Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 I feel like a troll - people will see Midtown Sears comments and hope for the best - stuck with her for a little while longer. I'd like to see art deco back on the buildling and make it a Alamo Draft House and attach a large outdoor beergarden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 I would like it to actually be a useful place to buy just about anything - like hardware to put up shelving on thursday after work, when you're too tired to venture out to the big box stores and be mired in all that traffic. I've gone to that Sears multiple times looking for something that any Home Depot, Wal Mart, or even a large HEB would have, only to be disappointed. The hardware selection is hit and miss, there's whole departments missing (you can tell from the empty floor space), and even the clothing area does not draw my attention. I hate having to go to the Galleria or to box stores to shop for basic stuff, but it's either that or amazon for so many things when the only general goods store in your neighborhood sucks so much Though I did get a cool 3 inch brass caliper from Sears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Chi-Char-Hou-Dal said: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/05/sears-kmart-stores-closing/96195504/ Damn - immediately looked and was disapointed the Midtown Sears didn't get the AXE It's mentioned in the video linked in that piece that Sears is selling their Craftsman brand of tools to Stanley Black & Decker (I wasn't even aware that those two companies had merged, presumably creating a Power Tool Colossus). There goes just about the last reason to set foot in a Sears store. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 The Midtown Sears survived this round...might be gone in six months, might last until the very end of the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 14 hours ago, mkultra25 said: It's mentioned in the video linked in that piece that Sears is selling their Craftsman brand of tools to Stanley Black & Decker (I wasn't even aware that those two companies had merged, presumably creating a Power Tool Colossus). There goes just about the last reason to set foot in a Sears store. Sears will continue to have the rights to sell Craftsman at Sears. However, Craftsman will now also be sold elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 7 hours ago, IronTiger said: The Midtown Sears survived this round...might be gone in six months, might last until the very end of the line. I continue to marvel at the resiliency of that Store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 13 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said: Sears will continue to have the rights to sell Craftsman at Sears. However, Craftsman will now also be sold elsewhere. That is indeed the case. I got an email from them this morning with additional details: Quote Craftsman is and has been an important part of the Sears family for ninety years. And thats not going to change. The research and development team at Sears and Craftsman will continue to develop new innovations that will be available exclusively at Sears and Kmart stores and online. However, as part of this transaction, Stanley Black & Decker will gain the rights to develop, manufacture and sell Craftsman-branded products outside of Sears and Kmart, which will make Craftsman products more broadly available in the USA and internationally. Craftsman remains committed to maintaining the very best aspects of the Craftsman brand. You'll still find the most high quality tools available at the best value, along with our exclusive lifetime warranty on Craftsman hand tools, which has been a hallmark of the brand for generations. Sears will continue to have the most extensive range of Craftsman tools and lawn and garden products, along with the same trusted service you rely on. In addition to being sold primarily at Sears and Kmart, Craftsman will soon be available at other retailers nationwide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 A "lifetime" warranty on Craftsman hand tools was very important to me when I was 20. Given my now advanced age, it's not that important to me. What is important to me now is the "lifetime" they refer to may be the shorter of my life or Sears's life. I'll bet on me outliving Sears. So all those flawless tools I bought when I was 20 (and still own and use) better hurry up and break of they're gonna! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 On 1/5/2017 at 11:01 PM, IronTiger said: The Midtown Sears survived this round...might be gone in six months, might last until the very end of the line. the three things that will survive the Apocalypse: Cockroaches, Keith Richards, and the Midtown Sears. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 On 1/8/2017 at 8:32 AM, Tumbleweed_Tx said: the three things that will survive the Apocalypse: Cockroaches, Keith Richards, and the Midtown Sears. Too bad they don't sell Twinkies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 This one's going to officially launch soon. Now known as Isabella; a fence is up along Main. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Looks as though there is now information at Surge Homes' website on it: https://www.surgehomes.com/houston-tx/the-isabella-at-midtown 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 http://www.chron.com/business/bizfeed/article/Developer-announces-new-Midtown-condos-10889512.php#photo-12266963 The Isabella at Midtown, a 208-unit condominium development, is scheduled to open in December 2019. Surge Homes, the developer, has opened early reservation for the complex, at 4001 Main St. -- at Main and Isabella streets. The midrise building will have lofts, one-, two- and three-bedroom units from 420 to 1,880 square feet. Prices range from the $150,000s to the $600,000s, according to Surge Homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Guess they decided to forego retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2017/02/14/houston-condo-developer-doubles-down-on.html The Isabella at Midtown, which was announced earlier this month, saw 12 interested buyers put deposits down. The $42 million condo project is proposed for 4001 Main St. in Midtown. Units in The Isabella will range in size from 420 to 1,880 square feet and in price from the $150,000s to the $600,000s. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjorade Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 http://www.chron.com/business/article/Sears-has-substantial-doubt-about-its-future-11019641.php The beginning of the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Quote Longtime rivals like Wal-Mart and Target are spending heavily to revitalize stores and they're intensely focused on a new consumer that goes online before stepping into a store. The difference between Wal-Mart or Target and Sears is that both Wal-Mart and Target long ago started having "super stores" that have grocery items. The probably goes a long way to keeping the customers coming in - groceries seem the least resistant to online shopping. I haven't been in a K-Mart in years, but I know that Sears doesn't have groceries. The question is whether or not it is possible to have a general purpose store nowadays with out a food component. It is looking like no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Sears exists more as a real estate holding company that happens to have a lot of empty Sears and Kmart stores occupying the real estate. I don't think they are really that interested in operating retail and much as unloading the real estate. At some point the Midtown location will be sold for some other use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjorade Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 42 minutes ago, Subdude said: Sears exists more as a real estate holding company that happens to have a lot of empty Sears and Kmart stores occupying the real estate. I don't think they are really that interested in operating retail and much as unloading the real estate. At some point the Midtown location will be sold for some other use. I don't think Sears owns that Midtown property, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terra002 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I dream of the day Sears and Fiesta close in midtown... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, Subdude said: Sears exists more as a real estate holding company that happens to have a lot of empty Sears and Kmart stores occupying the real estate. I don't think they are really that interested in operating retail and much as unloading the real estate. At some point the Midtown location will be sold for some other use. They've already unloaded a bunch of their real estate (more than 40% of their owned locations and an even higher percentage of their valuable owned locations); that's part of why even they have finally been forced to admit they have little to no future. And they don't have many unencumbered assets left to sell off or borrow against. Edited March 23, 2017 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 6 hours ago, terra002 said: I dream of the day Sears and Fiesta close in midtown... For the love of GOD it can't happen soon enough. It's holding down that whole section of Midtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 This part of midtown holds so much promise for the future with the wheeler station in the middle of it. This six block area has the potential for a major mixed use project. Now if they could buy out Fiesta. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 I agree with ALL of the comments about closing down the Fiesta and Sears. I live a block away from both. I only go south of Cleburne unless I'm riding my bike to Hermann Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 I think that the Hines Caroline/ Southmore high rise and adjoining apartments will make this a more desirable area for growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iah77 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Why does everyone think Sears is the problem and not the massive pariah filled housing project across the street and the Men's Center? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Nah it's the large open area under the freeway, unused surface lots, and unsupervised Wheeler Station. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 41 minutes ago, BeerNut said: Nah it's the large open area under the freeway, unused surface lots, and unsupervised Wheeler Station. This is largely out of date. They've now fenced off most of the open area under the freeway there. And Wheeler Station is heavily supervised now, with at least one HPD vehicle (and frequently multiple) there every time I go there. I agree that the multitude of largely-unused surface lots (thanks to the Sears that rarely has anyone shopping there) are not a good thing, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 1 hour ago, rechlin said: This is largely out of date. They've now fenced off most of the open area under the freeway there. And Wheeler Station is heavily supervised now, with at least one HPD vehicle (and frequently multiple) there every time I go there. I agree that the multitude of largely-unused surface lots (thanks to the Sears that rarely has anyone shopping there) are not a good thing, though. I've been out of town the past few weeks. Is the tent city under the freeway still there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 8 minutes ago, BeerNut said: I've been out of town the past few weeks. Is the tent city under the freeway still there? Everything west of Fannin was cleaned out months ago. West of Main it was completely fenced in, and between Fannin and Main there has been strong enforcement to keep it clean (sometimes one of the Metro cops even leaves his car parked there). The block east of Fannin may still have some people hanging out on occasion but it's nothing like it was, and if anyone is still there I don't even notice because it's far enough from Wheeler station. That said, I've seen a few more people under the Pierce Elevated lately than in the past. Perhaps that is an additional incentive to eliminate that then IH-45 is rerouted (along with trenching IH-69 near Wheeler) in the near future. Back to the topic at hand, once 69 is trenched by the Sears, there is sure to be some related work done at surface level, so perhaps that would be the incentive necessary to push through this redevelopment of the Sears blocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iah77 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Wait, they are trenching it when? Right now there is a massive tent community on Caroline so all they did was move in that direction. City needs to fence off asap 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 55 minutes ago, iah77 said: Wait, they are trenching it when? Right now there is a massive tent community on Caroline so all they did was move in that direction. City needs to fence off asap It's all part of the big http://www.ih45northandmore.com/ project. There was an article posted recently that indicated that the timeline has been pushed up for this project, maybe as early as 2021, if I remember right. Since the freeway would then be below grade, Main and Fannin and the light rail will all be on bridges, and the Fannin exit ramp by Sears will disappear without replacement. That would probably reduce high-speed traffic in the area, making a large mixed-use district like the one proposed above even easier for pedestrians to get around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 1 hour ago, rechlin said: It's all part of the big http://www.ih45northandmore.com/ project. There was an article posted recently that indicated that the timeline has been pushed up for this project, maybe as early as 2021, if I remember right. Since the freeway would then be below grade, Main and Fannin and the light rail will all be on bridges, and the Fannin exit ramp by Sears will disappear without replacement. That would probably reduce high-speed traffic in the area, making a large mixed-use district like the one proposed above even easier for pedestrians to get around. I think the plan is to let bids for this portion in 2020. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparrow Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 On 3/23/2017 at 4:14 PM, Houston19514 said: They've already unloaded a bunch of their real estate (more than 40% of their owned locations and an even higher percentage of their valuable owned locations); that's part of why even they have finally been forced to admit they have little to no future. And they don't have many unencumbered assets left to sell off or borrow against. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/22/how-sears-ceo-lampert-cashes-in-as-stores-cash-out.html An interesting read for anyone who cares to know a bit more of the financial dealings of Sears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 9 hours ago, Sparrow said: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/22/how-sears-ceo-lampert-cashes-in-as-stores-cash-out.html An interesting read for anyone who cares to know a bit more of the financial dealings of Sears. Current ownership was the high bidder for the rotting carcass of a company. Sounds like they pre-arranged the outcome of the eventual bankruptcy, without those structures, the end would have come much sooner and courts would have managed the asset sales that have occurred since this bunch took over, presuming that there is not someone out there that can resurrect that business model or find some other use for the brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Looks like Midtown Sears is close to being finished.... Finally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 6 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said: Looks like Midtown Sears is close to being finished.... Finally Perhaps. But I don't think that we should conclude that a potential bankruptcy will be a chapter 7. It may be or it may be a chapter 11 (reorg) - in which case there may be a means by which Some Sears stores --- including our very own midtown location - remain open with new equity owners. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Business bankruptcies generally start out as 11s, even if it's going to be a complete liquidation - there will be a plan put in place for liquidating the assets while the business's management keeps cash flow going as long as possible, rather than having the bankruptcy court operating things. Once in a blue moon they get converted to an operating 7, but that generally occurs only when management is so completely disfunctional that you need a trustee appointed by the court to do the winding up. (thus endeth today's exercise in being pedantic) Regardless, Sears is pretty much toast; the thought process (or lack thereof) that got it there rather than remaking itself is pretty academic. It would be nice, though, if the mid century steel sheeting could be removed, the brick taken out of the ground floor windows, and the building opened to multi tenancy - it would make a decent alternative to the strip centers that seem to be overrunning Midtown. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Can't believe all the celebration at the potential loss of retail. When I lived in the area I used the Fiesta quite frequently to pick up a few things. What irks me is that huge surface lot between the Sears and the Fiesta and the underutilised green space around Wheeler Station. The area on both sides of the highway seem poorly used. A Ventana sized complex on that surface lot between Sears and Fiesta might help out the area a lot. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 The Sears Auto Shop is closing. May 26 is the last day they'll be open. 50% off what's left in the store. Spoke with one of the guys that worked there, Carl (perfect definition of great customer service, btw) and he said they might do something on the lot the auto shop is on and the big empty parking lot between fiesta and the sears. Sears own that empty lot and the auto shop and Rice owns the Sears building. VERY interested in what's to come with this development! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 The Sears Auto Shop is closing. May 26 is the last day they'll be open. 50% off what's left in the store. Spoke with one of the guys that worked there, Carl (perfect definition of great customer service, btw) and he said they might do something on the lot the auto shop is on and the big empty parking lot between fiesta and the sears. Sears own that empty lot and the auto shop and Rice owns the Sears building. VERY interested in what's to come with this development! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 On 5/19/2017 at 10:17 AM, drecey said: The Sears Auto Shop is closing. May 26 is the last day they'll be open. 50% off what's left in the store. Spoke with one of the guys that worked there, Carl (perfect definition of great customer service, btw) and he said they might do something on the lot the auto shop is on and the big empty parking lot between fiesta and the sears. Sears own that empty lot and the auto shop and Rice owns the Sears building. VERY interested in what's to come with this development! YES!!!!!!! I noticed this weekend that business seemed no existent. Great news!!! Place was a dump! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted July 17, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted July 17, 2017 New design for Isabella Condos: https://www.surgehomes.com/houston-tx/the-isabella-at-midtown 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Gotta love how the parking lot across the light rail became a nice park in those renderings. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 3 hours ago, houstontexasjack said: Gotta love how the parking lot across the light rail became a nice park in those renderings. In all fairness if you look at the aerial photo in their gallery it looks pretty much what you see when you look from above. There is a little pocket park type area just across from this project so the rendering is fairly accurate. It is a very small park though, more a big corner. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KinkaidAlum Posted July 17, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted July 17, 2017 Gotta love how the view of downtown out the window appears to be from about the 25th floor of a 6 story building. That said, solid infill. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 3 hours ago, KinkaidAlum said: Gotta love how the view of downtown out the window appears to be from about the 25th floor of a 6 story building. That said, solid infill. I noticed this too. Kind of sad, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 I like it. Great for that area. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 The fence is up around this lot. It's been up for a few days. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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