Jedijake

Hate to start a new topic on something that hasn't opened yet, but I am excited about this new restaurant. Does anyone know anything about it? There's no website. Looks promising. When does it open?

There are tons of Shoguns. There are at least 2 in the area other than at Vintage. There's one near the movie theater in Cypress (290 and Spring-Cypress) and there's one near Klein that has been there for a while.

We went there tonight. It was GREAT! The service was fantastic and our waiter was superb! The food was great. The carrot ginger soup was incredible and the lamb chops were out of this world. We plan to go back and try the chicken. I had been waiting for this place and it was worth the wait. It was nice to eat there and was the first place at Vintage that we were impressed with. Fish City Grill was a bit overpriced and Mia Bella screwed up so many times when we went in March. Peli Peli may be a major highlight of dining in the northwest Houston area! I really hope they stay around for a while!

Are you saying that 2010 is correct? Because TISD's website still says 2011. They will NOT have the high school open in the fall of 2010 if they begin in March, 2009. That truly is impossible unless the school is going to be the size of an elementary school.

Let's be honest about something. One, being at or below the poverty level does not necessarily mean a person resorts to crime. Of course that is very generalist and rather unfair to make that blanket statement. However, let's be completely honest about something that is unfortunate, but true. If you open residential areas for people resorting to government housing, it is inevitable that there will be an element of crime increasing in that area. It is the very nature of those contradictory statements wherein lies the controversy. Truth be told that those who are good, solid citizens wishing to do right and travel down the path of the straight and narrow, despite what their economic level is, should be protected at all costs. Wealthy, middle-class, and economically disadvantaged people are all susceptible to crime. Tougher laws and diligent law enforcement, security, patrolling, and swift prosecution against criminals is the obvious answer to preventing crime-no matter who committed the crime. I'm torn over the government housing issue, but probably tend toward not throwing it up just anywhere unless there are STRICT ways to evaluate and monitor those who will inhabit it. But then again, such needs to be the case for ANY area. Unfortunately, when you look at who gave what loans to whom, resulting in our wonderful national economic mess, it does not look like there is any monitoring going on anywhere.

I'm sure it must be a misprint, but the lastest issue of the Tribune (for Tomball and Magnolia) states that the school will begin construction in March and be ready to open in the fall of 2010. That's impossible-even for a small school. At this point, Tomball ISD will be hard pressed to open it in the fall of '11 if they begin this spring. The district's site still has '11 as the opening. Cy-Fair takes 3 years to complete a high school.

A KFC/Taco Bell??? You have got to be kidding, right? That has to be the most ludicrous thing they could put up there. It's the middle of the Lakewood area and there's already a McDonald's across the street and a Sonic next door. How podunk and trashy can they get? That's just plain disgusting!

Mia Bella was supposed to have opened in December. Does anyone know what the latest on it is? Also, Peli Peli is supposed to open early 2009. Does anyone have the lasted on that? I am looking forward to trying both of those. Peli Peli particularly sounds interesting.

There's something to be said about the success of this place when the big announcement for grand openings on the website are for a dentist office and a place to mail letters. Watch business pour in for those places. Time to celebrate and have a good time!

I'm sure they've done what they can for the rent. It's not as if there is a line of retailers waiting for a spot at the Vintage (or at least it seems there isn't). Instead, the Vintage people need to go out and attract retailers. If the rent is so high that they can't get anyone there, they won't get any money at all. I'd say, even for someone who doesn't own their own business, that's just bad business. Bookstores seem to be a touchy business. The old Champions Barnes and Noble has been where it is for a very long time and Borders is doing extremely poorly. There aren't any major book sellers that even exist except Books a Million which sticks with malls and you may find one in an entire city. Waiting for the economy to get better is not the way to go. You have to be aggressive and get a head start on things so that when it does get better, you'd already have something established. I'd bet many people have lost jobs, packed up and moved, or just plain quit this project, which is putting things in more delay. I know it's repetitive but WOW, just WOW to how this thing has becomes such a mess.

And it's like that in many many places all over the country. My parents left the Poconos in NE Pennsylvania in 2002 for the same basic reasons. And the people were not coming from down the street but rather cities 2-3 hours away (NYC, Newark, Philly). I lived in Cypress-Station in 1994 when I first moved here. It was not great then with apartments costing $300-$350 a month. The trend was pretty obvious and the direction was very clear. It's just that certain events seem to have accelerated the process and become more public in the past 3 years (Katrina and the recession mainly). But the question of debate still holds: who is moving into all of these apartment complexes and who is expected to lease in the empty shells of buildings meant for business? Cheap land equals easy business for developers. What has not been anticipated is that the economy has not improved and does not show signs that it will anytime soon. This is the way the recession has hit this area. But it's MUCH worse in MANY other places all over the country.

All of the reasons that have been stated are 100% true. Diffusion from the cities, Katrina, etc etc etc. However, there are a few other reasons that tie into the others. The lack of zoning has already been mentioned. The so-called "less government" that allows anyone and their uncles to put up any kind of business anywhere they want supposedly adds to a free market, but has also lead to people putting up odd businesses in very strange places with little to no profit. There are too many people in the businessworld that believe in small business but have NO intelligence on how to do it and then suffer likewise At the same time, the new trend of putting up empty shells for lease by so-called "developers" (they aren't really developing anything) has lead to decay all over the place. For some way-out reason, people think that they can put up a building and have a sign that says "for lease" and think that businesses are going to fall out of the sky, especially in this wonderful economy, without seeming to seek out what will make it unique. How many nail salons, donut shops, etc. do we actually need? At least there has been somewhat of a decline of these eyesores in the past several months. Somebody's finally got the idea that the economy is NOT going to get any better anytime real soon so there's no point in putting up that crap. Then, onto the apartment issue. I was very pleased that a low income complex that was going to go up at Northpointe and 249 was nixed in place of a high luxury complex. Such is not the case on 1960 ANYWHERE. I can't imagine there are enough people to possibly fill these complexes. Has anyone done any research to find out whether these are getting filled? You used to have your nice complexes and your "lower" complexes. I moved to the Cypress area in 2002 and there were plenty of complexes, but you could be selective. Now, within the past 2 or 3 years (possibly due to someone trying to make a buck off of Katrina), beautiful complexes are being built to accommodate lower income families. Since it is becoming VERY hard to distinguish, you are getting a BIG mix of people there. Then, as a result of the low interest rates from a couple of years ago, many many people bought houses (since they are affordable in the Houston area) and less professionals lived in the complexes. Whenever you have areas that were built primarily for young people entering the professional world, those areas are going to turn into ghetto/crime-ridden areas within 10-20 years. My sister moved down here in 1978 and lived in Birnham Woods in Spring. She left that neighborhood in 1997, about 3-4 years after it started turning REAL bad. The problem with it was that ALL of the homes were small and custom made for young, small families just starting out. There was NOTHING to balance it. So, urban folks began to move there when more neighborhoods with a mix of smaller and larger homes were being built. 1960 in Spring is infested with those types of neighborhoods. The Cypress area and the Woodlands particularly have the newer neighborhoods that have homes starting in the $120's-$150's but stretching to the $300's. But if you go to the southwest side of the Cy-Fair district, you will find homes going from the $80's to the very low $100's. That area is becoming bogged down with foreclosures and it is very frightning to see what is going to happen to that area. But yeah, mostly the 1960 area is becoming more and more urban and run down and that happens everywhere in the world. At least the immediate Champions area (Champions Forest and 1960) is still pretty nice, albeit a very small area.

I give this place 4 months, and that is being extremely generous. Either that or they will be under new management in less than 2 months. Since, from what I hear, it is privately owned, that will not happen. So I revert back to the liberal estimate of 4 months. Sad, because we could really use a "mom and pop" type of restaurant with family type cooking. This place apparently is not that restaurant. If it lmanages to last longer than 4 months, perhaps my wife and I will give it a try then. It doesn't sound like it's the place to go until then.

In a day and age where good restaurants are being closed all the time and other good ones are having trouble opening their doors (due to the economy), this isn't very positive. Just reading all of this is MAJORLY deterring me and my wife from going there. "Giving it a shot" may not be enough to keep this thing open, unfortunately.

Mr. Football-I apologize for miscommunicating. It is indeed a very beautiful center and I have been extremely eager to see it filled with great stuff. And I am possibly the person most disgusted with empty warehouses that look like fire station garages that are all "for lease" and never fill up. I guess what I meant by a "baron waste" is the shame if this center doesn't actually get filled. It would then be a waste of a beautiful center with tremendous potential. And yes, this center should officially be the poster child of completely incompetent leasing agents. I mean, I can think of a hundred different things that could go up in that place that would be unique and would do great business instead of 10 nail salons, 15 coffee shops, 100 title companies, and 30 floor tile places. (obviously exaggerated, but you get the drift). I hope this stands as an example of the moronic business practices of developers and leasers in and around Houston and hundreds of other cities probably.

I'm glad other people are starting to have the same reaction I had months ago. How long has it been since this project began construction? Over a year and a half ago? How long have the buildings actually been up and structurally sound? I think it's been a few months. When this project was first going up, there were rampant rumors/announcements that a Cheesecake Factory was going up as well as a Ruth's Chris steakhouse and a major bookstore. The site even had a bookstore slated at one time. I agree that Cheeburger,Cheeburger doesn't seem to fit into the character of what the Vintage seems to be intended. Nor does Fish City Grill. Mia Bello is neat, but it seems to stand along in its standing and there are already some great Italian places. Hasta La Pasta isn't too far and La Parmigiana in Lakewood is great. I am actually very curious about Peli Peli because it seems to be one unique star in this dull area. Walking around it is like a ghost town.It's one of the saddest things to see. A few nail salons and beauty places is pretty much all there is and all there seems to ever be. To me, The Vintage is the epitome of bad development going on around Houston. And what's worse is that they are actually EXPANDING this baron waste of a shopping area that has no business. It's as if some developers think that miraculously, businesses are going to start pouring in like moths to a light. It makes you wonder what they are seeing that we, the consumer, are not.

Agreed-there's no reason for a "grand opening" as late as October. This should have been ready to go this spring. Cheeburger-Cheeburger or whatever it's called doesn't seem to be the type of place you'd expect to open in a luxury high-end shopping center. Shogun's too commercial. I'm actually looking forward to Peli-Peli and right now that's the only place I am looking forward to seeing open. It's a real shame that they can't get a book store there. A book store is a place that would draw in people who might stay a while. I'm very surprised that Barnes N Noble is having trouble right now.

Those are all excellent points. I agree with them pretty much 100%-particularly the first statement about vouchers being the supposed solution from those who are greedy. It is under my impression that those who support vouchers the most at least seem to be those who would like the government to pay for their children to go to private schools. Again, that is the impression I get. And yes, of course I vote in support of good schools. A lot of good that does, but at least we can try.

I can see your point about centralizing more taxes on only certain activities. However, money does have to come from somewhere. A lot of people look at the voucher system as a solution to issues like these. The problem is that vouchers do not take away the burden of the cost of schools. They only spread it in other areas. Of course, vouchers are a whole other topic. In a general sense, having families with children who attend school pay more taxes only seems logical. How much of an increase would that create for those families? Would families with more children pay more taxes? Is that an incentive to not have children in a time when it is already very expensive? Whatever the case and whatever the proposed solution would be, there is no escaping taxes and paying for public education. At the same time, there is no way privatization of education would ever satisfy the problem either. For Texas (since we are here) to increase the quality of education and thus the quality of professionals and labor, there has to be better solutions to the funding of education. Most people have complaints about the lack of quality of education. Very few, however, have any real tangible possible solutions. When solutions are offered, they are usually fiercely rejected and the complaining continues. This is a cyclical problem that also can be applied to health care, cost of housing, etc. The unfortunate result is increasing amount of blame and a diminished sense of faith in those areas.

Devil's advocate? Or do you honestly feel that way? Sounds a little fictitious and far-fetched to actually believe this. If only people with children were taxed, unfortunately schools, and therefore society, would cease to exist. Colleges wouldn't be able to train doctors, engineers, accountants, lawyers, etc. Then, all of the people who complained that they should not be taxed for "other people's children" would suffer under the strain created by a lack of those who are actually supporting them. Toll roads are one thing because they cost $1-$2 on average everytime they are passed. There's no easy fix. Cutting the salaries of the top-end administrators in the central office positions are options. But it's true that getting into the actual argument of how people should be taxed for the purpose of public education has been a long disputed issue and probably needs to have its own thread. By fault for bringing it up here.

Several things would eleviate situations like this. (1) Something that will never be done-state income tax. Sure, it's not truly worth bringing up since it will never take place, but it WOULD put somewhat of a fix on Texas' school finance issue. (2) More money from the lottery going into education. I am not sure how much actually goes into education right now. They certainly advertise that some does. (3) "Sin" tax. A little liberal I know, but more tax $$$ from cigarettes, alcohol, etc. Not a popular idea, but not a bad one either.

You can say that again. I walked around the place the other day. I was amazed at how great it looked. However, I had this horribly haunting feeling like I was in a ghost town (and essentially was). From the looks of the tenant list, there won't be any real places where people can just come and hang out for a while (like a bookstore or music store). And yet, they are starting on phase II, as if that is going to lease or make the whole thing lease faster. Like I said, it's probably the saddest bit of development I've ever seen.

It is now the end of April. I drove into Vintage Park today and noticed that it looks very nice, but they only have a nail salon and shoe store open inside. There are a few stores open on the perimeter and only a Starbuck's and Potbelly for food. The signs are up, and have been up for a while, for PeliPeli, Shogun, MiaBello, Fish City Grill, and Cheeburger-Cheeburger. However, it does not look like they are doing any work inside of those whatsoever except for Shogun. Does anyone know exactly what is going on with this place? This is possibly the saddest progress for any project I have ever seen like this. Is there any chance that these restaurants will be open sometime in 2008, let alone this summer? And whatever happened to the Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris, and bookstore rumors? Any information would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

All I know is that the vintage park shopping center is taking FOREVER to complete. On top of that, they had a large amount of attractive proposed tenants such as Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris, and a huge building for a bookstore-likely Barnes & Noble if not Borders. Then, within the past few months, nothing has come up. The site has taken down information about a book store, there has never been actual mention of a Cheesecake Factory, it doesn't look like Ruth's Chris is going to go up. And now it appears as though it will be filled with nothing but nail salons, haircutters, linens, and coffee shops (oh, and banks).

At this rate, this should be completed a whole year before vintage park off of 249 and Louetta. Any word on restaurants in the area? I know that outlet centers are not known for having restaurants and usually have fast food type establishments.