Globe Department Stores

[brerrabbit]

Actually the way Sage got around the Blue Laws was to rope the areas off on Saturday and then open them back up on Sunday, thus being the only store selling that stuff on Sunday. The Blue Laws merely said you could not sell the stuff for seven days in a row and everyone interpreted that to mean that you closed on Sunday. Sage just exploited the loophold and made a pretty nice profit for a while till everyone else caught up to the idea.

On that same note who remembers the Deauville Shopping Malls. These were short lived ideas that were originally meant to challenge the Blue Laws and be open seven days a week. The buildings still exsist such as the one on the Gulf Freeway at Bay area Blvd, on the east side of the freeway. The malls had off name stores and did 90% of their sales on Sundays when everyone else was closed. I think they did okay for about six months until the regular malls saw they were not getting in trouble and decided to open up on Sundays as well. That did in the Deauville bunch and they closed and eventually were turned into A couple of Garden Ridges and at the one at Baybrook became the home of several Big Box tretailers like Best Buy, Oshmans, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

[northbeaumont]

Maybe you can remember this from 1963

I know I am not the only one with old news papers and a scanner

The prices of the good old days. You could walk right next door to Globe from Frizzell's. I remember us having a Pontiac Tempest. It might have been the one in the ad. I looked on GlobeExplorer.com (no PUN intended). The present Home Depot is up the road from where Globe Department Store was.

[isuredid]

The prices of the good old days. You could walk right next door to Globe from Frizzell's. I remember us having a Pontiac Tempest. It might have been the one in the ad. I looked on GlobeExplorer.com (no PUN intended). The present Home Depot is up the road from where Globe Department Store was.

The Home Depot occupies the space of the old Winkler Drive-In Theater, which was on Winkler at Flowers Street. Globe was on Woodridge across from Gulfgate.

Edited August 21, 2007 by isuredid

[Retama]

If you go to Kerrville, head out on Highway 27 toward Ingrham and you'll find a Gibson's Discount Center. The old sign is the same as it was back in the 1970s when I used to shop at the one in Baytown. But I believe that it is more-or-less a hardware store and not a discount department store.

[Guest Marty]

July 21 1969 The Houston Post

Globe Shopping City

Gulfgate. exit 8 next to Frizzell Pontiac

5300 North Shepherd at Donovan

Bellaire Blvd at Hillcroft

Eastex Freeway at Langley road

975 Gessner at Katy road

Baytown: 1700 Decker drive

Pasadena: Southmore at Tatar

Edited August 21, 2007 by Marty

[Guest Marty]

Also frequented a Dugan's Drugs on Homestead Rd. that later became Eckerd.

I have a list of Mading Dugan Drugs locations here post #190 http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...3075&st=150

[Disastro]

I have a list of Mading Dugan Drugs locations here post #190 http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...3075&st=150

I don't remember squat about this Globe store. I just remember there being a LOT of car dealerships (Including Bill McDavid with the animated neon rocket on the sign) along 45 near Gulfgate...that, and there was a drive-in hamburger joint called The Ritz...which is no longer there...and further down near Griggs, the Frito's plant...

The coolest GLOBE was on North Shepherd...about a mile south of Tidwell. It stood on the current site of the City Of Houston 911 Emergency Center...across the street from St. Pius High School. As a kid, I got lost in that store one day...I was terrified.

Heh! I remember getting lost in that one too when I was a kid. I also remember going to Princess Hamburgers also on Shepherd...60's...

[Guest Marty]

Just remembered Globe's motto:

Everything under the Sun

Yeah, It says that on the 1969 ad's. I need to figure out how to use my father's 3 in 1 scanner where I can post the photos of the ads instead of typing them out.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Marty

[Vertigo58]

Everything under the Sun!

Cracks me up! That really goes back into the memory vaults! I think the logo had this goofy sun smiling up in the air?

We always ran to the records section of the store at the Gulfgate store. For some reason (unbeknowngst to me) I still recall holding and looking over the Eric Clapton album while, I shot the Sheriff played in the background. It closed shortly after that so it must have been 1974-75ish?

Then became Fedmart was supposed to be an innovation store because it had everything under one roof pre-Walmart. I worked there for about 1 year and still have my name tag.

[isuredid]

Everything under the Sun!

Cracks me up! That really goes back into the memory vaults! I think the logo had this goofy sun smiling up in the air?

We always ran to the records section of the store at the Gulfgate store. For some reason (unbeknowngst to me) I still recall holding and looking over the Eric Clapton album while, I shot the Sheriff played in the background. It closed shortly after that so it must have been 1974-75ish?

Then became Fedmart was supposed to be an innovation store because it had everything under one roof pre-Walmart. I worked there for about 1 year and still have my name tag.

FedMart was at Griggs and Mykawa and was open during the same time that Globe was. It started out as a membership store and later on was open to everyone. It was a lot like Walmart. There was another FedMart where the Whole Foods is now in the Bellaire Shopping Center. I always thought that FedMart was a few notches up from Globe.

[texianjoe]

Everything under the Sun!

Cracks me up! That really goes back into the memory vaults! I think the logo had this goofy sun smiling up in the air?

We always ran to the records section of the store at the Gulfgate store. For some reason (unbeknowngst to me) I still recall holding and looking over the Eric Clapton album while, I shot the Sheriff played in the background. It closed shortly after that so it must have been 1974-75ish?

Then became Fedmart was supposed to be an innovation store because it had everything under one roof pre-Walmart. I worked there for about 1 year and still have my name tag.

I can't remember it being a FedMart. I remember it stood empty for a long time and then it was a Mervyns for a while. Doesn't mean it wasn't.

Before Sams Club there was Gemco. It was membership only and had Eagle Grocery stores in the back section. It was the first Super Center.

joe

[brerrabbit]

It definitly was a Fed Mart for a while. It was in the old Globe building. When Fed Mart closed they tore down the building and built the Mervyns there. Next to the parking lot for the Globe/Fed Mart was a large apartment clomplex that ran from there out to a street called Plum Creek that ran from Telephone near Stubbs Cycles over to Winkler. A friend of mine lived on Plum Creek and we would cut through the apartments over to Globe, and then Fed Mart. Someone who lived in the apartments had actually built a horseshoe pitch in the grass between the parking lot and the back fence of the apartments and cut a hole through the fence to have easy access. That was our cut through to the store.

[northbeaumont]

I can't remember it being a FedMart. I remember it stood empty for a long time and then it was a Mervyns for a while. Doesn't mean it wasn't.Before Sams Club there was Gemco. It was membership only and had Eagle Grocery stores in the back section. It was the first Super Center.joeMany years ago on Eastex Freeway here in Beaumont there was a Gemco. Before that it was called Bellas Hess. Then after Gemco it was Beaumont's first regular Wal-Mart. Now the supercenter is north on Dowlen Road.

Here's one of the slogans I remember from Sage billboards:Rudolph shops at Sage, red knows (nose)You know those billboards are one of the things I remember specifically from childhood that first got my interest in going into the advertising field.

To me, those membership department stores such as Sam's Club and Costco are good for big families who live in big houses. What couple with only one or two kids would need to stock up on such bulk?

[Cobra]

Before Sams Club there was Gemco. It was membership only and had Eagle Grocery stores in the back section. It was the first Super Center.

I remember the Gemco at Airport Blvd @ I-45 quite well. I bought a couple of Intellivision games from them--I remember calling them every day for about three weeks hoping to get a Donkey Kong cartridge as soon as it was available.

I am almost certain that it was not a membership-only store; I paid for my games with my own lawn-mowing money and didn't have any sort of card when I was 13. I also remember my parents talking about whether it would make sense to pay to get a Sam's Club card, after Sam's moved into the building that Gemco left vacant. I think that was the first time we'd ever heard of a store that required membership.

That building is still standing, but it's been a flea market for about 10-15 years--longer, I think, than any other store tenant at that location!

[Vertigo58]

It definitly was a Fed Mart for a while. It was in the old Globe building. When Fed Mart closed they tore down the building and built the Mervyns there. Next to the parking lot for the Globe/Fed Mart was a large apartment clomplex that ran from there out to a street called Plum Creek that ran from Telephone near Stubbs Cycles over to Winkler. A friend of mine lived on Plum Creek and we would cut through the apartments over to Globe, and then Fed Mart. Someone who lived in the apartments had actually built a horseshoe pitch in the grass between the parking lot and the back fence of the apartments and cut a hole through the fence to have easy access. That was our cut through to the store.

Thank you for confirming. How could I forget where I worked at age 19? Had to be around 1980. One thing I really remember of Fedmart was how much people used to shoplift! It was unreal. Security caught a woman with a small chainsaw in her bag. We would always find empty 8 track tape cartons tossed behind shelves. Apparently the franchise didn't pan out and they folded and your right, they tore it down and built Mervyn's which was the last decent department store in that area. Sat empty for years.

[texianjoe]

I remember the Gemco at Airport Blvd @ I-45 quite well. I bought a couple of Intellivision games from them--I remember calling them every day for about three weeks hoping to get a Donkey Kong cartridge as soon as it was available.

I am almost certain that it was not a membership-only store; I paid for my games with my own lawn-mowing money and didn't have any sort of card when I was 13. I also remember my parents talking about whether it would make sense to pay to get a Sam's Club card, after Sam's moved into the building that Gemco left vacant. I think that was the first time we'd ever heard of a store that required membership.

That building is still standing, but it's been a flea market for about 10-15 years--longer, I think, than any other store tenant at that location!

As you walked in the front door there was a tall desk to the right where you had to show your membership card. I don't remember if it cost anything but you had to have one. They may have relaxed it in its final days. Another reason I remember is there was a pretty blond that I knew from my Village Pizza days that worked the desk. I kept trying to get her to go out with me.

wikipedia on GEMCO

joe

Edited August 24, 2007 by texianjoe

[LMG]

I worked at the Globe on Woodridge in 1974 for one summer. The tire store next door was Fisk, had a little boy in pajamas and holding a candle with the slogan "Time to retire.".

The only Globe left after the late 70s was one in McAllen Texas. It was closed about 5 years ago. It made so much money from people coming across the border to shop they kept it open.

I remember Sage because it was the only non grocery store open on Sundays. They would block off sections of items you couldn't buy because of the Blue Laws.

joe

[LMG]

I worked at the Globe on Woodridge in 1974 for one summer. The tire store next door was Fisk, had a little boy in pajamas and holding a candle with the slogan "Time to retire.".

The only Globe left after the late 70s was one in McAllen Texas. It was closed about 5 years ago. It made so much money from people coming across the border to shop they kept it open.

I remember Sage because it was the only non grocery store open on Sundays. They would block off sections of items you couldn't buy because of the Blue Laws.

joe

[LMG]

The Globe Store in McAllen is still open. I live here so I'm sure about this.I think they only sell groceries though now.They have commercials on TV all the time about wall of food values,and that they have fresh french bread and fried chicken. They do get alot of business from Mexico I'm pretty sure.Mexican shoppers provide alot of revenue here. We're only like less than ten miles from Reynosa,Mexico,and Monterrey is not far away either.

[northbeaumont]

I remember back in the 1970s Gibson Department Store on Saturday's would "rope off" some items not to be sold on that day but on Sunday. Go figure.

[TJones]

I remember back in the 1970s Gibson Department Store on Saturday's would "rope off" some items not to be sold on that day but on Sunday. Go figure.

That was because of Texas Blue Laws, which are still in effect, but mainly just for car dealers.

Edited August 24, 2007 by TJones

[TJones]

I worked at the Globe on Woodridge in 1974 for one summer. The tire store next door was Fisk, had a little boy in pajamas and holding a candle with the slogan "Time to retire.".

The only Globe left after the late 70s was one in McAllen Texas. It was closed about 5 years ago. It made so much money from people coming across the border to shop they kept it open.

I remember Sage because it was the only non grocery store open on Sundays. They would block off sections of items you couldn't buy because of the Blue Laws.

joe

Hey Joe, they had the same type of set up with the Globe store in Baytown. There was a Fisk tires that turned into a Discount Tires. I got my first NEW bike at a Globe store, it was a Monoshock Huffy, Christmas of 1975.

Edited August 24, 2007 by TJones

[Vertigo58]

I remember back in the 1970s Gibson Department Store on Saturday's would "rope off" some items not to be sold on that day but on Sunday. Go figure.

and now that idea sounds just hilarious. Talk about a tease. That's like saying "You can look at the menu but you just cant eat".lol

Hope the Gibson was no relation to former mall queen, flash in the pan Debbie Gibson.

[texianjoe]

Hey Joe, they had the same type of set up with the Globe store in Baytown. There was a Fisk tires that turned into a Discount Tires. I got my first NEW bike at a Globe store, it was a Monoshock Huffy, Christmas of 1975.

Cool bike, I had the yellow Schwin with the banana seat and sissy bar. You can buy original refurbished bikes like those at the Schwin shop in Pasadena on Richey. They wanted the same for one of those old bikes as I paid for my brand new Cannondale.

joe

[TJones]

Cool bike, I had the yellow Schwin with the banana seat and sissy bar. You can buy original refurbished bikes like those at the Schwin shop in Pasadena on Richey. They wanted the same for one of those old bikes as I paid for my brand new Cannondale.

joe

Yeah, a fool and his money soon parted. But if they had a Black with Red rims Schwinn Mag Scrambler. I may have to put down a couple of bills.

I can remember how much I HATED that Huffy, I wanted anything BUT a Huffy back then. I wanted a Redline or a Schwinn or a Mongoose, but those were almost $200 back then. I finally got a Mag Scrambler in 1980, and it was stolen in front of a Stop and Go in 1982.

[Guest Marty]

I had one of those bike's when I was a kid. That thing was heavier than a boat anchor.

[cowboybud]

As you walked in the front door there was a tall desk to the right where you had to show your membership card. I don't remember if it cost anything but you had to have one. They may have relaxed it in its final days. Another reason I remember is there was a pretty blond that I knew from my Village Pizza days that worked the desk. I kept trying to get her to go out with me.

wikipedia on GEMCO

joe

The GEMCO by Northline Mall became a Fiesta, not sure if it's still there.

[PCfixit]

It definitly was a Fed Mart for a while. It was in the old Globe building. When Fed Mart closed they tore down the building and built the Mervyns there. Next to the parking lot for the Globe/Fed Mart was a large apartment clomplex that ran from there out to a street called Plum Creek that ran from Telephone near Stubbs Cycles over to Winkler. A friend of mine lived on Plum Creek and we would cut through the apartments over to Globe, and then Fed Mart. Someone who lived in the apartments had actually built a horseshoe pitch in the grass between the parking lot and the back fence of the apartments and cut a hole through the fence to have easy access. That was our cut through to the store.

The Horseshoe pit was built by Mr. Fine who lived in the trailer park at the Trailer closest to the pit. I lived in the Village Way Apartments on the other side of the fence. I lived in the same apartment for 17 years, I also had a friend that lived in a house on Plum Creek named Tim Clendinum, also a friend that lived in the other apartments on Plum Creek his name was Mike Kimsey and then the brother and sister whose parents owned or operated the trailer park, thier name was Rhino and Janice. Small world.

[blue92]

Familiar with Globe but not that location. We had one by us, when i was growing up. I think it was owned by Walgreens...it was their answer for Woolco and Kmart.

Actually Walgreens owned Woolco. Back in the 70s I did some watch repairs for Woolco and my paychecks were from Walgreens, well the checks had Walgreens in the letterhead.

Edited March 28, 2012 by blue92

[IronTiger]

I think you mean Woolworth, not Walgreens.

[plumber2]

Walgreens owned Globe

Woolworths owned Woolco

SS Kresge owned KMart

Dayton Hudson owned Target

I could go on?

[IronTiger]

Globe was owned by Walgreens? Wow...I thought it was just a small local chain (though Globe never left Houston)

[blue92]

I think you mean Woolworth, not Walgreens.

Well what can I say, I've slept since.

[plumber2]

Globe was owned by Walgreens? Wow...I thought it was just a small local chain (though Globe never left Houston)

Globe was in other cities. There was one in Brownsville on Amigoland Blvd.

[Margo Mitchell]

I'm originally from Louisiana and remember Gibsons very well. They changed the name to Howard Brothers in the 70's and then Howards Brand Discount late 70's 80' s they went out of business about 87. Dont know where the Houston locations were if there were any but the ones I remember in Louisiana were in Lafayette on Johnston Street its a flea market now and Hwy 190 West across from the Yambilee Fair Grounds.

[Margo Mitchell]

I think there was a Globe across from Town & Country Mall, if you are heading South on the beltway feeder from I10 It was immediately on the right. am I right about this???

[djrage]

I remember the FedMart on Mykawa & The South Loop... it wasnt there too long. I almost feel like we shopped there in the days before they closed it down. Taking advantage of the clearance sales. By 1983 it was a Fiesta. Then we shopped at Fiesta for groceries.

Edited April 18, 2012 by djrage

[NenaE]

Globe's logo was the sun. I think it had a smiling face on it.

[Urban Commando]

The GEMCO by Northline Mall became a Fiesta, not sure if it's still there.

Yep, the Fiesta is still there in the old GEMCO building.

[djrage]

By any chance is the Fiesta on Jensen and 59 an old Gemco. Seems Fiesta took up shop in all those old Gemcos except for the on on Airport and 45.

[djrage]

Globe's logo was the sun. I think it had a smiling face on it.

I'd love to see that old logo. Internet searches turn up nothing

[blue92]

Anyone remember Wilson's? They later became Service Merchandise. Their home office was in Port Arthur and started out as a local Jewelry store chain there.

[djrage]

I remember the Wilson's at Gulfgate mall that later became Service Merchandise

[brucesw]

Service Merchandise bought out Wilson's. There was a WIlson's on 59 @ Bellerive in Sharpstown. I don't remember what all is in that space now but part of it is occupied by a Quiznos. There was also a Service Merchandise (never a Wilson's, I think) on 59 @ Williams Trace in First Colony, in that big strip with the HD.

I liked those catalog stores, especially W. Bell. Best Products was another. They usually had better quality merchandise than the big box stores like WM and Target that basicaly put them out of business.

[NenaE]

I remember the logo printed on those flat waxy brown paper sacks.Late sixties, early seventies.

Funny what u remember.

[djrage]

Globe's logo was the sun. I think it had a smiling face on it.

I seem to recall seeing that sign one night after hours turned off and it looking kinda freaky

[Pleak]

Service Merchandise bought out Wilson's. There was a WIlson's on 59 @ Bellerive in Sharpstown. I don't remember what all is in that space now but part of it is occupied by a Quiznos.

It now has an Office Depot, a Metropolitan Furniture and maybe another furniture store I can't remember in addition to the Quizno's. There was also a Foot Locker or something there a few years back.

There was also a Service Merchandise (never a Wilson's, I think) on 59 @ Williams Trace in First Colony, in that big strip with the HD.

I believe a Conn's is now there.

[BelindaMata]

Brought back memories... Globe in Pasadena department store and cafeteria.

Watched my sister stuff jello into the back junction of the booth seat.

Atomic throw up in the ladies room after getting a "shot" in the butt of penicillin.

[detached]

I think there was a Globe across from Town & Country Mall, if you are heading South on the beltway feeder from I10 It was immediately on the right. am I right about this???

I was waiting for this thread to mention the west side stores. That was Sage. The Globe in the Memorial area was in the SW corner of Gessner and I-10, just west of Memorial City Mall (where the new hospital/hotel has just been built). It can be seen in historicaerials.com, starting from 1973 on up to 2004. It must have been used as a different store after it quit being Globe in the 1970's, but I can't remember what store took over.

 

Sage was in the SW corner of Beltway 8 and I-10. I remember that Sage on West Belt was the only store that could sell clothes on Sunday when I was trying to buy some new clothing for school that was starting on Monday! Sage was nicer than Globe. Globe was like a K-Mart. Sage can be seen in historicaerials.com from 1973 until 2002. The land was then taken over by the highway department for use in the construction of Beltway 8 - I-10 interchange. The site is now a water retention pit.

[retroharvey65]

I remember being about 5 years of age and going to Globe Shopping City with our maid to buy supplies.  She took me to the café in the store and bought me a piece of Lemon Meringue Pie and milk.  It was so delicious!  After that she met up with a friend who took us back home.  I can still remember The Carpenters song, "We've Only Just begun" playing in the background.  This was 1970 in McAllen, Texas.  I still have such great memories of standing in line, waiting to pay for our items.  I miss Candy a lot, as that was our maid's name.