TxFireguy

I asked this question awhile back, but do not think anyone knew the answer.....Back in the 60's-70's there was a large bowling alley in what is now the Galleria area. It probably was on Post Oak about where Transco Tower is and where old KPRC studio was. That general area. It had an indoor archery range, slot car tracks and of course bowling! It was not a small place. I believe it was called ???????? USA Bowling. Anyone remember it?

A Bit Closer. Sorry for jpg's

Ok, going to try to add some pics...looking at the "Hero Tree" from across the street of the Compass Bank...Beechnut and Endicott!

A little closer to the tree.

LarryD...Concerning your question about that being the Utotem...No, that end of that buidling on Cedarhurst was the Drug Store. The Utotem was on the strip just opposite of that picture facing West Bellfort. It was right behind that Drugstore. If you look at your pic#1052, it was to the left at the very end. Once again, the drug store was on the opposite side of that building. The Jack-In-The-Box was right next to the Utotoem, with a little alley way between...All were very good pics!

Yea, CVS pulled out not too long ago. Is the shoe shop still there? I haven't actually looked lately.

It was run by an old guy that was once in a nazi concentration camp. He had the numbers on his

arm to prove it. His son took it over as far as I know. His name is Alex, and is usually over at

the S. Post Oak location by Annies burger joint.

MK

The last time I looked, it was there. I will be getting a haircut next week, so I will see. When I asked about the barber shop last year, someone told me that the original owners do not own the shoe shop anymore. I will inquire.

I had forgotten about the Baskin Robbins. There was also a Baseball Card shop there later. I drove by there yesterday, and it looks like nothing is in that strip facing W. Bellfort. When you mentioned "Tobys," I remembered it. Another thing I recall about the Jack-In-The-Box, is that the house located across the street from it, had reflective mirrored tint on their windows to cut down on the headlites shining in from the drive thru. The barber shop was owned by a man named Gene Rentz (sp).

I still get my hair cut at the barber shop next door to the shoe/boot shop, which used to be next door to Brittains (miss the coffee ice cream). Where Dugans was, later Eckerds and then CVS, it is now vacant. They must have moved within the last 3 weeks.

I lived on Cedarhurst, which is the street that ran beside the Centerette. I went to that Utotem,Jack-In-The-Box and drug store all of the time. Many a Cherry or Vanilla Coke were consumed there and lots of Baseball cards were bought at the Utotem. I miss the Bonus Jacks. For some reason I am am always getting the names of THAT drug store and the one near the Beldens Food Giant (near A.J.Foyt Cheverolet) at W. Bellfort and Post Oak confused. One was Cunningham and the other???

The marble stone and plaque is still there near the S.E. corner of Beechnut and Endicott, just East of the Compass Bank. It is at the base of the "Hero Tree." The Bronze Plaque is missing some type of Military Insignia at the top. I can only assume it was vandalized. The Plaque reads as follows:

I took some photos and will try and post but the plaque is weathered and a bit difficult to read.

When I was a kid, and I visited my Grandmother in the Heights area, there was a department store called Bargain Gusher on 19th I believe. It was down the street from the old Heights Theatre (anyone remember what movie closed this place down...curious, is the key word) and what I can visualize to this day is the elderly gentleman playing dominoes in the park next to the Bargain Gusher! Spent many days in that store, but can not recall what I bought though. Anyone else ever go there?

Here you go, and a couple of others.

Kopper Kettle Cafeteria

Suzanne Cafeteria

In regards to Weldons, which was a long, long,long time ago...it had a feature that I will never foget. I will always remember the conveyor belt along the sides of the place that carried all of the used trays and utensils. I have never forgotten that unique aspect of that resturant!

I think you mean the nursury and Bar-B-Q that was

on Willowbend just east of the RR tracks. I remember that

Bar B Q place from when we moved here. We went there

a few times, but eventually it burned down. Post Oak Ranch

Bar B Q is still on Post Oak. They have some pretty good

stuff too. PO ranch has been there a long time. Next

time I'm in there, I'll see if anyone knows when if first

opened. I remember the old owner from the 60's-70's,

and then he sold it to a guy named Moses. He was there

probably through the 80's, 90's. I'm not sure, but think Moses

might have recently sold it to someone else, but I'm not sure.

I remember the Willowbend Bar -B Q having loads of

cowboy artifacts hung up in the dining room.. Hummm..

Now that I think about it, I think the Bar B Q land itself

became a nursury.. At the moment, I think it's unused,

but I'd have to double check. I drive by there quite often.

MK

The BBQ place east of the tracks was called Mels, I believe. Burger King has come up quite a bit in this thread. now here is a question. Sometime before or after Burger King was built, the Walgreens building at Willowbend and Post Oak had a very similar resturant next door to it. It was not there that long but did have a sandwich I believe was called a Yumbo with ham in it. I know what the name of this place was. Does anyone else know. I know LunaticFringe knows, so don't answer

See you at Rumplheimers...

Sorry that I can't help you on this one. But I do remember back in the early 1960s going into an underground bowling alley in what was then called Gulfgate Shopping City. Would you happen to remember that one?

I origianlly grew up in the SE side of Houston and went to Gulfgate quite often. I do not recall the bowling alley unless it was on the East side of the complex, which i think was a little lower than the rest of it.

Back in the 60's-70's there used to be a very large (I mean BIG) bowling alley near old KPRC studios located at what is now the Galleria. It may have been on Post Oak. What I remember about the place was that it had a slotcar track and also an archery range inside, not to mention other entertainment also. I think it was called ----- USA or something with USA in it. Any takers on this one?

This bowling alley was similar in size to the "Bronco Bowl" in Dallas (if it is still there)

See you at the Delman...