birdsanctuary

Just wondering if anyone else remembers this place. I searched this site but found nothing, and there's barely anything on the internet at all - basically, 2 videos shot by a musician who played therein the 70s. It was part of the 1970s wave of 'old timey' places, built way out in the (then) sort-of howling wilds of Mason Road - I think it was right on Katy Freeway but there was nothing else near it at all. My dad loved eccentric places like this and we went many times. Some tax information I was able to locate says it was only in business from 1977-1980, which is I guess why there are so few references to it left behind. I've been looking for years for any pictures, matchbooks, etc from there.

Going to The Galleria was a special treat - we lived in what was in the mid 70s far west Houston...past what's now the SH Tollway. The stores I remember best are the magic shop, it was maybe named Harry's? (it was at the Neiman's end on the lower level), Farrell's, Teuscher Chocolates, It's My Bag (THE store for preppy accessories in the 80s - Leslie & Co nearby on Post Oak was also great), Pappagallo (wow I wish they were still in business), and for fun, the Famolare store. There was a vast Abercrombie & Fitch - the original company that sold things like $400 - that's 1970s dollars - footstools made of leather in the shape of a hippopotamus. There was also a great costume jewelry store in the 'new' (circa 1985) expansion. I waited in line for about 2 hours to see Star Wars in July 1977 at the movie theater there in between the original Galleria and Galleria II.

I'm sad to learn that this is gone. I graduated from high school in 1986 and was invited to a friend's graduation brunch that was held here. It was a gracious building.

Memorial City was my 'main' mall...Esprit (I wish they were still in business), Foley's, Lord & Taylor, the Limited, Frost Brothers...other places we always checked out - the Hammond (?) Organ store, Cactus Records & Tapes, Spencer's Gifts, Wicks 'n' Sticks, Waldenbooks. A kiosk that sold little ribbon glass animals.

The Dutch Cheese Shop (it may have been named something else) and Cargo Houston are the only 2 stores I can really remember - they were cool, though. Cargo Houston was like wat Pier One used to be in the mid-70s - interesting stuff sourced all over the world.

The only 2 T&C Village businesses I can remember that haven't already been mentioned - Mandarin House Chinese Restaurant (it was on or close to Kimberley) and there was a Black-Eyed Pea restaurant on West Belt that opened in around 1983.