Weingarten's Grocery Stores

[doug]

Does anyone have a photo of Weingarten's grocery store showing their sign?

[sevfiv]

Does anyone have a photo of Weingarten's grocery store showing their sign?

the bob bailey collection has a few neat older ones (with the weingarten name shown, on buildings and maybe signs):

http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/dmr_resul...ed&folder=8

Edited October 21, 2006 by sevfiv

[foxmulder]

Where was the Pasadena Weingarten located?

[FilioScotia]

Where was the Pasadena Weingarten located?

It mortifies me to admit I can't visualize a Weingarten's in Pasadena, but I'm sure there was one. For some reason, my memories keep coming back to a location in a shopping center on South Shaver at Southmore, directly across Shaver from the Sears store. I could be wrong though. I frequently am. Anybody with a better memory than mine? The floor is still open.

[foxmulder]

It mortifies me to admit I can't visualize a Weingarten's in Pasadena, but I'm sure there was one. For some reason, my memories keep coming back to a location in a shopping center on South Shaver at Southmore, directly across Shaver from the Sears store. I could be wrong though. I frequently am. Anybody with a better memory than mine? The floor is still open.

Better yet why did the 3 story building across from sears get razed? The one where wal-greens was. There was an old pharmacy and they had fountain drinks and ice cream. My dentist was on the second floor.

[rps324]

The picture of the one they are saying is in Pasadena looks an awful lot like that building on Harrisburg that is now an Auto Zone, over by that park near Eastwood.

[WestUNative]

My girlfriend was born in Pasadena in 1948 and lived there until around 1970, she should remember the location. Out of town at the moment, but she'll be back by mid-week. Will ask and see what we come up with on Weingarten's location.

The linked pictures were great, just wish with the rest of you, actual addresses were included. Say, wouldn't an old phone book be useful? I've noticed in past, some around here are in possession of same.

[Hunter]

Better yet why did the 3 story building across from sears get razed? The one where wal-greens was. There was an old pharmacy and they had fountain drinks and ice cream. My dentist was on the second floor.

You are thinking of the old Ables Pharmacy! I use to spend many a happy day going down there for the drinks and ice cream floats and to get my parents meds. The owner of the shopping strip sold the whole building and the Walgreens bought it. The rest of the story you can only guess. Many of the local residents tried to stop walgreens from destroying the building but noone wanted to listen. Money won out in the end.

[sevfiv]

The linked pictures were great, just wish with the rest of you, actual addresses were included. Say, wouldn't an old phone book be useful? I've noticed in past, some around here are in possession of same.

in 1955:

general offices:

600 lockwood dr

personnel offices:

808 prairie av

stores:

808 prairie av

1601 taft av

5100 harrisburg blvd

2001 yale

1420 richmond av

1802 polk av

3600 n main

3114 smith

1118 broadway

1100 quitman

2512 university blvd

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

6002 lyons

4100 almeda

4000 bissonnet

10901 market

8826 jensen dr

4431 griggs rd

south shaver and southmore, pasadena

bakery and food plant:

534 lockwood dr

poultry and sea food dept:

4711 navigation blvd

home centers:

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

Edited October 22, 2006 by sevfiv

[jm1fd]

This building is simply to die for. I presume, in the grand Houston tradition, that it has been torn down. Where was it?

Edited October 22, 2006 by jm1fd

[foxmulder]

The weingartens looks like it's right across from where walmart is! AH HA it IS IT! It's a shopping center owned by campbell properties!

compare it to

google earth view

The building on the north of the shopping center is a Family Dollar/Dollar General(same junk) The building where the arch looking thing is now a defunct Weiners(Now a falla paredes). On the bottom is where CiCi's pizza is at now. The street running on the left is W Southmore. My dentist was across from the southern tip in a three story building. On the east side is Shaver and I assume the Sears was there...

[foxmulder]

The weingartens looks like it's right across from where walmart is! AH HA it IS IT! It's a shopping center owned by campbell properties!

compare it to

google earth view

The building on the north of the shopping center is a Family Dollar/Dollar General(same junk) The building where the arch looking thing is now a defunct Weiners(Now a falla paredes). On the bottom is where CiCi's pizza is at now. The street running on the left is W Southmore. My dentist was across from the southern tip in a three story building. On the east side is Shaver and I assume the Sears was there...

There is an error somewhere look at the year built and year pic was taken...

http://hcad.org/records/details.asp?tab=1&...t=0281770000026

[gnu]

This building is simply to die for. I presume, in the grand Houston tradition, that it has been torn down. Where was it?

hey...i think its still here!

it may be the Telephone road weingartens (near broadmoor addition)

HiSD renovated it a few years back. not sure what they use it for, though.

[FilioScotia]

in 1955:

general offices:

600 lockwood dr

personnel offices:

808 prairie av

stores:

808 prairie av

1601 taft av

5100 harrisburg blvd

2001 yale

1420 richmond av

1802 polk av

3600 n main

3114 smith

1118 broadway

1100 quitman

2512 university blvd

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

6002 lyons

4100 almeda

4000 bissonnet

10901 market

8826 jensen dr

4431 griggs rd

south shaver and southmore, pasadena

bakery and food plant:

534 lockwood dr

poultry and sea food dept:

4711 navigation blvd

home centers:

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

I think, but I'm not 100 percent certain, that it may be the store in the 3100 block of Smith Street in mid-town. I lived in Montrose for a time in the sixties, and I did my grocery shopping there, and that picture looks just like it. It's also true that many of the Weingartens' stores looked like that.

[gnu]

I think, but I'm not 100 percent certain, that it may be the store in the 3100 block of Smith Street in mid-town. I lived in Montrose for a time in the sixties, and I did my grocery shopping there, and that picture looks just like it. It's also true that many of the Weingartens' stores looked like that.

it looks like it may be neither of them.

the picture caption in the collection database says it was store number 14.

the reference i have says store 14 was 1100 quitman.

the telephone store was no.22 and the smith store was no. 12

Edited October 23, 2006 by gnu

[sevfiv]

it looks like it may be neither of them.

the picture caption in the collection database says it was store number 14.

the reference i have says store 14 was 1100 quitman.

the telephone store was no.22 and the smith store was no. 12

well, 1100 quitman is still owned by weingarten (realty) according to hcad, with it listing the year built as 1931...

i can't for the life of me picture it now, but this is the aerial of the address:

[FilioScotia]

well, 1100 quitman is still owned by weingarten (realty) according to hcad, with it listing the year built as 1931...i can't for the life of me picture it now, but this is the aerial of the address:

I know that corner. The green arrow is pointed at the northwest corner of the campus of John Marshall Junior High. Across Quitman to the north is Jeff Davis High. The supermarket is the building across from Marshall JrHi with the reddish strip at the front and all the cars parked in front of it.

I can remember when it was a Weingarten's, but several other chains have also occupied it over the years. I have no idea what it is now.

Edited October 23, 2006 by FilioScotia

[KinkaidAlum]

I used to work for C.I.S. at Davis H.S. in the 90s. That store with the red roof is a Fiesta. The Fiesta looks nothing like the photo, so my guess is the old Weingarten store was ripped down and a new store with plenty of surface parking was built in its place...

[FilioScotia]

I used to work for C.I.S. at Davis H.S. in the 90s. That store with the red roof is a Fiesta. The Fiesta looks nothing like the photo, so my guess is the old Weingarten store was ripped down and a new store with plenty of surface parking was built in its place...

You're probably right. New owners frequently tear down and rebuild. It's cheaper to build a new one than to bring the old building up to code. The old Weingartens' bldg was also too small for Fiesta. RIP Weingartens.

Edited October 24, 2006 by FilioScotia

[sevfiv]

so then the hcad record for 1100 quitman (listed as a grocery store) built in 1931 is completely wrong? (not that they are right about things very often...!)

[FilioScotia]

so then the hcad record for 1100 quitman (listed as a grocery store) built in 1931 is completely wrong? (not that they are right about things very often...!)

Why would it be wrong? There's been a grocery store of one name or another at that address for more than 70 years. First it was a Weingartens'. Since they closed, it's been a couple of things and now it's a Fiesta.

[gnu]

so then the hcad record for 1100 quitman (listed as a grocery store) built in 1931 is completely wrong? (not that they are right about things very often...!)

it could be wrong. it wouldnt be the first time hcad messed up a build date.

maybe weingarten's renumbered the stores at some point...or there might be a discrepancy in the numbers in the listing. afterall, it is called "big store no.14"..maybe there was a little store 14 too?

sevfiv, does your store list give the store numbers too?

it sure does seem to resemble the old weingarten's building on telephone road...but i havent driven by it in a while. and a lot of stores could be similar - as filio stated

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...&iwloc=addr

[sevfiv]

yeah, who knows -

the reason i was mentioning that hcad was wrong was if the building was in fact demolished and then rebuilt (as a fiesta or whatever...). if that happened, then the date shouldn't be 1931, but the date the new building was built (the way hcad has things listed).

and unfortunately, my directory doesn't list store numbers

[SpaceAge]

1966 and 1969 directory show J. Weingarten Inc. at 1100 Quitman

[WestUNative]

My Pasadena Friend sent me this to post:

Yes, that is the Weingarten's in Pasadena. It sat on the northwest corner of Southmore and Shaver, across from Sears to the east, and Walgreen's to the south. The drugstore was Able's much longer than Walgreen's. It was a home-grown drugstore with a soda fountain (but no jukebox). Sears moved east to the new Pasadena Town Square Mall and Wal-Mart tore down the building and created one of the all night SuperCenters. The move did not help Sears very much, and Wal-Mart moving in hurt everything around. After Weingarten's moved out, Wyatt's Cafeteria was there, on the side facing Southmore (south) for a long time, but has been supplanted by the awful dollar genre. Palais Royale was there, facing Shaver (east) for quite a while, but the last of women's specialty shops in Pasadena died with Ms. Kraker.

[foxmulder]

My Pasadena Friend sent me this to post:

Yes, that is the Weingarten's in Pasadena. It sat on the northwest corner of Southmore and Shaver, across from Sears to the east, and Walgreen's to the south. The drugstore was Able's much longer than Walgreen's. It was a home-grown drugstore with a soda fountain (but no jukebox). Sears moved east to the new Pasadena Town Square Mall and Wal-Mart tore down the building and created one of the all night SuperCenters. The move did not help Sears very much, and Wal-Mart moving in hurt everything around. After Weingarten's moved out, Wyatt's Cafeteria was there, on the side facing Southmore (south) for a long time, but has been supplanted by the awful dollar genre. Palais Royale was there, facing Shaver (east) for quite a while, but the last of women's specialty shops in Pasadena died with Ms. Kraker.

I remember ables was a three story building. IT WAS CREEPY! I was 11 years old.(just about 10 years ago) They had an old OTIS elevator. It smelled like 1950 in there. Same smell when i go to Larry's Art on Richey. They sold old figurines at Ables, And the men that worked there were very nice. I have no idea what was in the 3 story building. I went to the 3rd floor for my braces and no door had names. My guess is most of it was probably abandoned. The Dentist moved next to rerun books which he is still there now. Nice old guy.

[lunchbox]

I remember ables was a three story building. IT WAS CREEPY! I was 11 years old.(just about 10 years ago) They had an old OTIS elevator. It smelled like 1950 in there. Same smell when i go to Larry's Art on Richey. They sold old figurines at Ables, And the men that worked there were very nice. I have no idea what was in the 3 story building. I went to the 3rd floor for my braces and no door had names. My guess is most of it was probably abandoned. The Dentist moved next to rerun books which he is still there now. Nice old guy.

My mom worked at the Weingarten's deli in Deer Park for a short time when I was a kid. I don't really remember what the store looked like (I was four), but eventually it became a Gerland's, and now it's a Food Town. There was one in La Porte, too. It became a Safeway, then a short-lived Apple Tree. Now it's one of the last (or might be THE last) "Food Fair" stores that still has the Gerland's name on it.

Speaking of Able Drugs, there was one in Deer Park/La Porte infront of San Jacinto College, and another one in Pasadena on Spencer Hwy (between Burke & Strawberry). That one (the one in Pasadena), I remember also had a soda fountain well into either the late 1980's or early 1990's (I don't remember which). The one is Deer Park is a nail shop, while the one in Pasadena is now a Ci-Ci's Pizza.

Oh, and I know what you mean about Larry's Arts. That place gives me the creeps. They too used to have soda fountain. They made good milk shakes... not as good as Able.

Edited October 27, 2006 by lunchbox

[57Tbird]

It smelled like 1950 in there.

Just curious... What does 1950 smell like?

[TheNiche]

Just curious... What does 1950 smell like?

I know precisely what 1950 smells like. The bouquet of scents is too complex to describe fully, but...think about grandparents. Especially if they've lived in the same house without doing major renovations for about 56 years.

[foxmulder]

Just curious... What does 1950 smell like?

Walk into Sears on main, Larry's Art's, Peek inside of El Capitan in Pasadena near the door. You'll "smell it." It just smells old that's all

[FilioScotia]

Walk into Sears on main, Larry's Art's, Peek inside of El Capitan in Pasadena near the door. You'll "smell it." It just smells old that's all

Just an FYI here. I notice a lot of people here on the HAIF refer to that art deco movie house in Pasadena as "El Capitan". That's not quite correct. It was never called that. It was just the "Capitan". They never used the Spanish article "El" in front of the name. I speak with a little authority on this because I grew up in Pasadena, and I even lived three blocks from the theater on Pomeroy Street. I had an intimate familiarity with that place. Memorieees...pressed between the pages da da daaa...

Check any photograph of it. Here's a couple. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTheaters/...tan-Theatre.htm

Edited October 28, 2006 by FilioScotia

[foxmulder]

Just an FYI here. I notice a lot of people here on the HAIF refer to that art deco movie house in Pasadena as "El Capitan". That's not quite correct. It was never called that. It was just the "Capitan". They never used the Spanish article "El" in front of the name. I speak with a little authority on this because I grew up in Pasadena, and I even lived three blocks from the theater on Pomeroy Street. I had an intimate familiarity with that place. Memoreeeeees.

Check any photograph of it. Here's a couple. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTheaters/...tan-Theatre.htm

It makes more sense for me (being hispanic) to say "El." The name is spanish "El" just naturally takes it's spot

[FilioScotia]

It makes more sense for me (being hispanic) to say "El." The name is spanish "El" just naturally takes it's spot

I agree, but a lot of people here are saying "THE EL Capitan". Which is repetitive, needless and unnecessarily redundant.

Just the same, the theater's name on its signage and in common usage was "Capitan". Not "El Capitan".

[mkultra25]

I agree, but a lot of people here are saying "THE EL Capitan". Which is repetitive, needless and unnecessarily redundant.

Just the same, the theater's name on its signage and in common usage was "Capitan". Not "El Capitan".

Plus, they're two different theaters. The El Capitan is in Hollywood and is owned by Disney:

El Capitan

[foxmulder]

Plus, they're two different theaters. The El Capitan is in Hollywood and is owned by Disney:

El Capitan

Wow... It's come to this? We know what theatre were refering to.

[mkultra25]

Wow... It's come to this? We know what theatre were refering to.

Wasn't intending to suggest anyone didn't know which theater was being discussed, just posted the link for anyone who may not have been aware of the Pasadena Capitan's more famous Hollywood namesake. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[foxmulder]

Wasn't intending to suggest anyone didn't know which theater was being discussed, just posted the link for anyone who may not have been aware of the Pasadena Capitan's more famous Hollywood namesake. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Ah

[enviromain]

I agree, but a lot of people here are saying "THE EL Capitan".

Shhhhhh..................Just testing you to see if you knew what that meant...............

[FreakyDude]

I agree, but a lot of people here are saying "THE EL Capitan". Which is repetitive, needless and unnecessarily redundant.

Just the same, the theater's name on its signage and in common usage was "Capitan". Not "El Capitan".

Why do you always stir up trouble? If you haven't noticed, Houston has a lot of Spanish heritage. There are ways to express your opinion without insulting others. Be nice, for goodness sake FilioScotia! This is an educational and productive forum for nice people. Without courtesy to others this cannot work!

[FilioScotia]

Why do you always stir up trouble? If you haven't noticed, Houston has a lot of Spanish heritage. There are ways to express your opinion without insulting others. Be nice, for goodness sake FilioScotia! This is an educational and productive forum for nice people. Without courtesy to others this cannot work!

Please explain how my posting was insulting? Or discourteous? Or stirring up trouble? The theater in Pasadena was called the "Capitan". Not "El Capitan". It's a small difference to be sure, but it's still different, and that's not an opinion. It's a fact. Look at the sign on the theater. In stating the facts, I made a verbal joke about redundancy, and it's clear that you didn't get it. You seem to be the one who's looking for something to be insulted about.

[Guest Marty]

I was looking through my Monday July 28 1969 Houston Post paper and read this.

A Salute To Our Three Astronauts from Weingartens

Your heroic and historic action has earned you the admiration of all the civilized world

WELCOME HOME - WELL DONE

They offer a 11 x 14 free color picture July 28, 29, 30 only. at all Weingartens stores

Edited November 13, 2006 by Marty

[enviromain]

I was looking through my Monday July 28 1969 Houston Post paper and read this.

A Salute To Our Three Astronauts from Weingartens

Your heroic and historic action has earned you the admiration of all the civilized world

WELCOME HOME - WELL DONE

They offer a 11 x 14 free color picture July 28, 29, 30 only. at all Weingartens stores

I remember that! Wow! In fact, if my memory serves me right, Weingartens provided color pictures for many space adventures following the first. I had 2 or 3 of those pictures at one time. The catch was that you could only obtain the pictures in the papers at Weingartens. Does anyone still have any of those?

[Guest Marty]

Wednesday. July 30 1969

Weingarten's Store Robbed of $35,000

Two gunmen robbed the Weingarten's grocery at 9420 Cullen Tuesday morning and took an estimated $35,000. It was the second robbery of the store within 11 days, police said.

BTW enviromain theres a 6 5/8 X 4 5/8 Astronuat picture that other Post paper.

Edited November 19, 2006 by Marty

[Vertigo58]

Wednesday. July 30 1969

Weingarten's Store Robbed of $35,000

Two gunmen robbed the Weingarten's grocery at 9420 Cullen Tuesday morning and took an estimated $35,000. It was the second robbery of the store within 11 days, police said.

BTW enviromain theres a 6 5/8 X 4 5/8 Astronuat picture that other Post paper.

This is amazing!

When I 1st saw your message I thought it was referencing a robbery I was actually in approximately 1967-68? However; it was in Denver Harbor off Lyons Avenue. I was only about 7 yrs old went with my mom so she could would buy groceries. We were walking through (not sure why I recall produce section) listening to the manager announce daily specials as they did then, when all of a sudden we heard a man's muffled voice sounded like he was pleading/whimpering on the intercom. Everyone froze in the aisles looking around. Apparently, the manager was being threatened with a gun and maybe beaten "live". There was alot of commotion, other ladies near us gathering some crying, then after a while several men were walking around telling everyone that it was all over. We didnt know what until we were walking out and there police everywhere and it seemed as if though at least 1 was being placed in the back of a cop car. It must have locked in my mind because as a kid we would see this stuff on TV but shocked to see it live. That was one of the last events that convinced us to move out of the area! It went downhill ever since.

[Guest Marty]

9420 Cullen is a Fiesta Mart now according to HCAD.

Edited January 9, 2007 by Marty

[northbeaumont]

My mom worked at the Weingarten's deli in Deer Park for a short time when I was a kid. I don't really remember what the store looked like (I was four), but eventually it became a Gerland's, and now it's a Food Town. There was one in La Porte, too. It became a Safeway, then a short-lived Apple Tree. Now it's one of the last (or might be THE last) "Food Fair" stores that still has the Gerland's name on it.

Speaking of Able Drugs, there was one in Deer Park/La Porte infront of San Jacinto College, and another one in Pasadena on Spencer Hwy (between Burke & Strawberry). That one (the one in Pasadena), I remember also had a soda fountain well into either the late 1980's or early 1990's (I don't remember which). The one is Deer Park is a nail shop, while the one in Pasadena is now a Ci-Ci's Pizza.

Oh, and I know what you mean about Larry's Arts. That place gives me the creeps. They too used to have soda fountain. They made good milk shakes... not as good as Able.

I remember Weingarten's "store brand" products were "Food Club." Now, Wal-Mart has "Great Value", H.E.B. Pantry has "Hill County Fare", etc. They're probably all the same thing with their label on them.

[plumber2]

in 1955:

general offices:

600 lockwood dr

personnel offices:

808 prairie av

stores:

808 prairie av

1601 taft av

5100 harrisburg blvd

2001 yale

1420 richmond av

1802 polk av

3600 n main

3114 smith

1118 broadway

1100 quitman

2512 university blvd

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

6002 lyons

4100 almeda

4000 bissonnet

10901 market

8826 jensen dr

4431 griggs rd

south shaver and southmore, pasadena

bakery and food plant:

534 lockwood dr

poultry and sea food dept:

4711 navigation blvd

home centers:

4800 washington av

1102 telephone rd

808 Prairie is now the Houston Chronicle printing building. The Weingartens building was torn down in the early 60's to make room for this expansion. Then The Chronicle connnected all the buildings facing Texas Ave and remodeled them creating the "one building" look it now has. Some where stuck in the middle of these buildings was a movie theatre. The upper office floors meander around the top of this building mostly unnoticed by the current employees.

[Subdude]

This building is simply to die for. I presume, in the grand Houston tradition, that it has been torn down. Where was it?

This looks very much like the building which is still standing on the southwest corner of Washington and Durham (4800 Washington location?). It may have been a standard Weingartens store design.

[gnu]

This looks very much like the building which is still standing on the southwest corner of Washington and Durham (4800 Washington location?). It may have been a standard Weingartens store design.

The endangereddeco site you posted the other day lists it as store no. 14 (1100 quitman location)

as i proposed earlier in the thread (post 15)

but you are correct...it does look similar to the washington/durham bldg.

http://www.endangereddeco.org/1930s/weingarten.html

Edited May 25, 2007 by gnu

[Vertigo58]

This must be the former Weingarten on Telephone Road/Baird street right? Near East End? Sure looks like it. What has to be one of the worse remuddles ever. Sorry but thats IMO and I'm sure all of my old neighbors AGREE that remember how cool it was then. It finally closed around 1980? Remained vacant for years. The store was so convenient and they still have not replaced one here since. Walked through them doors thousands of times it was another focal point of the neighborhood. There was even a basement on far right under flags for employees quite rare for Houston I thought. The huge parking lot is still directly behind this bldg. Untouched to this day.