Rice Village History

[Boysh]

We would love to get some more background on world toy and gift. Spent many a visit there for our children and remember the store owner well. Any more about her in the store would be delightful.

[Dave W]

5 hours ago, Boysh said:

We would love to get some more background on world toy and gift. Spent many a visit there for our children and remember the store owner well. Any more about her in the store would be delightful.

Her name was Rose Behar. I remember her from the Almeda Road store.

I found this:https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10336374/rose-behar  and this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/373907237120?hash=item570e9ba900:g:WWUAAOSwRoth9Clg

Edited February 19, 2022 by Dave W

[Temple 3]

Anyone on this thread remember Burgerville #2? I think there was also a reggae bar that had 3 for 1 happy hour. 

[Dave W]

On 3/12/2022 at 9:06 PM, Temple 3 said:

Anyone on this thread remember Burgerville #2? I think there was also a reggae bar that had 3 for 1 happy hour. 

I do! I can still imagine the taste of their double cheeseburgers 😀

Nice family run business. When I worked in an office nearby, we used to eat lunch there once or twice a week.

[Ross]

I drove through Rice Village over the weekend for the first time in about 5 years. It was way better in the 70's. Lots more parking then too.

[MissWorldToy]

Who owned World Toy and gift shop.  Kid's dream.  Had to squeeze down this little aisle to get to my huge selection of model horses I collected as a kid. Wonder if they still have inventory somewhere on Hot Wheels 

 

[Highrise Tower]

Marvin Zindler's clothing store in Rice Village was called Le Baron's (or one word, LeBaron's) and was located at 2447 Rice Blvd.

Full page article covering the recent grand opening of Le Baron's found in the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated March 18, 1959.

Owner Marvin Zindler and Family

Gathered in Mr. Zindler's new "Village" men and boy's store- Le Baron's, at 2447 Rice Blvd. - is the entire Zindler family, proud of Mr. Zindler’s venture and ready for Thursday night’s Grand Opening.  Beside Mr. Zindler (standing) are Marvin Jr., 18, and Don, 8. Flanking Mrs. Zindler (sitting) are Danny, 3; Mark 4; and Helen, 16. The Zindlers are long-time residents of Bellaire (4701 Cedar), where Mr. Zindler’s father, Abe Zindler, once served as Mayor.

Le Baron's advertisement in October 9, 1959:

[ADeGregori]

On 10/12/2014 at 10:56 AM, IronTiger said:

Does anyone have a good idea of what Rice Village used to be like before its current incarnation as a more upscale place with chains and quirky boutiques? 

 

The closest I've found is a long-standing bead shop that closed a few years back (along with the late Variety Fair, and a head shop called "The Rat Hole"). Was it more of a counter-cultural store collection, or more of just a ramshackle bunch of businesses that congregate around universities and aim for the college student demographic? Or both?

I believe a guy named Karl owned The Bead Shop. It was there until at least 2000, but has been a silver/gold exchange (coin store?) for a while. This drawing is Rice in 1982. I grew up a few blocks south of University, between Greenbriar and Morningside. I remember the Village Theater - saw Jaws there - and the fabulous World Toy Store next door to that, owned by grumpy Holocaust survivor ladies whom you couldn't help but love (both on University near Morningside). Baskin Robbins (aka 31 Flavors) was on the other/south side of University, I worked there when I was 13. Dairy Queen was on Rice near Greenbriar (now the revamped Hungry's). J. Rich Sports was on Rice and Morningside, British Market was across on the N side of Rice. Weingartens was on University at Kirby. This map that a friend put up on Facebook shows how it was in 1982. Oh and one more memory was Super Bowl VIII, 1974 at Rice Stadium, Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings. I was 10 and my brothers were 8 and 5, and Greenbriar - the only street that led to the Stadium - had one lane going that direction, as it does today, although there's a middle turn lane now. Needless to say, cars were in bumper to bumper traffic for miles, conveniently passing slowly past the end of our block. Budding entrepreneurs that we were, we set up a sort of "Lemonade Stand", selling hot chocolate  (it was a cold day) and snacks, that my dear mother continually replenished, until the last car went by. I want to say we made about $900 (high rollers + cute kids = big tips).

[ADeGregori]

4 minutes ago, ADeGregori said:

I believe a guy named Karl owned The Bead Shop. It was there until at least 2000, but has been a silver/gold exchange (coin store?) for a while. This drawing is Rice in 1982. I grew up a few blocks south of University, between Greenbriar and Morningside. I remember the Village Theater - saw Jaws there - and the fabulous World Toy Store next door to that, owned by grumpy Holocaust survivor ladies whom you couldn't help but love (both on University near Morningside). Baskin Robbins (aka 31 Flavors) was on the other/south side of University, I worked there when I was 13. Dairy Queen was on Rice near Greenbriar (now the revamped Hungry's). J. Rich Sports was on Rice and Morningside, British Market was across on the N side of Rice. Weingartens was on University at Kirby. This map that a friend put up on Facebook shows how it was in 1982. Oh and one more memory was Super Bowl VIII, 1974 at Rice Stadium, Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings. I was 10 and my brothers were 8 and 5, and Greenbriar - the only street that led to the Stadium - had one lane going that direction, as it does today, although there's a middle turn lane now. Needless to say, cars were in bumper to bumper traffic for miles, conveniently passing slowly past the end of our block. Budding entrepreneurs that we were, we set up a sort of "Lemonade Stand", selling hot chocolate  (it was a cold day) and snacks, that my dear mother continually replenished, until the last car went by. I want to say we made about $900 (high rollers + cute kids = big tips).

After looking again at the map - the Bead Shop was next door to the coin shop, and in fact may still be there. I remember the Jack-in-the-Box on Rice and Kirby, and I worked at The Jalapeno Tree a couple of blocks north of that. And who can forget Moeller's Bakery, now on Bellaire at the RR tracks? University Savings was my first bank...

[ADeGregori]

On 7/16/2022 at 11:53 AM, MissWorldToy said:

Who owned World Toy and gift shop.  Kid's dream.  Had to squeeze down this little aisle to get to my huge selection of model horses I collected as a kid. Wonder if they still have inventory somewhere on Hot Wheels 

 

Two wonderful old Jewish ladies, Holocaust survivors. Loved that place, they had the best doll house stuff - I remember they even had a miniature roll of toilet paper, which I of course had to have for mine. My dad probably remembers their names, though they are long dead by now. I got my Sasha dolls there - sold for hundreds on eBay a few years ago. I think they still make Hot Wheels, but not like they used to. We still have a lot of Hot Wheels, mostly older, and even the grandkids (my parents' not mine) are grown. Want to buy them? alicedegregori@outlook.com 

[ADeGregori]

On 2/18/2022 at 7:59 PM, Boysh said:

We would love to get some more background on world toy and gift. Spent many a visit there for our children and remember the store owner well. Any more about her in the store would be delightful.

There was a bigger Jewish lady and I think it was her sister or sister-in-law, she was smaller, both I would say were in their 60s, late 60s, in the 1970s, who ran it. I don't remember their names but I can picture them like it was yesterday. They sat in chairs behind a desk next to the front door ringing things up on an old cash register and raking in the $. All I remember being told about them is that they survived the Holocaust. They closed down about the time they shuttered the movie theater.

[ADeGregori]

On 10/12/2014 at 9:09 PM, marmer said:

I don't have a lot to add to David Kaplan's wonderful article except to note that now many of the remaining funky old spots that he mentioned are gone nearly twenty years later.  The Village Theater was a porn house back before video and there was also a little one called Art Cinema that was right next to where Le Peep is (was?) on a cross street.   The building that became Hungry's was a mom-n-pop owned Dairy Queen in the early 1980s.   Before Caribana, that was a country bar called Cowboy on Rice Boulevard.   Caribana later became notorious for its 3 for 1 happy hour.   The Village Theater was indeed quite nice in its day; it was a MacKie and Kamrath project.  I don't remember the name but Half Price Books on University was originally a fancy department store with a terrazzo sidewalk and large grand staircase up to a mezzanine level.  There were a small handful of businesses that tried to cater to the University student body: Collegiate Cleaners and Ed Nirken's University Men and Boys Shop for a couple.  I remember having a map of the Village listing all the businesses when I started at Rice in 1980; it's possible that I might still have it but it would be hard to find.   It might not really count, but Hamburgers by Gourmet was right across Kirby.

 

Parking was not particularly an issue in the Village until it became yuppified.  Back in 1980 it was actually a little scary at night in some places.

I remember that 3 for 1 Happy Hour - they shut that down pretty quick, I guess seeing patrons who order "two" drinks stumble out the door after 6 made them realize it wasn't a wise idea. Here's a map from 1982.

[ADeGregori]

On 10/13/2014 at 7:22 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.

Moeller's. Now on Bellaire Blvd near the RR tracks.

[ADeGregori]

On 8/27/2020 at 12:34 AM, 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.

John Barleycorn's Memorial Pub?

[Dave W]

13 hours ago, ADeGregori said:

Two wonderful old Jewish ladies, Holocaust survivors. Loved that place, they had the best doll house stuff - I remember they even had a miniature roll of toilet paper, which I of course had to have for mine. My dad probably remembers their names, though they are long dead by now. I got my Sasha dolls there - sold for hundreds on eBay a few years ago. I think they still make Hot Wheels, but not like they used to. We still have a lot of Hot Wheels, mostly older, and even the grandkids (my parents' not mine) are grown. Want to buy them? alicedegregori@outlook.com 

As I said earlier in this thread, the owner's name was Rose Behar. Another woman may have worked there, although I never saw anyone else there, but if so, she was not an owner.

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by Dave W

[mkultra25]

22 hours ago, Dave W said:

As I said earlier in this thread, the owner's name was Rose Behar. Another woman may have worked there, although I never saw anyone else there, but if so, she was not an owner.

 

There was an informative article about World Toy & Gift from some years back, when it was still open, that covered the history of the business and mentioned Mrs. Behar as well as some of the other employees by name. I thought a link had been posted here at some point in the past, but couldn't find it yesterday, and I don't remember the publication the piece appeared in.  

[Dave W]

One more thing about Rose Behar: two posts in this thread refer to her as a Holocaust survivor, one said she had a number tattooed on her arm. I never heard of this or saw a tattoo, and we shopped at her original store on Almeda Road many times when we were kids, up to the 70s at her Village store when my kids were little.

Her Find a Grave page says that she was born  in New York in 1911, and her brother's page says that he was born in New York in 1915, so I think it's unlikely that she was living in Germany in the 1930s.

[ADeGregori]

I went there when I was young - I was probably less than 10 when it was torn down - but I remember clearly that there were always two women there. Rose sat at the cash register and her friend stood behind her and wrapped and sacked items for customers. It was always said that she was a Holocaust survivor, though I never saw a number. Maybe she moved back to Germany in the 20s or 30s. I'll ask my dad, he will know.

[Dave W]

1 hour ago, ADeGregori said:

I went there when I was young - I was probably less than 10 when it was torn down - but I remember clearly that there were always two women there. Rose sat at the cash register and her friend stood behind her and wrapped and sacked items for customers. It was always said that she was a Holocaust survivor, though I never saw a number. Maybe she moved back to Germany in the 20s or 30s. I'll ask my dad, he will know.

It's always possible that she went to Germany, but she couldn't have gone back there because she was never from there. She was born in New York of parents who emigrated from Bulgaria.

Her Find A Grave page shows her best friend Adelaide Friedman as one of her survivors. Perhaps that's the other lady.

[cdenker]

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.

I know a friend of mine opened up BW3 around 1997 or so.  I remember walking through it before it got renovated and it was definitely a sports bar.  The tables had lots of cool sports memorabilia laminated into the tops.