Jump to content

Medical Center Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming


pineda

Recommended Posts

  • 5 months later...

We are planning to open another location in the Medical Center, but we want to know where the best retail space would be to maximize traffic. We know rent would be high, but think the location is worth it. Just trying to get information on the most crowded spaces since we are never down there for lunch or dinner. Thanks

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are planning to open another location in the Medical Center, but we want to know where the best retail space would be to maximize traffic. We know rent would be high, but think the location is worth it. Just trying to get information on the most crowded spaces since we are never down there for lunch or dinner. Thanks

FIRST and FOREMOST just who is the big WE........for your name and overall reputation will be indicative upon the type of clientale that will be soon patronizing your business establishment, no matter where you may be located.

I have had the pleasure of working within the confines of the TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER beginning with MD Anserson CC, to my final years with the Kelsey Seybold Clinic, located within the Medical Towers building upon Fannin St. before I moved on to oil and gas ventures downtown Houston. I can honestly assure you that you MUST perform your due-diligence before you pounce down anywhere regarding any form of retail or eating establishment within this broad and growing business sector.

It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to know just who really owns whatever piece of property that you may be interested in.......and then head on from there......for in the TMC, retail land/space is at an all time shortage unless you are planning to base your business upon one of the brand new professional towers that are constantly being built, or in the planning stages.

IN REGARDS TO RETAIL TRAFFIC......this where it becomes tricky.....for the TMC, if you have been paying attention to the building patterns within the last few years......is becoming more compact, dense, as well as space age in design aspects......THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP WORKERS, PATIENTS, PATRONS away from the busy streets as much as possible......and into one of the beautiful gleaming towers loaded with almost everything imaginable......

So take my advice.....PERFORM YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.....for this is a most inportant aspect of planning a business within the TMC.........since you are contemplating expansion, let us hope that your name and quality standards are held in high regard.......for believe me when I say that in dealing with doctors and medical professionals, it is very important......for they can make you are break you when it comes to their patients are patrons.........BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOURS ON YOUR PROSPECTIVE VENTURE!

Metropolitantexan

Vince Young is coming home soon......

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We currently have a location in Downtown and patronize mostly professionals. We also cater to many offices in the TMC already. I didn't mention our name since I didn't want to self promote. I'm pretty certain our reputation and quailty standards are in high regard or at least we do our very best to keep it that way. I just wanted to know if any here on this board knew of any good hotspots. Driving around in the TMC, you do not see many retail areas except around Dryden. Posting here in the first place is part of my initial DDs.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We currently have a location in Downtown and patronize mostly professionals. We also cater to many offices in the TMC already. I didn't mention our name since I didn't want to self promote. I'm pretty certain our reputation and quailty standards are in high regard or at least we do our very best to keep it that way. I just wanted to know if any here on this board knew of any good hotspots. Driving around in the TMC, you do not see many retail areas except around Dryden. Posting here in the first place is part of my initial DDs.

Being anonymous while providing queries, can very easily serve it's purpose, but it could also discern your credibility.

It should become very evident, that the reason we would like to know your namesake or what type of services you will render, is because it will allow those of us who are familiar with the overall area and it's practices to better assist you.........

Nevertheless, you have stated above that you already cater to many offices within the TMC.....well that provides me with the knowledge that at least you pretty much know your prospective clientale, as well as their eating/spending habits. Please allow me the opportunity to suggest that you look into establishing your prospective venture into one of the newly planned or already established professional office towers (St. Luke's Med Towers, Methodist Scurlock Tower, or even the Memorial Hermann Plaza currently under construction......) you may be surprised at how they can design your establishment to stand out amongst the crowd............and please believe me, there will very well be a crowd, if you offer high quality as well as consistency in regards to your product....... I DO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF IN THIS REGARD......

TRUST ME! It is not going to be your average "walk in from the street patron" that will allow you the financial windfall within the TMC.........It will be your call-in orders.......in the aforementioned, you stated the word "HOTSPOTS" well, regarding the TMC......how do you suppose that they become that way in the first place........BEST OF LUCK!

Metropolitantexan

Vince Young is coming home soon!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want some perspective from someone who DOESN'T get catered lunches at the office....

I work at 6431 Fannin, and walked out on Fannin last week to try and grab some lunch. I found that I had to walk past the University intersection to find a take out place - there is a subway, a Chipotle, and a starbucks on that corner. All three of them were absolutely packed - lines out the door. I was pretty surprised there weren't more restaurants further north on Fannin. The only other options I can walk to in a reasonable amount of time are the med center commons and the hospital cafeteria. There's some kind of sandwich place going in across from the northbound memorial hermann/houston zoo red line stop, and that's it.

Plenty of construction right around there, however, so if there's ground level space available soon I think an eatery would do pretty well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think there needs to be a center of retail at each of the light rail stops in the Med Center. Retail works really well there at the Southbound Dryden TMC station and most of the foot traffic comes from mostly only 3 retailers. Subway, Chipotle, and Starbucks. I actually kill time and go to the Chipotle in the TMC rather than downtown because you really can't do that much people watching at the one in downtown. I don't know why but the TMC seems more livelier than downtown.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...
My older brother was one of Jerry's kids. "may god be with him" So let's here your memories.

I was involved in volunteer work for so many years with MDA. My sister and I along with several friends worked in the Americana Hotel in NYC decades ago. We are from L.I. and the $ collecting started in the summer and we were off to the city to donate and volunteer answering phones. Jerry would send my sis and I out in the streets with police escorts to continue collecting $. We did this until Jerry moved out of New York and went to I believe it was L.A. and then Vegas. (if I remember correctly). To this day decades later I have never missed contributing to this incredible cause. An irony is that my grandmother's cousin who was a senator in N.Y. did yearly announcements for Jerry asking people to give as much as they could and he himself passed away from ALS.

One needs to know how long this telethon has been on air and the multi-millions raised to see what it takes for some breakthrough.

I just pray one day all these diseases will be eradicated.

My young nephew has cerebral palsy and I would like to see him walking one day as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually remember watching the MDA telethon as early as the 1990s on KPRC. Back then, there were a lot of numbers to call from, and now there's only a handful of numbers, given the fact that you can now donate online. Of course, I am familiar with the closing song Jerry performs. I even tried to apply to join the call center team while I was at Dulles (as a freshman, even though I looked like a high school senior and even had girls that were seniors at the time taking note of me) in 2001; they were already booked when I tried to apply.

And I am pretty glad KPRC decided to continue on; they almost never did this year, because there was a story where KPRC decided to do away with the MDA Telethon until people complained about this move by KPRC. It should also be noted KPRC was also the only major-market NBC affiliate not to air the Winter Olympics preview show, instead choosing to go on with ET. The Chronicle stated "it would do better with Brad and Angelina baby updates."

And the MDA Telethon is probably one of the last things synonymous with the KPRC we're all familiar with still on there, the Washington Post has really trashed KPRC in recent years; their graphics are nothing like a major market station at all and the news set is really outdated. Even the weather team changes on and off. Jerome Gray's addition to the Local 2 News team is definitely a welcome sign of change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As long as I can remember watching T.V. I use to actually go door to door getting donations and making my mother drive me to drop them off over at Channel 2. This was the 70's, I'll ask Mr.Peabody if we can jump into the "wayback" machine.

Edited by TJones
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are a big center for Science&Technology in Houston and in Texas. Dallas has got electronics and telecom companies. Austin has Electronics. And then there's Houston. Our stregnth seems to be in Science and Engineering.

I'm just trying to figure out where the Science and Technology centers are in Houston. The West Belt seems to have all the electronics.BMC Software,ITT Tech, Devry,Westwood Technology Center, even Halliburton. There's Texas Instruments just a mile away in Stafford.

Science seems to be centered around the South side just a couple miles from Downtown. Both U OF H and RIce University have research facilitites. I don't know if TSU's got labs. And of curse The Medical Center. Lots of biological&medical research going on there in places like Baylor and UT Health Science Center.

Although not as known or large the far North has a surprising amount orf research. Infact that's what it's called.....Research Forest.All sorts of labs and technological stuff goign on there. That as well as houses.

Downtown would probrably be our center for Engineering. Not only cause I noticed a couple architectural and engineering companies there, but the oil industry. Oil production takes alot of engineers. It's called petroleum engineering and Houston's got alot of it. The oil companies are located Downtown and the Energy corridor so I guess Downtown and I-10 West are our areas for Engineering.

Houston has 3 known big Sci-Tech complexes. Compaq/Hewlitt-Packard in NW. Texas instruments in SW, and NASA in SE> I didn't know there was a big research and aerospace industry out Clear Lake. I was talking to a guy yesterday. I was asking about diversity in SE he said yeah there's lots. Lots because of the technical jobs out there. I know there's NASA which I think of more for Spacethere was Lorall, and McDonald Douglas has something out there. I don't know what other facilitites and companies there are out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Well I guess nobody cares to respond to this one.

Maybe you should have asked a focused question.

After reading your post, someone lightly scanning it would think you are simply making a statement instead of submitting questions.

Just a thought. ^_^

I think you are asking, other the ones you mentioned, "What/where are other science and engineering firms localized in Houston?" I must say it may be harder to get a lively conversation from this, as your audience who has interest in this may be limited.

Edited by Pumapayam
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Hi everyone!

I'm going to be moving to Houston sometime in June 2007. I need to be close to the Texas Medical Center . . .I was wondering if anyone knows of any apartments or condos for rent that are currently under construction and scheduled to be available in the next 3-4 months. Thanks for your help.

:rolleyes:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello, Thinkerbell. We as Houstonians glad you decided Houston for your home. So, where you coming from? Are you a medical student? A nurse? A doctor?

Here is a Web-Site; Houston Apartment Finders

Their service is free, provide free transportation, free newcomer kit. You save gas and time. Information on rental furniture, and City-wide options.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of the newer construction is taking place south of Holcombe Blvd. (in fact, a couple of new places appear to be going up along OST, just west of SH 288). Rents will be higher in this area because of access to the Medical Center and the fact that it's a pretty prosperous area in general.

There are some charming older places just north of the Museum District, between San Jacinto and Almeda and north of Herman Park Drive that might interest you. But again... rents can be pretty high, given the area.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

We're looking to move out of Dairy-Ashford/Memorial area closer -- much closer -- to downtown. We go to church near TMC and (hope springs eternal) believe that somewhere there must be pockets of affordable housing.

We're in our late 50s, have kids in college and are behind on the 401(k). In other words, don't have much to put into a home. We're looking for SAFE but also affordable. We've just recently been looking into the City Park/Orem area (both east and west of 288). The homes just east of 288 seem slightly better built than the ones west of 288.

I'd love to hear suggestions where to go to put $150,000 to $175,000 into a home that will hold value.

Is it possible that, due to proximity to Downtown & TMC that these areas will cohere and actually appreciate over time?

Also, what is the flood situation there? Sims Bayou -- what happened to that area during Allison? I seem to remember part of 288 being under water at both the Beltway and 610. Every time we're out there looking at models, it always seems to be REALLY muddy . . . even when it hasn't rained for days.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, what is the flood situation there? Sims Bayou -- what happened to that area during Allison? I seem to remember part of 288 being under water at both the Beltway and 610. Every time we're out there looking at models, it always seems to be REALLY muddy . . . even when it hasn't rained for days.

the county has been working on the sims bayou situation for over 10 yrs.....i know they have done quite a bit, however i don't believe they have made it to the west side of 288, but that is in their plans

are you willing to buy a fixer upper? how much square footage do you need? for the price you're willing to spend, i think you have many options.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the county has been working on the sims bayou situation for over 10 yrs.....i know they have done quite a bit, however i don't believe they have made it to the west side of 288, but that is in their plans

are you willing to buy a fixer upper? how much square footage do you need? for the price you're willing to spend, i think you have many options.

I believe Sims Bayou construction is a joint effort between Harris County Flood Control and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Construction is complete downstream (east) of 288 and has proceeded upstream (west) of 288.

My understanding is that the construction will lower the floodplain elevation by as much as 5 feet in the vicinity of 288. That's a HUGE amount.

Downstream of 288, the floodplain is now within the banks of Sims Bayou for the most part. I imagine the same will be true upstream of 288 as construction is completed.

The reason that new developments look muddy is because of the disturbed soil that washes into the streets...once the ground is revegetated, you won't see all the mud in the streets.

FWIW, I live just inside the loop at 288, in South Union. It's a quiet, safe neighborhood. It's rough around the edges, with some abandoned homes, condemned homes and vacant lots, but on the other hand, it's ripe for redevelopment. In fact, I'd guess there've been 10-20 new brick homes built here in the last 2-3 years. You can get a new 1500-2000 sf home here for around $110k-$125k.

It might be worth looking into. There are also other options inside the loop...Scott Terrace, Washington Terrace, 3rd Ward, and then you've got the East End. I find all these neighborhoods to be safe, unless you're slinging coca and pi$$ someone off. Unless you're dealing or stealing, you should have nothing to fear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't mean to go off-topic, but who is building these homes?

I don't have a clue.

I believe one nearby said "Midtown Investment Group" or something like that, but I don't know who the builder was.

If it's one builder, they're not advertising who they are. Well, not matter how many builders, they're not advertising who they are. They're just here and there around the neighborhood.

FWIW, a couple years ago I remember seeing a ton of "Texas Colonial Homes" signs leading to the Foster Place neighborhood, between Scott and Cullen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the county has been working on the sims bayou situation for over 10 yrs.....i know they have done quite a bit, however i don't believe they have made it to the west side of 288, but that is in their plans

are you willing to buy a fixer upper? how much square footage do you need? for the price you're willing to spend, i think you have many options.

We need about 2500sf . . . can probably go as high as $175,000.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest danax
I don't have a clue.

I believe one nearby said "Midtown Investment Group" or something like that, but I don't know who the builder was.

I wonder if it's the stolen Midtown TIRZ money being used by Garnet Coleman. They own many lots, mostly in greater 3rd Ward though, and go by Midtown Development Authority or Midtown Redevelopment Authority.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest danax
Stolen?

That is strong words. Can you back up that allegation?

Here's the HAIF topic where we pondered how this was taking place. I would love to hear from Mr. Coleman so that he could explain what's really going on, if it's other that it appears, and I would be more than happy to retract my statement, but you don't have to probe very deep to discover that what appears to be true is: money meant for Midtown is being spent banking land in 3rd Ward to "fight gentrification". The amazing thing is he's getting away with it, and is even proud of it. Apparently it's a legal way to spend TIRZ money, but Coleman's intentions are transparent. Here's more discussion in the Houston Strategies blog.

But as for these homes, if they're for sale, then I doubt they're from the Coleman loot, since his vision is for low-income rental properties to dot the landscape.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest danax
Sounds like sour grapes. Sounds like (even you admit) that it appears to be legal to do this.

Doesn't sound like theft if it's legal.

We all know that certain developers get away with things for better or worse.

No sour grapes here. Maybe I'm a simpleton but it seems obvious that he's on the Midtown TIRZ board, not to improve Midtown, but to prevent yuppies from over-running 3rd Ward. Legal or not, that disgusts me as an abuse.

It sounds like you're sticking up for what he's doing. Why?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sticking up for anyone and certainly not criminal behavior. But, you mentioned 'stolen' funds. I was just trying to make sure YOU knew what you were saying.

It doesn't sound like stolen, but perhaps misappropriation.

There is a big difference.

i tend ot agree with danax here. the midtown TIRZ funds are for use in that zone, not in another area. i'll bet anyone who is from midtown would be against coleman's actions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're looking to move out of Dairy-Ashford/Memorial area closer -- much closer -- to downtown. We go to church near TMC and (hope springs eternal) believe that somewhere there must be pockets of affordable housing.

We're in our late 50s, have kids in college and are behind on the 401(k). In other words, don't have much to put into a home. We're looking for SAFE but also affordable. We've just recently been looking into the City Park/Orem area (both east and west of 288). The homes just east of 288 seem slightly better built than the ones west of 288.

I'd love to hear suggestions where to go to put $150,000 to $175,000 into a home that will hold value.

Is it possible that, due to proximity to Downtown & TMC that these areas will cohere and actually appreciate over time?

Also, what is the flood situation there? Sims Bayou -- what happened to that area during Allison? I seem to remember part of 288 being under water at both the Beltway and 610. Every time we're out there looking at models, it always seems to be REALLY muddy . . . even when it hasn't rained for days.

Is Pearland a bit farther out than you want to go because there are houses in that price range.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest danax
Not sticking up for anyone and certainly not criminal behavior. But, you mentioned 'stolen' funds. I was just trying to make sure YOU knew what you were saying.

It doesn't sound like stolen, but perhaps misappropriation.

There is a big difference.

I'm really not interested in the perfect word. His actions are what need scrutiny.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is Pearland a bit farther out than you want to go because there are houses in that price range.

We're open to ANY suggestions from the good people in this forum. I like -- for the most part! -- what I read here and the "ethos" expressed. We're looking for quality, beyond probably what we can afford, an aesthetic, but also safety and (reasonable) convenience to downtown & TMC. Having lived now almost ten years on the West side of town, we know "a little bit" about a lot of neighborhoods, and many of them seem WAY out of our price range.

Thanks to all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're open to ANY suggestions from the good people in this forum. I like -- for the most part! -- what I read here and the "ethos" expressed. We're looking for quality, beyond probably what we can afford, an aesthetic, but also safety and (reasonable) convenience to downtown & TMC. Having lived now almost ten years on the West side of town, we know "a little bit" about a lot of neighborhoods, and many of them seem WAY out of our price range.

Thanks to all.

Do you really need 2500 sq ft? This may be where you might need to make your compromise, if you can and still be happy with the choice.

You could get the location etc in Idylwood, but not the size. You might try Meadowcreek Village, over off of Allendale and Monroe. There are some nice sections in there with some sizeable homes in that price range.

Have you thought about going a little to the southwest of the med center into Post Oak Manor, Willowbrook & Westbury? These are not the new-style homes with the high ceilings, open floorplans, etc. But when "moving in" these are the sort of compromises you have to be prepared to make unless you have a ton of money to spend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're open to ANY suggestions from the good people in this forum. I like -- for the most part! -- what I read here and the "ethos" expressed. We're looking for quality, beyond probably what we can afford, an aesthetic, but also safety and (reasonable) convenience to downtown & TMC. Having lived now almost ten years on the West side of town, we know "a little bit" about a lot of neighborhoods, and many of them seem WAY out of our price range.

Thanks to all.

Check out The Enclave at Southern Trails (518 exit off of 288). Newmark and Trophy Homes are the builders. Also check out the Shadow Creek Ranch (Shadow Creek Pkwy/2234 exit off of 288) new home center, they can give you a list of the neighborhoods within your price range. There are homes in the $175K range. Finally do a HAR search for zip code 77584 with the amenities that you want.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Looks like a major fire that's coming near St. Lukes or the Children's hospital.

Lots of smoke, but from the news, it's behind the Rotary Building on pressler.

Edited by ricco67
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to Jerry Lewis MD Anderson Telethon

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...