rsb320 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yes, I remember Banana Republic Khaki! I always felt like I should go on a safari. Two stores that have gone through COMPLETE makeovers - BR and A & F. A & F was like LL Bean and Orvis at one time.I remember when A&F was in Post Oak Central, believe it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) Yes, I remember Banana Republic Khaki! I always felt like I should go on a safari. Two stores that have gone through COMPLETE makeovers - BR and A & F. A & F was like LL Bean and Orvis at one time.A & F used to look like a cozy mountain lodge back in the late 90's with antler lighting and moose heads and BR used to actually have some sort of a island explorer theme, complete with sand, rocks and skulls in the front of the store. Edited May 21, 2008 by Pumapayam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 That place was "mini-skirt central" in 1970 and just a virtual fantasyland for us 15 year old boys. We would hang out on the lower level and continuosly gaze up at the world on display above us. Oh Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 That place was "mini-skirt central" in 1970 and just a virtual fantasyland for us 15 year old boys. We would hang out on the lower level and continuosly gaze up at the world on display above us. Oh Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Thats hilarious! There hasn't beem much comments on the adjoining hotels, they deserve some of the notoriety of the Galleria ambiance. We had our Stephen F Austin HS PROM at the Westin Oaks Hotel 1979 and then the reunion 20 years later 1999. Have mostly interior pics. Just the fact that we had our prom at The world famous Galleria made us think we were super special grads that great year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefmonkey Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) Anyone else remember the Magic Pan crepe restaurant? Not just remember passing by it, but actually eating in it? I remember as a really young kid eating there as a "special occasion" once or twice. Edited May 21, 2008 by Reefmonkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Anyone else remember the Magic Pan crepe restaurant? Not just remember passing by it, but actually eating in it? I remember as a really young kid eating there as a "special occasion" once or twice.Yes. I miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Thats hilarious!There hasn't beem much comments on the adjoining hotels, they deserve some of the notoriety of the Galleria ambiance. We had our Stephen F Austin HS PROM at the Westin Oaks Hotel 1979 and then the reunion 20 years later 1999. Have mostly interior pics. Just the fact that we had our prom at The world famous Galleria made us think we were super special grads that great year! We used to look at swimming pool-goers with binoculars, at the Oaks, from the Galleria II Towers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefmonkey Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I agree with Vertigo58, as a kid I used to feel like I was in NYC when I was in the Galleria Lord and Taylor. Also felt that way when I was at the dowtown Foley's.Other stores I liked or remembered as a kid: Sam Houston Bookstore - the only bookstore in Houston with a decent selection of James Bond books, which I got into reading after Living Daylights came out.The coin store on the mid level of Galleria I, right around the corner from See's Candies (another favorite). I used to go there all the time when I was in elementary school and into collecting US coins - you could buy buffalo nickels, mercury dimes, wheatback pennies, indian head pennies, all sorts of out-of-circulation US coins, along with guidebooks and those blue folders to put them in.The Florsheim store, where my dad bought most of his dress shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 We used to look at swimming pool-goers with binoculars, at the Oaks, from the Galleria II TowersI worked in an office building across the street from the Galleria through most of the 90s. Most of the cubicles next to windows had binoculars.We got the number of the pay phone at the bus stop on Westheimer. We would call people up while watching them and mess with their minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) And snagging some food from the meeting rooms in the hotel when you didn't bring enough money to last you past the arcade and candy store. genius why did me and my friends not think of that I worked in an office building across the street from the Galleria through most of the 90s. Most of the cubicles next to windows had binoculars.We got the number of the pay phone at the bus stop on Westheimer. We would call people up while watching them and mess with their minds. also genius as well Edited May 21, 2008 by TexasVines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 A little off topic, but more secret window watcher stuff...I used to work in One Shell and we watched this bum come by every day and dig out half-eaten food from garbage can. One day, we bought him breakfast at McD's and left it in the can. He opened it up, looked at it and threw it back! Needless to say, we onlookers had a field day with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absinthe_1900 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) wasn't a movie made about the opening of the galleria?......even had a marching band in itIn the late 70s they used the Galleria as a giant Neiman Marcus knock off, in a cheesy made for TV movie. (The entire Galleria site was supposed to be one giant luxury department store) David Wayne was the high rolling owner.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080795/ Edited May 21, 2008 by Absinthe_1900 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadooga Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Tha was "The Magic Pan". I miss it.Yesssss, that was it. I never actually ate there, just always cut through. Sounds like I missed out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retama Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I always remember celebrity watching.Although I never went there for that, I often saw celebs -- both local and international -- at the Galleria. Once, in the 1990s, I was walking on the second level and paused to lean over the rail. Straight across, on the other side, was Lyle Lovett in a suit shop being fitted. His hair gave him away! Over the years I have crossed paths with about a dozen or more well-known people and never once stopped to ask them for their autograph. The closest I came to coming up to one was Sheena Easton back in the mid-1980s. She was so hot and I was a strapping young blade just out of the Marines, but she had another girl and couple of guys with her so I just let her pass. *Ahhhhhh*, the beautiful music we could have made.LOVED the Sam Houston bookstore.I'm old enough to remember when The Gap was an exotic place and the only one in the whole city was in the Galleria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isuredid Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 The coin store on the mid level of Galleria I, right around the corner from See's Candies (another favorite). I used to go there all the time when I was in elementary school and into collecting US coins - you could buy buffalo nickels, mercury dimes, wheatback pennies, indian head pennies, all sorts of out-of-circulation US coins, along with guidebooks and those blue folders to put them in.That coin store was called Astro City Coins. I remember that place. I thought at the time, that the Galleria was an odd choice for a coin store location, but it seemed to work for a number of years.A few other stores that I remembered:Jeans West Rings by MorrowMargo's La Mode - I always throught that was a loopy nameHoffritz Cutlery - I bought a throwing knife there. I may even still have it.Berry Tree - cardsChristian Science reading room - I always felt sorry for those people in there because I never saw anyone using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 I bought my first D&D books at Nan's in the Galleria. It was the first the first store I'd ever seen that sold role playing games. <------ Raises his hand cautiously. Yeah, me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 I'm old enough to remember when The Gap was an exotic place and the only one in the whole city was in the Galleria.When was that? I remember the Gap at the Galleria, but I'm pretty sure there was one at Almeda Mall in the early 70s. It never seemed "exotic", just a store full of jeans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 When was that? I remember the Gap at the Galleria, but I'm pretty sure there was one at Almeda Mall in the early 70s. It never seemed "exotic", just a store full of jeans.Yah, I'd never heard anything about the gap being exotic, but then I don't know - I'm relatively young. I do remember when Banana Republic sold safari clothes in the 80s, which was brought up in earlier posts, but I'd be curious to hear about the Gap before my time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Yah, I'd never heard anything about the gap being exotic, but then I don't know - I'm relatively young. I do remember when Banana Republic sold safari clothes in the 80s, which was brought up in earlier posts, but I'd be curious to hear about the Gap before my time.I remember The Gap in Almeda Mall sold Levi's and not much else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 (edited) <------ Raises his hand cautiously. Yeah, me too. I knew it. I knew it! You nerds! You know, those of us on the debate team so totally looked down on you for the magician geek role play stuff. We made our own bongs and played Risk, for chrissakes. Edited May 27, 2008 by crunchtastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemcguff Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Sorry to come in on this late, but the original poster wanted to know the joke store's name. I don't remember a place in Galleria 1, but in the 80's Galleria 3 had Sheer Insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Yah, I'd never heard anything about the gap being exotic, but then I don't know - I'm relatively young. I do remember when Banana Republic sold safari clothes in the 80s, which was brought up in earlier posts, but I'd be curious to hear about the Gap before my time. What will always stand out for me in regards to The Gap (in the mid-late 70's) is when you walked in and saw the ladies stacks of blue jeans. They had them seperated by style : 1. Regular Bell Bottom 2. Wide Bell Bottom 3. Super Bell Bottom can't forget "Hip Hugger" category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Anyone have any information on a store list from back in the day, or possibly photos of this era. I've seen the few that exist towards the bottom of this page ...I have not forgotten about ya, but I have not had a chance to thumb through all my photos yet. I was hoping to do it this weekend, who knew I'd be having so much fun away from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 LOL Sheer Insanity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAAH YES I remember that one now. That's hilarious. THANK YOU HAHA. I think the smaller one in Galleria I was called The Fun Shop, which someone established earlier in this thread. I can't thank everyone enough for the great memories and information. This has been a REAL trip down memory lane. Lovin' it. I have not forgotten about ya, but I have not had a chance to thumb through all my photos yet. I was hoping to do it this weekend, who knew I'd be having so much fun away from home.Dude it is all good! Happy to have the thread going like this - its already been a gold mine for the topic of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonartstudent Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 Yah, I'd never heard anything about the gap being exotic, but then I don't know - I'm relatively young. I do remember when Banana Republic sold safari clothes in the 80s, which was brought up in earlier posts, but I'd be curious to hear about the Gap before my time.I think they just meant that it was exotic in that it was the only one in all of Houston. Maybe they'll be "exotic" again sometime soon if they don't get out of their slump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisCountyEx Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 "Fall Into The Gap". I think I recall the jingle and the ads on TV had a picture of an unzipped pair of pants and the suggestion to fall into that gap? I do know that my mother was not going to go there because of the provocative sounding ads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Check out this website of some kind of scavenger hunt I found from 1991 Houston Galleria ...http://www.thehunt.org/1991/hunttask.htm"Walk into Sheer Insanity, and say at least seven words beginning with "Z."""Enter The Fun Shop with your hand out of sight, and ask them if they've sold your severed fingers yet, because you want them back.""Go to Petland and ask, "How much is that doggie in the window?""Silly find, but its got some interesting store names on it that I'd forgotten or otherwise were behind many cobwebs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Straight out of Fast Times was Sgt. Singer's Pizza...down on the first level across from the theatres where my friends and I somehow got into see National Lampoon's Vacation.I remember the Magic Pan always smelled like feet.Hotel shenanigans: We used to take the elevator to the next-to-the-top floor and climb the stairs to an unlocked door that got us into the bar at the top. It didn't take long for the bartender to realize there were a bunch of 15 year olds checking out his place.Thanks for inspiring a HAIF noob's first post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isuredid Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Here are all the stores in Galleria I from the 1972 city directory:1000 Funshop Inc1100 Gerhart's Isabell Bazaar Shop1110 Norman Merle Cosmetics1115 Motherhood Maternity Shops1120 La Feminique Wig Salon No 631130 Fal's Famous Name Shoes No 51140 Pick Pocket Inc hand bags1152 Carva-Riviera Jewelers1154 River Oaks Flower House1156 Locksmiths Salon in The Galleria Blair Ginger Cosmetics1158 Hertel's Barber & Style Salon1160 Vacant1170 Pacesetter Club Pacesetter Restaurant1185 Marlin's Dottie Health Foods1192 House of Ties1195 Vacant1200 Walker's Pat Figure Perfection Intl reducing salon1210 Southern Fabrics Inc1220 Branch The gifts1230 Boudoirs by Joyce Bertam bath accessories1250 Corrigan Robt E Jewelers Inc1260 Ice Capades Chalet & Skating School1270 El Fenix Restaurant1290 Farrel's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant1310 Coquery The restr1340 Rich J Sports Ltd attire1350 Collins Money Tree No 6531355 Yarn Spinner The Inc1360 Scullery The cookware1370 Jeans West clothes1380 Arts Intl1385 Nan's Toys1390 Cinema I Cinema II1403 Sunshine Co clothing1407 Sounds 'n Imports music1410 Matthews Fine Jewelry custom mfrs1420 Brass Boot shoes1423 Photo Place Inc That1433 Farmer Fanny Candy Shop No 7161435 Piazza's Shoes & Service Inc No 51436 Sanborns International Travel1440 Hickory Farms of Ohio gro store1450 Sam Houston Book Shop1460 Disc Records1470 Gallagher Helen Gifts1480 Michael I restr2100 Gerhart Isabell Inc womens clothes2115 Vacant Vacant2120 Backstreet Clothing2130 Thayer McNeil shoes2140 Lesli Judi clothing2150 Lugene Inc opticians Dempsey & Carroll Inc stationers & engrs2155 Page Boy Maternity Shops No 32160 Hanover Shoes2170 Capezio clothing2180 Tinder Box The tobacco2181 Shirt Gallery The2190 See's Candies2193 Point Venture resort development2200 Gittings Inc photog2210 Cross Mark Inc leather mdse2220 Cuzzen's of Houston mens clo2230 Bally of Switzerlan Inc clothing2240 Margo's La Mode ladies clo2260 Chandler Shoe Store No 47892275 Albert's hosiery2280 Sweeney & Co jwlr2300 Elaine Shop The clothing2303 Ming's Jewelry2305 Key West Hand Print Fashions2310 Apogee ladies clo2340 Tiffany & Co jwlry china & crystal2350 Wayne J Ltd mens clo2370 Foxmoor (Div of Melville Shoe Corp)2375 Slax N Stuf No 3 ladies clo2380 Rauscher Pierce Securities COrp stock exchange2400 Florsheim Shoe Shops2410 Leopold Price & Rolle mens clothes2418 Town & Country Shotes2420 Next Door clothing2430 Julies clothing2440 William Richard mens clo2450 Victors P-J Botiques mens fashions2460 Berrytree No 5 cards & gifts2470 Junior Magic ladies clo2480 Shoe Gallery The3100 Sportsman's Gallery3170 Handmakers inc rep craftsman3180 Long Meredith Gallery Realty Associates Inc3194 Flower Children The No 33195 Kaufman Marjorie Graphics3196 Sotherby Parke-Bernet art gallery3197 Wilds & Cannon Regent Shop antiques3230 Valdari of Colombia3240 Bryant Galleries art3250 Oriental Pearl Gallery import3253 Stevens Patricia International modeling sch3255 Galleria The (Ofc)3270 Children's World clo3280 Toys International No 23330 Sloane W & J Inc furn3400 Old World The3404 Old World Antiques The3405 Pritchard Gallery3410 Simmons John gifts3420 Denhome Modern Danish Furniture3425 Radio Shack3430 Gene's Tailors Inc3435 American Express Co. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 On the Rink Level of the Galleria, there's a store that's located under the stairs, and I believe it is now a Texas gift shop.However, I recall my cousin telling me about a store that sold cat-related merchandise. I'm guessing this was late 1990s or early 2000s. Does anyone know the name of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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