well.  It was there through the 1980s.

 

[DougT]

The Village Theater was showing regular movies at least until August of 1977 when "the Spy Who Loved Me" was showing.  I saw it there at least four times.  A family down the street had me take their kids to see it, and the kids liked it so much that we saw it a bunch of times. 

 

There always was a porn theater around somewhere.  At that time, I think it was near the alley behind the One's a Meal.  I think it moved there from somewhere else in the Village a few years before that. 

 

Growing up there from the 60's to 80's, the Village always struck me as being designed for walking, as well as driving.  It was the same concept that you now see in shopping centers that have the apartments above the stores, (Like The Domain in Austin) except it had houses around the stores and roads so you could also drive there.  As it seems that this would have been a good place for it, a Vespa scooter dealership seemed to open and close every few years. 

 

When I was a kid, we would see the older people walking down the street to go to the market, and walk with them to help carry their groceries home. 

 

Doug

 

[Hoop-98]

I bought my 74 Honda Elsinore at the Honda shop inside of J Rich Sporting goods,

[Earlydays]

There was also a ceramics studio that was called Mo-Lee's. My wife took lessons there in the early 70's. She later became a ceramic artist when we lived in California.

[michaelshiloh]

On 6/3/2018 at 5:18 PM, Elbe said:

I worked several years at Breens Flowers on Kelvin and Dunstan. 

 

Breens always looked and smelled wonderful! And I was in love with their daughter Candice when we were in 2nd grade.  My grandparents worked at the original Rice Food Market a few doors down. The Village was a wonderful place if you were a kid in the 60s/70s!

[HoustonExpatPhilly]

On 10/13/2014 at 8:22 AM, driveinfan said:

There was also a bakery about two streets over from University Blvd in the Village. At the moment, I cannot recall the name. I believe it stayed in business until the 90's? They made really good cakes.

 

On 10/13/2014 at 8:22 AM, driveinfan said:

 

Moeller's Bakery! They're in business to this day, apparently on Bellaire Blvd. Loved that place, it was always a treat if we stopped in there. Had a great birthday cake from Moeller's and they made great cream puffs.

 

http://moellersbakery.com/

[HoustonExpatPhilly]

I realize this is a pretty old thread but you can't talk old Village stores without mentioning good ole Otto Office Supply on Times Blvd.

[Vintage Houston]

As a native and mostly lifelong Houstonian, I remember going to The Village, as it was called, since my childhood in the 1940s. My dad had an HO gauge train layout and loved the G&G Model shop on Times. I scored my toys at the World Gift Shop, which was originally on Almeda Road (went there too). Up until they had their closing sale, the same lady sat at the cash register (c. 40+ years). In 1976 I bought a bungalow in West U. for $35k and lived there 16 years. Enjoyed popping over to the Village on my moped. Faves were The Bead Shop, Warp and Woof hippie clothes, the British store now called British Isles, the huge fabric store between Morningside & Kelvin, the 5&10 cent store on Rice, and DeFalco’s Wine Cellar (beer & wine making gear). Was sorry to see the Village Theater go.

In ‘93 I moved to the Land of Sugar, and WUP & The Village became The Land of the Teardown. Miss the old versions, full of character.

Edited September 28, 2019 by Vintage Houston

[mkultra25]

3 hours ago, Vintage Houston said:

As a native and mostly lifelong Houstonian, I remember going to The Village, as it was called, since my childhood in the 1940s. My dad had an HO gauge train layout and loved the G&G Model shop on Times. I scored my toys at the World Gift Shop, which was originally on Almeda Road (went there too). Up until they had their closing sale, the same lady sat at the cash register (c. 40+ years). In 1976 I bought a bungalow in West U. for $35k and lived there 16 years. Enjoyed popping over to the Village on my moped. Faves were The Bead Shop, Warp and Woof hippie clothes, the British store now called British Isles, the huge fabric store between Morningside & Kelvin, the 5&10 cent store on Rice, and DeFalco’s Wine Cellar (beer & wine making gear). Was sorry to see the Village Theater go.

In ‘93 I moved to the Land of Sugar, and WUP & The Village became The Land of the Teardown. Miss the old versions, full of character.

 

That all sounds entirely too familiar, although I didn't begin frequenting the Village until 1982 and I had a Vespa P125 as opposed to a moped before I transitioned from scooters to motorcycles. 

 

DeFalco's moved out of the Village many years ago, but I still felt a twinge of sadness earlier this month when I discovered they were closing the doors after 48 years due to a decline in business over the past few years. 

 

https://www.defalcos.com/

[SteveK58]

On 10/20/2014 at 3:38 PM, Rexster314 said:

What was the name of the Mexican restaurant on University?

El Patio was bought and turned into the current location of El Meson around 1983.

i could swear it was originally at another location down the street pre-1980, since I remember free margaritas on Fridays at lunchtime if you bought an entree.  Around 1977 or so, a group of Lovetteers stayed until time for a TGIF to start! 

[Abilene]

I spent plenty of time riding my bike and goofing off in the Village in the late 60s/early 70s. A few observations:

 

At that time, the Village and the general surrounding area was a bit worn down. Probably just short of “seedy”, but by no means were realtors running around talking about how desirable the area was.  West U was considered an ok area, but again, you could not have imagined that in 50 years it would be a money and prestige hub. There were a few nice blocks just west of Kirby and south of University with some pretty nice homes, but by and large West U had a mostly working class vibe. Particularly the further west you went toward the tracks separating West U and Bellaire. The west side of West U as many of you know had some downright shacks and it wasn’t a great area. Same holds true for Southdale area in Bellaire, just west of RR tracks and south of Bellaire Blvd.  Somewhat tough working class neighborhood in 1970. Nothing about Bellaire in 1970 reflected money or high society. Plus, the tree canopy hadn’t really developed in Bellaire, so it had a more barren feel from block to block. Areas such as Meyerland, Maplewood, Westbury, Sharpstown and Willowbend were considered more desirable. 
 

In the Village around 1970, on NE corner of Morningside and Rice, there was a groovy record store called Gramaphonics.  The guy who worked there was a quintessential hippie, skinny, long hair, granny glasses. Quiet place selling albums.  Between where the British shop was later opened and the white brick apartment-type house just west of where the Dairy Queen was. Across the street from J. Rich sporting goods.  
 

Poor Man’s CC Ice House was on Morningside where Torchy’s is now.  Old guys drinking beer and a couple of pinball machines. Pretty much open air.  Probably some of them were WWI vets.  On Bolsover just east of Kelvin on north side of street was the Village News. Great place which also had a couple of pinball machines.  Continue east on Bolsover and there was a post office, a fabric/sewing supply place and a cleaners that did “one hour Martinizing”.  
 

On Morningside near where Gingerman is or was, there was a beat up Pilgrim’s cleaners and also a fairly worn out Utotem. Near where the Rodney’s was, there was an old five and dime store, TG&Y. Cavernous seeming and somewhat dark space with few customers. Lots of arcane candy. As has been noted, the “art cinema” location was over that way. I certainly did not have the nerve to step inside. Adults only. Very small theater I would imagine.  Just south of the One’s a Meal. I do not think the Village Theater on University and Morningside really ever went “full adult” as alluded to here.  It just became defunct. The Exorcist was the last hurrah.  Although a subpar movie in my opinion.  
 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Abilene

[dfresh38]

Anyone recall what was at 2523 Rice Blvd, where the now defunct BW3s was located?  We have lived in West U for 9 years and just sold our house today.  We have an old sign that has been in our attic since we bought the house advertising some restaurant at this address and am so curious what it was.

[mkultra25]

11 hours ago, dfresh38 said:

Anyone recall what was at 2523 Rice Blvd, where the now defunct BW3s was located?  We have lived in West U for 9 years and just sold our house today.  We have an old sign that has been in our attic since we bought the house advertising some restaurant at this address and am so curious what it was.

 

It was a couple of different sports bars in the 1980s - Dan & Nick's Sportsmarket, then Dolph's. Can't remember what occupied it between Dolph's and BW3.

[dfresh38]

1 hour ago, mkultra25 said:

 

It was a couple of different sports bars in the 1980s - Dan & Nick's Sportsmarket, then Dolph's. Can't remember what occupied it between Dolph's and BW3.

Thanks for the response!  I think the sign was maybe from the 50s or 60s, so would have been older than the sports bars.  And BW3 is listed as 2525 Rice, so there must have been multiple businesses on what is the current lot.

[mkultra25]

On 8/27/2020 at 1:39 PM, dfresh38 said:

Thanks for the response!  I think the sign was maybe from the 50s or 60s, so would have been older than the sports bars.  And BW3 is listed as 2525 Rice, so there must have been multiple businesses on what is the current lot.

 

Or they changed the address at some point as a result of new construction. HCAD says the building was constructed in 1968. Checking the 1980 map of the Village that I posted here previously, it shows Tio Pepe restaurant at that location, but I don't know how long it occupied the building prior to 1980.

 

So the sign you have doesn't state the name of the restaurant, just the address?