Coog's Crossing: Mixed-Use Developmen At 4001 Gulf Fwy.

[Scharpe St Guy]

All/Mod,

Finger Furniture At 4001 Gulf Fwy.

Perhaps I have missed the thread else ware and the search let me down but what is the buzz on the Fingers Furniture location across the Freeway from UofH? This is a large tract of land just south of downtown next to our largest University so what will it become, any insight?

Apologies if this is being discussed else ware,

Scharpe St Guy

[illusionescape]

All/Mod,

Perhaps I have missed the thread else ware and the search let me down but what is the buzz on the Fingers Furniture location across the Freeway from UofH? This is a large tract of land just south of downtown next to our largest University so what will it become, any insight?

Apologies if this is being discussed else ware,

Scharpe St Guy

I think it is supposed to be converted into an Ashley Furniture, if I'm not mistaken.

[musicman]

another thread here

[Scharpe St Guy]

Just found this: "Longer-term, the Finger family, which owns Fingers Furniture, plans a multitenant redevelopment of the Gulf Freeway property."

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto.../25/story6.html

I'm pretty sure that I heard that this would not be an Ashley Furniture location, then I heard something about Walmart going in there but that could have been pie in the sky.

Thanks,

Scharpe St Guy

[travelguy_73]

At this point, I assume they have begun to enjoy the "auction" process and might start a side business. Seriously, how much furniture could they have left to auction, and who buys nightstands at auction thinking they are gonig to get a deal?

Edited March 9, 2009 by travelguy_73

[travelguy_73]

I noticed on my way home this evening that the Finger's Furniture location at Cullen says "opening soon" on their sign. We have all watched the painfully slow liquidation sale, then the removal of some of the signs, cleaning of others, etc. And now it is reopening?

I can't find anything online, so if anyone knows anything, share it! Not that I'm excited to see it again, but it's better than a vacant building.

eta: Their website says it as well...

http://www.fingerfurniture.com/

Edited February 11, 2010 by travelguy_73

[Hanuman]

I noticed on my way home this evening that the Finger's Furniture location at Cullen says "opening soon" on their sign. We have all watched the painfully slow liquidation sale, then the removal of some of the signs, cleaning of others, etc. And now it is reopening?

I can't find anything online, so if anyone knows anything, share it! Not that I'm excited to see it again, but it's better than a vacant building.

eta: Their website says it as well...

http://www.fingerfurniture.com/

The last I heard from one of the managers, there is another large furniture chain that bought the remaining inventory, and will be open at that location. I can't remember the name of the new chain, but it wasn't Star.

[crunchtastic]

The last I heard from one of the managers, there is another large furniture chain that bought the remaining inventory, and will be open at that location. I can't remember the name of the new chain, but it wasn't Star.

I think I remember seeing an HBJ article a while back--want to say it's Ashley.

[plumber2]

Aren't all Fingers locations becoming Ashley Furniture stores?

[TheNiche]

Aren't all Fingers locations becoming Ashley Furniture stores?

The Cullen location was supposed to be torn down and the site redeveloped. Obviously that's not going to happen any time soon.

[travelguy_73]

IIRC, they were SUPPOSED to become Ashley stores, then Hill Country Furniture Partners did an end run and secured the chain. And given how fresh and clean the "F"s look on the signage, it's staying Fingers.

I emailed Nancy Sarnoff to see if she has any info, but haven't heard back yet.

Edited February 11, 2010 by travelguy_73

[24zulu]

IIRC, they were SUPPOSED to become Ashley stores, then Hill Country Furniture Partners did an end run and secured the chain. And given how fresh and clean the "F"s look on the signage, it's staying Fingers.

I emailed Nancy Sarnoff to see if she has any info, but haven't heard back yet.

Ashley did have the deal, last I heard, and were toying with remodeling plans, but not demolition.

I don't think the Finger family is going to be involved, or allow the name to be used again.

[samagon]

I don't think the Finger family is going to be involved, or allow the name to be used again.

Money is a powerful persuasive tool, but I guess we'll see!

[houston-development]

I don't think the Finger family is going to be involved, or allow the name to be used again.

incorrect, rodney will be running the show. just waiting for the noncompete to expire, along with some other things...

[Hanuman]

incorrect, rodney will be running the show. just waiting for the noncompete to expire, along with some other things...

As Ashley, or Finger? Who is Rodney, and why would he be running Ashley? Very confusing...when is the announcement expected?

[travelguy_73]

As Ashley, or Finger? Who is Rodney, and why would he be running Ashley? Very confusing...when is the announcement expected?

As I stated in an earlier post, Ashley and Fingers are not affiliated. They were supposed to be, and that is what got all the press a while back, but Hill Country got the franchise and the Ashley rights belong to them. Everything I have seen and posted points to the Finger name staying put, otherwise their website wouldn't have the name and logo, and neither would the Cullen location.

And thanks for the update, H-D! Haven't see you around in a while.

[houston-development]

As Ashley, or Finger? Who is Rodney, and why would he be running Ashley? Very confusing...when is the announcement expected?

sorry. rodney finger, who took over fingers after his father passed away. no timetable on an annoucement.

hi travelguy and my pleasure

[Zephyr]

What happened to the baseball museum inside the Finger's on Cullen?

[mkultra25]

What happened to the baseball museum inside the Finger's on Cullen?

Long gone. Everything was packed up and moved (presumably to offsite storage) before they started the going-out-of-business sale. The home plate from Buff Stadium was left in place, however - not sure if it's still there now.

[musicman]

it's open now

[312]

Long gone. Everything was packed up and moved (presumably to offsite storage) before they started the going-out-of-business sale. The home plate from Buff Stadium was left in place, however - not sure if it's still there now.

That was a neat museum. It was the last place I expected to find a museum.

[Specwriter]

That was a neat museum. It was the last place I expected to find a museum.

Indeed one would not expect to find a baseball museum in the basement of a furniture store. I just read the on-line Chronicle article about the reopening. The article suggests that the museum will remain and that exhibits will be rotated through. I plan to visit this weekend. I need a new sofa anyway.

[musicman]

Inside the reopened Finger Furniture store is a wall illustration of a lemon tree and the words “When life hands you lemons.” A lemonade stand will soon be installed.

A year ago, Rodney Finger may have had a sour taste in his mouth after he found himself out of the furniture business. His family had owned Finger Furniture for more than 80 years, and in recent years they also owned the local license for Ashley Furniture HomeStores.

Debt problems forced Rodney Finger out of the furniture business, but now he is back with his remodeled store on the Gulf Freeway.

full article

[crunchtastic]

Isn't it great? Rodney was forced out of business temporarily due to debt issues, yet like a post-apocalyptic roach who refuses

to die, is back in the game using the same old business model of aggressivley promoting debt financing to sell a shoddy foreign made product with a 300% mark-up to the lower middle and working class. Boo effin hoo on Finger's debt problem. No interest, no payments for 3 years, indeed.

Good luck if you try, like we did, to deal with one of their floor lizards on a discount for cash. It's all about the financing.

[travelguy_73]

Inside the reopened Finger Furniture store is a wall illustration of a lemon tree and the words “When life hands you lemons.” A lemonade stand will soon be installed.

A year ago, Rodney Finger may have had a sour taste in his mouth after he found himself out of the furniture business. His family had owned Finger Furniture for more than 80 years, and in recent years they also owned the local license for Ashley Furniture HomeStores.

Debt problems forced Rodney Finger out of the furniture business, but now he is back with his remodeled store on the Gulf Freeway.

full article

I've never been a Finger's customer (couldn't stand their salespeople), but I do wish him luck. It's refreshing to see a bit of candor with regard to the mistakes made with their previous expansion attempts. Didn't try to blame the economy, at least admitting they only "probably" would have been OK if it hadn't stumbled.

And I do love the comments on the chron page...especially the one about people "not wanting to drive out to that neighborhood," and the random gripes about furniture quality.

[Hanuman]

Isn't it great? Rodney was forced out of business temporarily due to debt issues, yet like a post-apocalyptic roach who refuses

to die, is back in the game using the same old business model of aggressivley promoting debt financing to sell a shoddy foreign made product with a 300% mark-up to the lower middle and working class. Boo effin hoo on Finger's debt problem. No interest, no payments for 3 years, indeed.

Good luck if you try, like we did, to deal with one of their floor lizards on a discount for cash. It's all about the financing.

Crunch, What year was it again that you got fired from Finger's? Whoa! Don't turn your gun this way...just kidding! Lol...

[musicman]

And I do love the comments on the chron page...especially the one about people "not wanting to drive out to that neighborhood," and the random gripes about furniture quality.

truth is difficult for some.

[travelguy_73]

truth is difficult for some.

Truth is difficult for whom??? Do you read any of your little one-line replies after you post them? I swear, half the time they make little sense.

[NenaE]

I'd like to pay a visit and see what they mean by remodel. I rather enjoyed some of those 1960's structural details. The floor, entrance doors, interior stairs and differing levels come to mind.

[musicman]

'

Edited February 27, 2010 by musicman

[musicman]

Truth is difficult for whom??? Do you read any of your little one-line replies after you post them? I swear, half the time they make little sense.

those not wanting to drive out to that neighborhood. didn't you quote that?

Edited February 27, 2010 by musicman

[Al Williams]

they never tore the building down because the foundation is so thick that not even a nuke would break it apart

a bud of mine did a structural survey on the place right after Fingers closed the first time. He was amazed at how overengineered the place was

[IronTiger]

they never tore the building down because the foundation is so thick that not even a nuke would break it apart

a bud of mine did a structural survey on the place right after Fingers closed the first time. He was amazed at how overengineered the place was

When my mother lived on Lake Waco when she was very young, her family lived in a house that was supposed to be a real house but only the basement was built, so the basement was literally like a bunker with a (presumably) sunken door and one-foot-thick concrete walls.

I'm sure that it's still probably there under Lake Waco where they flooded it to build a dam.

[Pleak]

The one where Buff Stadium used to sit. Fingers is going to move the sports memorabilia to two other existing stores. I remember shopping there years ago. But it seems like we never actually bought anything there - they were always too pricey.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/08/finger-furniture-to-close-big-gulf-freeway-store/

[samagon]

closing again?

I know the Macy's warehouse has been for sale for at least a year, and now this is too? are they certain they can sell it in 2 months?

I guess they already have someone ready to move in, they're just finalizing negotiations. interesting.

[Fortune]

I don't believe that Fingers owns that building they are leasing it.

[LTAWACS]

The one where Buff Stadium used to sit. Fingers is going to move the sports memorabilia to two other existing stores. I remember shopping there years ago. But it seems like we never actually bought anything there - they were always too pricey.

http://blog.chron.co...-freeway-store/

No kidding they were pricy... I was looking for a bookcase... a simple bookcase... they wanted $900 for that? #@^$ no!

We laughed and started walking out when the salesman pointed out another bookcase for.... $600!!! #*@* no!

He became offended when my wife said that those prices are astronomical and tried to mouth off to her. #*$& no!

I put my beer down, threw my cigarette aside, grabbed him and forced him to apologize. We left. I'm surprised they lasted this long.

[samagon]

Not only that but when I went I found the styles (IMO) were a bit dated.

But I am a fan of contemporary styling. I enjoyed browsing at Eurway when they had a store here.

[Houston19514]

closing again?

I know the Macy's warehouse has been for sale for at least a year, and now this is too? are they certain they can sell it in 2 months?

I guess they already have someone ready to move in, they're just finalizing negotiations. interesting.

As stated in the article, Finger Furniture does not own the building.

[burgower4]

University of Houston should buy the property it right across the street. U of H is building so many building they can build a nice mixed used area in that property

[samagon]

As stated in the article, Finger Furniture does not own the building.

Read the article, it was very confusing, it said that fingers was leasing, but that they were trying to sell. I assumed the article meant sub lease, but why not just say that?

[j_cuevas713]

No kidding they were pricy... I was looking for a bookcase... a simple bookcase... they wanted $900 for that? #@^$ no!

We laughed and started walking out when the salesman pointed out another bookcase for.... $600!!! #*@* no!

He became offended when my wife said that those prices are astronomical and tried to mouth off to her. #*$& no!

I put my beer down, threw my cigarette aside, grabbed him and forced him to apologize. We left. I'm surprised they lasted this long.

LOL nice. I would've done the same. Not the same Fingers store it used to be. Kind of a shame. I say rebuild Buff Stadium for the Lastros so we can put a real pro team in the JuiceBox. jk jk GO STROS!

[rsb320]

Carter Oosterhouse is saying on recent commercials that Rooms-To-Go is adding a second warehouse in the area. I wonder?

[Chi-Char-Hou-Dal]

http://swamplot.com/finger-furniture-selling-old-baseball-stadium-property-near-uh/2013-02-19/#more-55862

 

For sale: Bargain furniture Bargain property...

[Dakota79]

It will be interesting to see if Lovett does commercial or a huge patio home project here.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/finger-furniture-parcel-of-gulf-freeway-bought-by-houston-developer/?cmpid=businessmhcat

[LTAWACS]

Why not both? And why not mixed use?

[Dakota79]

That would be great. That building has been an eyesore for 50 years.

[Subdude]

That would be great. That building has been an eyesore for 50 years.

 

I wouldn't say it's an eyesore.  That seems a bit strong.  

 

I don't really see the site as a strong candidate for residential.  Retail seems more obvious.

[Michelle C]

At least when it was a Fingers, the home plate of old Buff stadium was preserved. This will be another jewel from the crown of Houston snatched never to be seen again.

[KinkaidAlum]

I bet it will be pad sites fronting the feeder road (drive-thru banks and fast food joints) with maybe a strip mall thrown in o boot and Townhomes in the back. Residential actually makes perfect sense right there. It's happening all around that site so why not there too?