Triton Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 What would be nice is a small book store in downtown...Brown Book Shop is nice for technical books but lacks any variety Although there were a lot of mixed views about it, we did have a Books-A-Million at GreenStreet (then the Pavillions). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Although there were a lot of mixed views about it, we did have a Books-A-Million at GreenStreet (then the Pavillions). And before that, there was a bookstore (Book Stop, maybe?)in the Park Shops. I'm not optimistic that retail bookstores that don't have a particular niche have much of a future anywhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 That's actually what I would like somewhere downtown - a small used book store somewhere, maybe in an older building 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Sounds like a "Half Priced Books"..? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 That's actually what I would like somewhere downtown - a small used book store somewhere, maybe in an older building Things are changing, hopefully all kinds of stuff that wouldn't have worked before DT will now. I want a hardware store personally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Rents are generally prohibitive for small book stores in urban centers. Harvard Square once had about 15 booksellers, now it has 1 or 2 outside of the university bookstore, which is obviously not a market-based lease. Rice Village 15 years ago had 3 used booksellers with another one not far away on Bissonnet; now all are gone except Half Price Books. Then again, Book People in Austin does a thriving business in a prime location next to the Whole Foods, and Powell's Books in Portland occupies a full city block in the heart everything. The lesson seems to be, if the market doesn't support going small, go big. Also, I wouldn't close the door permanently on brick-and-mortar bookstores, especially not used ones. If vinyl records can make a comeback, so can books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Its funny how things change. When I was a young boy my parents would go down town on Saturday and take us to the movies at the Metropolitan or the Loews. We'd then go over to either I think it was called Simpson's diner across the street, or walk over to Walker I believe and go to the James Coney Island and eat dogs at the old school desks. After that my mother would march us over to Foleys or Sakowitz for some things, go down the street for shoes and then get an ice cream treat on Main next to the theaters. That was shopping in Houston when I was a child. Too bad we lost all that when they opened Gulfgate and Meyerland. Then came the really big malls like Sharpstown and Memorial City which caused everything to close downtown and move out to the burbs. Its ironic and along with the trolleys and interurbans we had a fairly nice mass transportation system. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 Anyone know who the finalist are; any info on their proposals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Anyone know who the finalist are; any info on their proposals?^^^ probably, on or around 15 September, we should be made aware. at least this is what the chronicle is indicating.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Anyone know who the finalist are; any info on their proposals?I bet one of them is the fabled, mythical 102 story W Hotel. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lestat Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I bet one of them is the fabled, mythical 102 story W Hotel.Good heavens, that would be amazing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Good heavens, that would be amazing! The bad news is that it will be tan stucco. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The bad news is that it will be tan stucco. Holy crap...that could actually look worse than the Mercer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Rents are generally prohibitive for small book stores in urban centers. Harvard Square once had about 15 booksellers, now it has 1 or 2 outside of the university bookstore, which is obviously not a market-based lease. Rice Village 15 years ago had 3 used booksellers with another one not far away on Bissonnet; now all are gone except Half Price Books. Then again, Book People in Austin does a thriving business in a prime location next to the Whole Foods, and Powell's Books in Portland occupies a full city block in the heart everything. The lesson seems to be, if the market doesn't support going small, go big. Also, I wouldn't close the door permanently on brick-and-mortar bookstores, especially not used ones. If vinyl records can make a comeback, so can books. actual B&M bookstores aren't going to go away completely. Amazon killed quite a few, but what isn't already dead, probably (hopefully) won't die. That is such a good thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) The bad news is that it will be tan stucco.Could imagine the logistical nightmare, not to mention the absolute balls-to-the-wall insanity a stucco'd tower would be? I'd almost be inclined to appreciate it at least Edited September 10, 2015 by BigFootsSocks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Holy crap...that could actually look worse than the Mercer. worser... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 thought we'd hear some sort of update/leak seeing how the deadline was a month ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 thought we'd hear some sort of update/leak seeing how the deadline was a month ago.Don't worry the Houston Chronicle has their top men on it....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Don't worry the Houston Chronicle has their top men on it....... In real estate, I'm pretty sure the Chron's "top men" is whoever reads Urbannizer's posts on this board. Edited October 20, 2015 by Nate99 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Don't worry the Houston Chronicle has their top men on it.......There's only bottom men at the chronicle 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 In real estate, I'm pretty sure the Chron's "top men" is whoever reads Urbannizer's posts on this board.Haha my post was meant to be read in that tone 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elseed Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Any update on this project? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 nope, which is a sign of bad news to come imo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 nope, which is a sign of bad news to come imoI am of the opposite opinion. I would rather this building stay in its current state and evolve into some major retail option if the Dallas Corridor picks up as a shopping district than to demolish it in favor of a souless box which most likely be it's replacement. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Any update on this project? http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28745-retail-district-planned-to-be-centered-around-dallas-st/?p=522054 btw i heard a well known and very familiar developer has won out on the sakowitz building.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Randall Davis Edited January 8, 2016 by Triton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hines 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Midway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) btw i heard a well known and very familiar developer has won out on the sakowitz building.. -swtsig Edited January 8, 2016 by H-Town Man 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 PMRG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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