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I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated January 31, 1973 and came across this Mexican food advertisement for a grand opening for Casa de Mexico located at 4566 Bissonnet near West Loop. The original located was at 4118 Willowbend. Anyone ever go here back in the 1970s? Love to hear some memories or stories.

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated February 13, 1963 and came across this vintage advertisement for David's Auto Sales located at 4113 Willowbend Blvd. Does anyone recall this used car business? Looks like this was located at the present-day Saint Thomas Episcopal Willowbend Field. Very cool!! 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air - $795

I was looking at old aerial photography and noticed a gun range formation near the intersection of South Post Oak Road and South Main Street. Closer towards Gasmer and S. Post Oak I guess. The gun club was located across the street from a supposed race track. I assume these two places were operated as a singe sports club. Anyone know the name of either the gun club or race track? 1944: 1953 includes an oval race track on the opposite side of S. Post Oak.

Noticed a large housing development a long Buffalo Speedway ear West Orem by K. Hovnanian Homes. Brentwood subdivision. Looks like some of the land is reserved for a church expansion and other future uses. Lots of land out in the area of Buffalo Speedway. I've been watching it develop. In 20 years all the trees will disappear.

I was browsing the newspaper The Jewish Herald-Voice dated June 11, 1964 and came across an advertisement for a restaurant club called The Duval's Restaurant located at 11215 South Main Street. For A Delicious Luncheon or Dinner Visit The Duval’s Restaurant * 11215 South Main at Willowbend Under The Personal Supervision of Jean and Minnie Duval Now Open 12 Noon to 10 P.M. Every Day Including Sundays – Closed All Day Mondays Serving Superior Kosher Style and American Foods Complete Dinners $2.50 and up – Children under 12 Half Price Private Rooms Available For Meetings – Luncheons and Dinners Complete Catering Service For Weddings – Bar Mitzvah Receptions Rehearsal Dinners, Etc. Steaks- Broiled to Perfection Seafood- Fresh-Fried or Broiled Chicken- Tender and Crisp Potato Latkes – Blintzes, Kreplach Chopped Liver – Gefilte Fish – Roast Brisket And our fabulous Roast Beef Family Membership For The Entire Season In Our Large Swimming Pool is Now Available Plan your Next Party Around our Spacious and Attractive Grounds Around Large Swimming Pool Available For Luau and Other Functions

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated May 24, 1961 and came across an advertisement for Price's Castle No. 2 located at 10536 South Post Oak Road. Did anyone ever go here? Any pictures of the restaurant? Announcing The Opening Price's Castle No. 2 10536 So. Post Oak - PA 9-8972 Specializing In * Charcoal Broiled Hamburgers * Fried Chicken Orders To Go Dear Mom . . . Why not have a party for the kids at Price's Picnic Patio . . . with "Poppy" and "Pappy", the Price's Clowns? The Clowns will pick up your party Group at your home . . . give each child a party hat, favors and balloons, and take them to Price's Castle No. 2. "Poppy" and "Pappy" will entertain the kids while they eat delicious malts and hamburgers, then they'll bring them all back to your home in the colorful Price's Hamburgermobile! There'll also be a Special Gift for the little host or Hostess! The Cost To You Is The Only Normal Price of The Refreshments You Decide To Serve! Everything Else is Free! Price Lovelady, President.

My father-in-law was a native Houstonian, and he used to talk about an old illegal casino/brothel(?) out Hwy 90. He said it existed after WWII and up into the 1950's. There was an old brick gatehouse just west of the current Beltway on the south side of 90 that he said belonged to the casino...does anyone know about this, or was my late father-in-law yankin' my chain? Jake Friedman Domain Privee Casino At 11620 South Main St. Edit: This is actually located on Old Main Street Loop Road near South Main Street (Highway 90.)

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated May 6, 1970 and came across a business advertisement for Hunter's Restaurant located at 4118 Willowbend Blvd. Does anyone know if this restaurant is by the same family of the bar/ice house at 10549 South Post Oak Road called Hunter's Pub? I would guess Hunter's started out on Willowbend by the train tracks and ended up on S. Post Oak. Houston Junior Odd Fellows Benefit Dinner Saturday, May 9 11 A.M. - 3 P.M. $2 Hunter's Restaurant 4118 Willowbend

From the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated August 16, 1967. I really like the store's name. It reminds me of all those amusement parks back in the day. Anything with "land" in the name makes me thing of Ferris wheels and games. Carnation Icecreamland "Meet me tonight in Icecreamland" "For old-fashioned flavor that swings" A swingin' sale Buy one of anything And get the second free Treat your girl to a Banana Split or a Sundae! Go Man! (Buy one and get the second one FREE) Fri., Sat., Sun. August 18, 19 20 Carnation Icereamland * 9123 Long Point Road * 826 Edgebrook * 10533 South Post Oak Carnation Icecreamland 10533 S. Post Oak Summer Vacation Special Get pineapple Sunday for 1cent With hot fudge Sunday at regular price June 14-June 20 We Serve Real Ice Cream

Any memories of the 1959 strip center located at 4122 Willowbend Blvd? It appears the strip center was 18,600 square feet. The strip center contained the following retail businesses that I know of. I'm sure there were others in its 50 year life span before it was demolished. Carolyn’s Bar at 10711 Craighead Dr. Fruit of the Spirit Community Church. Premier Banquet Hall. The strip center was owned (and developed?) by LeRoy Melcher of Melcher Investments.

I'm trying to find out more information about the old automotive performance shop on Willowbend Blvd. near Stella Link. That area of South Main had a lot of oval-shaped tracks. I wonder if one of the race tracks belonged to Kruger Motorsports? A car racing shop would need a small track for customers and self enjoyment, no? This would have been in the 1960s and 1970s. I assume the business was registered with the state. I cannot find anything online about the company. Maybe the legal registered name was different? HAIF member @LarryDallasmentioned this in another neighborhood thread a decade ago: Stella Link between W. Belfort and Willowbend has very clean and well maintained light office buildings and warehouses. In fact, Al's Formal opened a building there a few years ago. The warehouses that were there on Willowbend between Stella Link and the rail tracks to the west have remained the same. There was also a plant nursey that was located on Willowbend that closed last year. The land has been turned into a baseball field that is maintained to perfection. Next to the rail tracks on Willowbend there used to be Kruger Motorsports (closed in 2000 and now demolished) and a small used car lot (closed shortly after Kruger....building stands abandoned). Anyone know more info about Kruger? They looked to me like they were struggling to pay rent towards the end cause they hardly had any customers and it looked run down. Had they been there since the 50s or 60s? Was it the place to go to get custom performance work done on your car in SW Houston? __ There were actually two oval tracks at Willowbend and Craighead. They spanned a decade apart. Maybe the new track was just an unearthed version of the old? The old race track was overgrown with grass and they just cleared the grass to discover the old track? Timeline: 1962 the track appeared. 1966 the track disappeared. 1973 the track reappeared. 1976 the track was disappearing. 1981 - present day 2023 the track has completely disappeared and commercial development built over. In the 1962 image below. Looks like you can see a small road leading to the oval track from Craighead Drive. I'm not sure if Kruger Motorsports was active in the neighborhood at that time. If the performance automotive shop was in business, it would be logical that the track belonged to them.

I was researching the developer of the Willowbend neighborhood of Houston. It looks like Krist Hubert was the developer of the residential subdivision in Southwest Houston. I believe other important figures in the forming of Willowbend were Frank Burkhardt, and Evera West. Krist Hubert also helped Frank Meyer develop the nearby Meyerland neighborhood as well. Appears he also built homes in Bellaire to. In the magazine House & Home dated February 1958 there was a small detail of the Willowbend neighborhood. Medium Priced: Willowbend is a community of 700 houses in the $16,000 to $20,000 class. Sixty different builders have worked here. Its trees are a big feature, were carefully protected because lots with good trees are scarce in Houston and command a good price. Developer Krist Hubert (like many other developers) got his start in the building business. He was a painting contractor, now owns a lumber yard and builds some houses himself. He helps small builders by selling one lot a a time. He also provides some construction funds. Parade plan book by Houston Home Builders Association dated 1950: Burkhardt and Hubert Construction Co. of 5104 Elm Street in Bellaire - MA-0407 built the 1950s Meyerland home at 5107 Jackwood. The home was designed by L.B. Wooters. Engineering News-Record 1960: Hubert Lumber Co., 5104 Elm St., Houston, Texas. Engineering News-Record 1957: Krist Hubert & Assocs., 5107 Jackwood St. The newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated June 29, 1955 it appears Krist Hubert lived at 5300 Aspen Drive in Bellaire, TX. Last night, Krist Hubert, 5300 Aspen, was installed as the new president of the Bellaire Lions Club at John's Restaurant. Mr. Hubert is a native Texas. He migrated from Halletsville to Houston 26 years ago. In 1948 he came to Bellaire and started a successful career in building homes. He owns the Hubert Lumber Company at 5104 Elm. Aside from building nearly 400 homes in Bellaire and neighboring areas, he has been interested in civic affairs and politics--

I always drive by this Chinese church located off South Main near West Bellfort. Anyone know anything about it? Website: https://en.hcchome.org/

I've been seeing a few posts around the internet regarding a golf driving range in the Meyer Park Shopping Center. Before the Walmart store moved in, there was a large hill on the parcel where the golf driving range was located. Anyone have any memories of this place? I tried searching around Google without luck finding information. I just found a Texas Monthly magazine dated December 1990 and it came with an article about a golf business called Meyer Park Golf center located at 9600 Meyer Forest Drive, Loop 610 and South Post Oak Road. I assume this was the place? Google Maps places 9600 Meyer Forest Drive at the corner of MFD and Meyer Park Blvd near the small lakes/ponds Not exactly the precise location of the current Walmart, but maybe it was platted differently 30-years ago. Looks like Saul Sellinger was the owner/partner of the Meyer Park Golf Center that was in business between the years 1989-1998. Fairway to Heaven A strike of a genius inspired Meyer Park Golf Center in Houston. Putting greens and lights for night playing are par for the course at most driving ranges, but this swanky practice facility’s five greens, elevated tee boxes, sand traps, and water hazards help you improve on a good swing. Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. $4.75 for a bucket of 75 balls; $5.50 for 100. 9600 Meyer Forest, Loop 610 and S. Post Oak (713-728-4941).

I came across this school advertisement in the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated August 13, 1969. How did this school differ from the other school with a very similar name? The schools had two different addresses. I wonder if this address, the school on Old Main Loop, was the expansion? I believe I read somewhere they Town & Country School had expanded at one point. Maybe one building was on Craighead Drive, the other building on Old Main Street Loop Road? Town and Country Private School - 11620 Old Main Loop - 2 Blocks off South Main at Stella Link - MO 6-4249. Serving Southwest Houston for over 12 years. Director: Mrs. Barbara Bobo Cline. 3-1/2 Acre Campus. Here's the other ad that came 8 years earlier (September 13, 1961) showing the address of 11524 Craighead Drive. Mrs. N.R. Bobo, Owner (slight difference from the name Barbara Bobo-Cline. Maybe she got a divorce and thus, moved locations?)

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated October 13, 1971 and came across an ad for Rupp-It-Up Accessories & Services located at 4921 W. Bellfort Blvd. This looks like the present-day location of the Taco Cabana? By any chance did this company and their clients go racing in the Willowbend/South Main area? There are a handful of unknown oval tracks in the area of this store. If they sell and stock bikes, maybe they had a place nearby to race them? "Rupp-It-Up" Accessories & Service. * Indian Motorcycles * Dune Buggies * Trail Bikes * Mini Bikes * Go-Carts 4921 W. Bellfort - 723-8443 Factory Authorized Dealer for Rupp & Tecumseh.

I was looking on Historic Aerials and noticed there was an oval track off Willowbend Blvd. on Craighead Drive. Looks like it was active in the 1960s and early 1970s. This is located a few blocks from South Main Street. Could this be a track and field track for athletes? Does anyone recall this? Was it a Go-Kart track? Very cool find! Image credit: https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer 1958: 1962:

Colonial South Shopping Center at 10421 South Post Oak Road. This is the shopping center with the Cue's Burgers, Juicy Crawfish, Texas Swim Shop, and Post Oak Dental. Loopnet listing: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/10421-S-Post-Oak-Rd-Houston-TX/24128783/

I was browsing an old newspaper called Brenham Banner-Press dated July 10, 1940 and came across a day schedule. Lots of activities planned for the busy day, and in the afternoon there was a Skeet shooting activity. Elks National Skeet Shoot: Main Skeet Club, South Main Street at the Airport (time of this event will be posted at the Elks Information Booth on the Texas Avenue side of the Rice Hotel.) Looks like this was next to the Houston Main Street Airport. I'd love to know of an address of that airport. Or an address of this skeet shooting club. This is the 2nd time, technically 3rd, I've heard about this place. I wonder if there are any advertisements or photos of this place? The 1942 book called Houston, a history and guide mentions: Trap shooting: Houston Gun Club- 7 miles Southwest on Westheimer Rd. Main Skeet Club- 7 miles Southwest on US 90. In the article clipping below you can also see more historic Houston things such as the BraeBurn County Club, Gulf Brewing Company, Rice Hotel, and Buffalo Stadium.

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated October 1, 1958 and came across a Grand Opening ad for the Willowbend Gulf Service located at 4201 Willowbend Blvd. Willowbend Blvd at Greenwillow. Looks like an awesome grand opening celebration. Clowns, candy, balloons, drinks, prizes, etc. Owner-Manager: Chris Christoffel I assume the old service station is where the present-day broken down shack is by the train tracks? That would be closer to Willowbend & Craighead. The gas station is said to be at Willowbend & Greenwillow. Where those 3-story town homes are. The address, 4201 Willowbend, puts this in the middle of the NRG utility field. Present-Day shack. Looks like it could have been a service station with having those 2 garages and that covered fill-up area. Edit: The shack has an address of 4125 Willowbend. Not sure if they are related anymore.

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated July 14, 1971 and noticed a business advertisement for Canine Motel And Cat House located at 11525 South Main Street. A couple in a local grocery store were in the check-out line and the woman was telling her husband an unusual experience that happened while driving down South Main. I ever made a U-Turn to see if I read the sign right, she told him. As they both chucked a man behind them joined I the chuckle. Oh, we've seen it too? She asked. Yes the stranger replied. Well, nice you've heard of it, you'll never forget it. Se laughed. I certainly hope not, the man relied as he handed the woman his business card. The sign she saw read “Canine Motel and Cat House” and the stranger was Phil Oesterman owner of the recently opened establishment for pets. The Canine Motel and Cat House is housed on 2-1/2 Acres of land on South Main, across from the South Main Drive-Inn Theatre at Stella Link. The first phase of the planned complex, will represent an investment in excess of $50,000.

There was a place on south main in the fifties called the Trading Post...maybe that's it? There was also the Troubador and the Copacabana, but those don't sound as "country"

I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated August 29, 1962 and came across a business advertisement for Lariat Restaurant & Club located at 11215 South Main Street. The Lariat Restaurant, Houston's newest, has opened its door at 11215 South Main, and manager Bill Cypert issues an invitation to area residents to visit his beautiful new dinning room and taste is delicious food at reasonable prices. Operating in conjunction with new Lariat Restaurant is the new Club 45, now taking memberships. As an incentive, the first 50 people who join Club 45 says Mr. Cypert, will not have to pay a membership fee - only the beverage pool and stare tax. The club options Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. The large, fine swimming pool adjacent to the restaurant-club building will be operated through September and October at a rate of $10 per family or 25 cents for children and 50 cents for adults. The complex also includes a convenient drive-in restaurant served from the central kitchen. In the dining room there will be nightly dancing- from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Presently playing the Sonny Covington Four. Edit: I just realized this is the same location as a club called Lee's Trading Post Club located at 11215 South Main St. On the below newspaper article it mentions a "new club". Does that mean Lariat Restaurant & Club 45 came after Lee's Trading Post Club?

Can someone who was around back in the 1960s answer this? Old Main Street Road, aka Main Street Loop Road, aka Old Richmond Road, was a street that went from Main and Holcombe, east of present day Reliant Park, and then southwest to connect to South Main. There is still a remnant between Main and Fannin. The section from Fannin to Greenbriar was renamed Fannin when Fannin was extended to the South Loop. From Greenbriar to Kirby became the Astrodome parking lot. From Kirby on it seems to have either been developed over or just abandoned. If you look on satellite photos you can see where the street ran, but it isn't on maps. I've just been curious about how such a long street could have just vanished. Were there no houses or businesses on it? On this map it is listed as Old Richmond Road. 1935 Map

I was bored today so I drove around the neighborhood looking for cool businesses a long Old Main Street Loop Road. I never knew Pro-Mark was founded by the Brochstein family! Their headquarters is very, very close to the Pro-Mark warehouse (and factory?). Ironically close. Looks like they're doing a small remodel. Construction trailer and dumpster.