Purpledevil

Talking 90's, what about the club scene, I.e. Club 6400, Blue Planet, Kaboom!, Bahama Mama's, and such? I've got a heck of a story from the 90's. Rockets game 7, 1994. They beat the Knicks for their first championship ever. Hell, it was the first championship for this city...ever. The Summit unloaded and the party that ensued afterwards closed down Richmond, Westheimer, and the West Loop. I woke up somewhere around 9am, aftet passing out in the parking lot of Bizarre Bazaar on Richmond. My wallet sitting next to me on the ground, and the only thing missing was my belt. To this day, I don't know whatever happened to that belt. I gained a new found respect for my fellow Houstonians that night. No fires were set, no cars over turned, we celebrated our first title with class and respect for the city we lived in. It was a hell of a party, for those not old enough to have experienced it for themselves. I can only hope that those generations following mine can conduct themselves the same when the next world title is won in this town. I think anyone here that experienced that night firsthand will agree, that was the safest and probably most crime free night ever experienced within the city limits.

Pancho's at Tidwell and the North Freeway is still kicking too. Looks a little different, what with the bright lighting and white paint, but the some of the same waitresses and staff that's been there since the 80's at least. Nothing wrong with Pancho's when your in the mood for some cheap Mexican food. Sure beats a Patio TV Dinner... Just down the strip from this Pancho's is the northside's landmark, Aunt Bea's. It's a far cry from what it was back in the 90's these days. Heavy cloud of cigarette smoke dancing around the ceiling, loud bikers and truckers cussing at each other, slapping the waitresses on the butts, the tar running down the walls, and the old Greek lady sitting behind the cash register yelling at whoever she thought needed to be yelled at, regardless of who was around to hear it. Sure do miss the old Aunt Bea's...

Chez Beignets on Bellaire Boulevard.

He just wants the vintage neon for himself, lol!

I stand corrected. What I'm looking at lists it at 32, with the penthouse on top and a skyview on 31. Either way, you are right...there is a 30 story Fairfield Inn that exists. I didn't know it, neither did the AD, and he's been with the company over 40 years. 19154-1, Devil-0. Bravo! Well done! Yes, the move was an advancement in my career through promotion, and thank you for the kind words. Not all that sudden really, I had my eye on the position for awhile. Certainly a great move to continue my growth and development, with the ultimate goal of one day becoming an area or regional director.

That's definitely a possibility, but it really hasn't seemed like it has rained enough to have brought the paint work to a complete standstill.

I didn't intend to attack, I think you are taking what I said to heart, and I'm not sure why. I am no longer at Greenspoint exclusively, however, my home property does remain under the realm of responsibilities within my job. I love that glorious, old girl. It'll always be the place where I got my first opportunity in the industry, and molded me into what I am today. Thanks for the congratulations, I thoroughly enjoy working within the hospitality industry, and the opportunity to develop and maintain long lasting relationships with our guests. Anyway, bickering with other users isn't why I am here, so let's let the water flow on under the bridge, what do you say? I'll try to word my responses better in the future. I think we tend to get defensive because we can not see or feel the intent of the words posted online. I can't divulge some things that would give instant credibility to what I've posted. I'm not putting the livelihood of my family in danger, just so I can look cool by knowing something that others don't. That's why I don't comment on the "stick-a-brick" and other comments used in the 806 Main thread. When the hotel is completed, then be the judge. I doubt that many people are going to be looking up at it anyway, once the ground floor is completed, but that's just my estimation. We shall see.

I think you took my post as an attack on you, 19514. If so, I am truly sorry. You are absolutely right that Holiday Inn did not "buy" the Savoy. Had I stated the investment group that did, would many here have known who or what I was talking about? I certainly hope that my hospitality industry knowledge isn't overstated. After over 20 years within the business, I'd hope to have learned a few things along the way, lol. With that being said, you are right, I don't know exactly what was in the mind of the Savoy investors when the decision was made to acquire it. What I'm simply trying to dispel is the rumor that this building is becoming a Fairfield, TownePlace, SpringHill, or any type of Marriott branded property. For the record, this building was a 30 story Holiday Inn at one time. There has never been a 30 story Fairfield Inn anywhere, so I'm a little taken aback by your comparison including my own words used against me. If you knew much about the Fairfield brand, you would've never stated that the Fairfield would be the "best match for this building". Again, no intention of attacking you sir, just pointing out the flawed logic.

19514, if Marriott had any involvement with this project, I'd have to maintain confidentiality, which is why I haven't been a part of the discussion in the Second National Bank/806 Main or Marquis threads. The building itself is too far gone to restore it as a hotel. Why do you think Holiday Inn is restoring The Savoy instead of purchasing the original location back? In all honesty, now that it's gutted, the most cost effective thing to do is to load it with dynamite and bring it down to the ground. As I posted earlier, 10 years ago, it was an enormous fire hazard and the structure itself has serious issues. Look at it this way, Holiday Inn could have bought it back and reclaimed the prime location for its new downtown property. Instead, they purchased The Savoy, at a higher cost of acquisition. Savoy still had to be gutted Internally, but the shell of the Savoy itself is in far superior shape when compared to the building on Calhoun/St. Joe's. Having seen this monstrosity first hand and up close, I firmly stand by my opinion of bringing it to the ground, and fast. The only reason it has been allowed to stand this long is due to the parking garage being used as a source of income, without much, if any, investment being put back into the property itself. I know there are users here that hate to see anything brought down, but this is one that I would hope they'd make an exception on, before it starts coming down on its own like the original Savoy building began to do, before demolition.

IronTiger, I'll take my cheap and modest FI in that building, over the even cheaper Days Inn, or even cheaper than that Heaven on Earth Inn, that used to occupy it. I can assure you, it would be clean and safe, something that building hasn't been in many, many years. Not to say that's going to happen, but a 30 story Fairfield Inn? Are you guys serious? I mean, that'd be bigger than a significant number of full service properties.

Other than what is currently under way, there have been no discussions with regional management about further expansion of any Marriott flag in downtown Houston. Add another vote to the implosion tally. This thing needed to be torn down when it WAS a Days Inn and has only gotten worse. The interior has likely been gutted, in part, to reduce the risk of fire danger. The thing was a ticking time bomb 10 years ago when it was looked at as a potential redevelopment site before the '04 Superbowl, and I imagine only got worse with the continued neglect.

Drove by the HoliSavoy yesterday, on the way to Alvin, and uh-oh, the paint job has come to a crashing halt since Triton's posting. Has all the focus switched to interior work now, leaving the exterior a stark contrast of the original faded Savoy and the new shades of gray? I couldn't imagine why you would start a paint job and not finish, unless they were testing color schemes and how much paint the old girl is going to suck up during the recoat. It looks pretty bad with the fresh paint butted up against the faded red background behind the sign, lol.

I agree with you there. While I like brown gravy, I'd rather my CFS be topped with cream. A little disappointed to hear about your bad experience, but thanks for the tip on requesting the cream gravy, brhaltx. Now that it's on my mind, I think the misses and I have a plan for dinner tomorrow. Do you all know if they still have live music? Sorry for the swerve in the thread, but it made another lost treasure pop into my head, also in the Heights. Old Bayou Inn on 2nd and Heights, right on the bayou, just before the double bridges...or after coming from the Katy Fwy. I don't remember seeing that one posted before either. Best cooking ever, outside of your own grandmother's kitchen. If memory serves correct, and every day it tends to less and less, Hickory Hollow once occupied the Old Bayou Inn building before it and the itty bitty convenience store were demoed several years back. Maybe they swapped places with each other? I know the building that now houses Hickory Hollow was once a pizza place, but that's been years back.

Yes it is! Just saw it a couple of days ago, en route to Flying Saucer for a pie. It was great to see the Mexicatessen building had been given some much needed love. Can't wait for it to open, I'm looking forward to giving it a shot. There is an opening soon banner on the front, so here's hoping the wait isn't long before we get a chance to check this one out.You know, it took a loooong time to read through this thread, but in all the years it has covered, either I missed it, or no one has mentioned Duff's. Now, maybe I'm cheating a little because this thread is covering Houston's defunct restaurants and Duff's was in Humble, but that restaurant was like nothing I'd ever seen before or since. Rotating buffets, pure genius! Pick a spot and let the food come to you. It's been years, but it seems like they had 4 buffet turntables. Did not matter what time of day you went, Duff's Smorgasboard was packed. Still remember their sign on the wall above the buffet: Take what you can eat, eat what you can take! I loved their Chicken Fried Steak. Speaking of chicken fried steak, is Hickory Hollow still down there on S. Heights? Theirs was so big, it was served on a pizza pan. Glob of skin-on mashed on the sIde, and a warm dinner roll next to that. Potatoes and steak drowned in thick cream gravy. The CFS had a name for all the different sizes of it. The little one seems like it was The Cowgirl, the big one was The Wrangler or something near.

Yeah, Lone Star is alive and well on the North Freeway. Landmark Chevrolet might be what you're thinking of. That one is the ransacked lot right up 45 @ Mt. Houston. Lone Star's been up there awhile, since the 70's that I know of, and probably several years prior to that. It and Mac Haik's Greenspoint Dodge are the only two big dealers left inside the Belt on 45. Mac Haik is the old Lester Goodson Pontiac, hence Goodson St. running directly next to it. I know there's got to be some old Lone Star pictures tucked away in this city.

It was me, sorry to hear the old sign doesn't rotate anymore at Tommie Vaughn. As I remember it, and its been years, the FORD on the back of the sign glows red, the Tommie Vaughn name on the front side glows blue. I suspect it's not lit either, since it is no longer rotating. What about Lone Star on the North Freeway @ West Gulf Bank? I'd love to see what it looked like originally. That, and Mort Hall Ford/Mike Hall Dodge on the Eastex @ Jensen/Saunders. The Hall dealerships were, I believe, where Home Depot sits now. They've been gone probably 20 years now.

Jack Roach Ford was in the Tower Theater building? I never knew! Very cool, and thanks for posting these, Michelle!

Wasn't that ROW up Hempstead Highway considered for another light rail extension for Metro as part of the Hempstead Toll Road project? That may be what you're looking at in the PDF, IronTiger. I remember the discussion regarding this line and ROW from a couple of years back, just not exactly what its purpose was. That idea may have gotten nixed when the Hempstead Toll project did.

Logic would say the 45 line, cloud. It's a straight, level grade and during its run through Houston proper, has no street crossings until you get south of 610. That is, until the HTR is expanded further south. That, too, should be grade crossing free at streets like Calvacade, Lyons, Quitman, etc., once the toll road is extended and bridges over the toll road (and rail lines) are built. In my estimation, the 290 route would be a nightmare just getting out of Houston alone. There are cossings at every intersection from W. 12th all the way up to FM 529. Once past Houston, you could pick up some speed through Hockley, Waller, Prairie View, etc., but another slow down would come when the track turns toward College Station. After that, the biggest obstacle facing a high speed line on this route would be the massive RR yard in Hearne, that is constantly switching the rolling stock around. To me, the obvious choice would be the line going north up the Hardy. Much fewer obstacles that could potentially delay the train along this route. Standing O for Montrose1100! That was just too funny. Add Halliburton/KBR to that list. They use armed, off duty HPD officers to patrol their campus.

Wow...well guess I better just shut up now. What do I know? I've only worked in the area since 1989. Let's try a more direct approach with you, since you seem blinded by your own mythical ideas of what Greenspoint really is. I'll ask the question again. When were YOU last time physically in Greenspoint? I am here daily. I don't have to "hear" about what's been happening over the years up here, I can SEE it with my own eyes. I never said "we" anything, only "I". I think Greenspoint is a crime filled cesspool. I didn't say anyone else feels that way, or should. You are trying to put words in my mouth for the sake of your argument. I am stating facts about the area I know and commute to every single day. You are posting pictures that look like flyers you'd pick up in the office of one of those apartment complexes, or on a property map of the hotels. Oh, and Ida Gaye park? Really, it's what...a couple years old? You are talking about new development on the far end of the area. Wussow is in the heart of Greenspoint, right smack dab in the middle of the action. This is the park to get a true representation of the area. How would train riders ever even see Ida Gaye from the rail line? You, sir, are grasping for straws, at best. You are absolutely right on one thing, this is going around and around in circles and nowhere fast. My eyes paint the picture of Greenspoint for me. I invite you on up, we can sit back and crack open a cold one in the parking lot, and watch the gangbangers, pimps, and hoes conduct their business together. Then you'll see it for yourself why I personally wouldn't want a rail station up here. August, you are right. The rail is directly next to the Greenspoint area. My safety concern for a stop along this line is as much about unloading passengers next to the toll road, with cars zipping by at 70+ miles an hour, as it is dumping people off in the crime riddled area. You are spot on with how the area would be looked upon in travel guides and reviews if for some reason they actually built a station up here. The point is moot anyway, the line isn't even considering a stop up here, and it's just us speculating the "what ifs". Not sure why my fellow user is so adamant about defending the place. I kind of wonder if he works for the Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce. Sounds like the same "look, we're making Greenspoint beautiful" spiel they've been repeating for the last dozen years. Do something about the rampant crime that forces most to steer clear of GP. Then, the area can truly be beautiful.

Why do I feel like I've just been to a real estate seminar? The first time someone got a gun stuck in their ribs and told to "gimme all you're money" would likely signal the turn off point for most. Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you were in Greenspoint? Are you there every day? You mentioned a beautifully kept park earlier. The park's name is Wussow, btw. Would you like to know how many fights, robberies, drug deals, and gang gatherings have occurred there in just the past, say, 5 years? The area IS ugly. Just because City View remodeled a bunch of old apartment complexes, and the city laid some new concrete and planted some trees, does not make it "beautiful". The area has serious crime issues. Until that is addressed and minimized, they can slap all the lipstick they want on it. It'll still be "gunspoint". Might want to update your pictures, btw. Crowne Plaza is no longer in Greenspoint.

HoustonIsHome: I work in Greenspoint. I see it daily, and have for the past 20 years. I am talking about the area that you've stated in your boundaries, and our offices are off of Imperial Valley & Benmar. I understand that you've seen a lot of cosmetic upgrades being done around the area, and associate that with a much nicer, friendlier place than what the area is notorious for. In some respects, it is. However, until the rampant prostitution, drug activity, and constant break-ins are brought under control, I'd personally not want a gleaming new high speed train debark out of town visitors directly next to it. That's just my opinion of the area, because I do know it as well as I do. I believe I have personally offended you, and for that I am sorry. You obviously have a fond relationship with the area, and I've struck a nerve. I certainly didn't intend to do that to you or anyone else here. My apology for the offense. As for that stretch of track you mentioned near Elysian, after it passes the Crosstimbers tunnel, the line is encased by the HTR. There are no street crossings over the rail until well north of the Beltway, making this a very attractive looking line for high speed service. Once the HTR is extended down to I-10, I believe that would surround the rails all the way to downtown.

The airport is 4 miles away, sure, but not the rail that would be used for passenger service. That runs directly adjacent to Greenspoint. That gave me a good laugh, HoustonIsHome. I don't mean to disrespect you if GP is your home neighborhood, but where do you want me to start on what's wrong with Greenspoint visually? The hourly rate hotels that line the Beltway, the parade of hookers that make their way up and down the Belt from Rick's, er...Jaguar's to frequent those very hotels, the mostly shuttered mall, or the crackheads and hooligans that roam the streets, day and night, looking for an opportunity to take whatever isn't absolutely bolted down? I've worked up here in GP for many years. It is certainly not the rosy red picture some try to paint it as, and needs a lot more work done to it besides some new street signs, trees, stop lights, and fancy brickwork lining the streets. If Greenspoint was what some in the area make it out to be, the "Renaissance at Greenspoint" project wouldn't be dragging out over the course of a decade now. That big, new, beautiful 20 screen theater that was supposed to breath new life to the mall, hasn't. Where are all the new restaurants and businesses lining Greenspoint Drive and Greens Road at, that were supposed to be open and bustling with activity by now? The Chamber of Commerce wouldn't ever admit to it, but the likelihood of GP ever being resurrected and actually restored to its past glory, is slim.

The problem with a stop at IAH is where the stop would have to be, as well as IAH's airlines not being receptive to the competition to their DFW to Houston business. The rail line is located a couple miles west of the airport, and I don't know of any place along the Hardy Toll that would be safe to unload passengers from a commuter train, until you get down to Hardy Yards. Secondly, are we really talking about giving our visitors another option of letting Greenspoint be the first thing they see on their visit to Houston? Doesn't Bush already do enough of that for us? Subdude makes an excellent observation. With the LRT extending up to IAH, I'd prefer the LRT handling service to the airport. Metro can run the line right up JFK to the airport's front door, basically, if they wanted to. That's something that heavy rail passenger service can not do.

I could handle The Woodlands stop. My only argument would be the time issue. That, and where is the rail that would be used? Track would have to be laid, at least a healthy length of siding, because the UP ROW is on the east side of 45. This is the same problem that the downtown post office site faces. What do you do about getting passengers from the commuter train's terminus off of the main line, to the heart of The Woodlands(i.e. mall, energy corridor, waterway)? Shuttle service? Skywalk? Tunnel system?