CasaNova Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 For years I have been wondering if Sears will ever do something with this eyesore located in midtown. It has so much potential, I guess at one point it was actually considered a beautiful building. Sears really needs to think about bringing it back to its original form. Something needs to be done. I would prefer to preserve the building, instead of razing it . What do you all think? Article found in the Chronicle today. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5924010.html ''It's hideous!" fumes my friend V., warming up to one of his favorite rants: the unbearable ugliness of the Sears on Main Street. "It's right there on the light-rail line! At the entrance to the Museum District! At one of the few places where Houston can look good to visitors!" V., I have to admit, has a point. Sears' tan metal siding, blotched with graffiti cover-up, gives the building's upper floors the beaten-down air of an aging ministorage unit. But even that beats the urban battle fortifications at ground level. Someone, it appears, worked hard to make the department store defensible, able to repel invading hordes of shoppers intoxicated by Vanessa Hudgens' back-to-school ads. At the Wheeler side of the building, two sets of glass double doors, blacked out and locked during business hours, present an ominous face to the street. Opaque gray film makes the official entrance's glass doors, facing Main, only a little less scary. Bricks fill almost all the former display windows; burglar bars and more of that gray film cover the plate glass that survived. Only the most intrepid seekers of Kenmore appliances would dare breach such a bulwark. What's the deal, V. wonders. Does Sears think that the urban shoppers that store serves deserve less than, say, the suburbanites at the Memorial City Mall? And for that matter, hasn't someone at Sears noticed that Midtown has gentrified around the store? Isn't there a retail audience yearning to be better served? "Don't just return," exhorts the Hudgens back-to-school ad for Sears. "Arrive." V. would like that Sears to do just that. ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 See existing topic here:http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...0&start=100 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Driving to the office this AM, I can help but wonder why that midtown Sears is still there. If that was redeveloped, the entire area would change. Sears can't be making money there, and the land is worth a fortune. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If it wasn't there there wouldn't be a department store for miles.Why are we concerned about a lot with a building on it when that building is surrounded by empty lots. No wonder We develop so sparsely. We have 100 lots, ten with buildings on there, instead of trying something on the other 90 we just keep rebuilding on the occupied 10.Why not build a Target next door first and when they put Sears In financial trouble then ask why Sears is still there.You should be thankful Sears is there. After Macy's closed they are the only ones accessible to a lot of people using public transit 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If it wasn't there there wouldn't be a department store for miles.Why are we concerned about a lot with a building on it when that building is surrounded by empty lots. No wonder We develop so sparsely. We have 100 lots, ten with buildings on there, instead of trying something on the other 90 we just keep rebuilding on the occupied 10.Why not build a Target next door first and when they put Sears In financial trouble then ask why Sears is still there.You should be thankful Sears is there. After Macy's closed they are the only ones accessible to a lot of people using public transit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) Just because something is there doesn't mean it should be. That Sears is in horrible condition, and has a huge amount of land that is under utilized. In addition, Sears is hemorrhaging money. I am not saying it should be torn down. Just redeveloped. Did you know underneath the cladding there is Art Deco detailing? Imagine the possibilities for that space! Edited February 10, 2014 by Dakota79 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 wait a minute.... That Sears in Midtown is still OPEN ?!? I thought it had been closed for years! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Just because something is there doesn't mean it should be. That Sears is in horrible condition, and has a huge amount of land that is under utilized. In addition, Sears is hemorrhaging money. I am not saying it should be torn down. Just redeveloped. Did you know underneath the cladding there is Art Deco detailing? Imagine the possibilities for that space!If it us under utilized how would you clasify the parking lot directly east or that huge grass tripple lot to the south? Or the empty lots to the Southwest? Or those lots west around the plaza? Or that empty lot to the north. This thing is surrounded by nothingness on all points of the compass. Its not like we are pressed for space in that location.On a side note, does metro own that lot the wheeler station is located on? The tracks kinda bisects the lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's still there. I buy tools from them all the time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 With Sears having bought a Kmart a decade ago, you'd think they could've remerchandised it to better serve the community. It certainly is an old building, and if it survives the year, it would've been operating for 75 years as a Sears! Incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 This was discussed several years ago in another thread. from what I remember, it is a highly profitable location. As someone had just mentioned, since mac's closed I have seen an uptick in business there.They could spruce it up a bit though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aarosurf Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 When I saw this new thread I had a glimmer of hope they were going to do something with this building. I think this one is beyond renovation. Similar to someone's comment above, I was driving down main the other day with a friend and they were shocked the Sears was actually functioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 The problem is that Sears Holdings is continuing to circle the drain, and it's a fair bet they won't be around all that much longer.  They are certainly not going to want to spend the money to restore it.  When and if Sears fails, a location like this one isn't going to be a valuable part of the restructuring package.  Unfortunately the omens for this building are very bleak.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I read that the building was no longer owned by Sears and they're leasing it (hence, not a lot of investment in the building). If Sears pulls itself back together (unlikely but possible), the Midtown Sears would probably be updated on the inside. If Sears not only pulled itself back together but bought the building, they would likely sell it (land value's high) or at best, renovate the exterior to something modern/boring. If Sears died and the store closed entirely, the Art Deco facade would be restored and it would be torn down for yet another boring development. Sears and this building probably don't have a lot of years left, but the demise of both will probably be hand in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I read that the building was no longer owned by Sears and they're leasing it (hence, not a lot of investment in the building). If Sears pulls itself back together (unlikely but possible), the Midtown Sears would probably be updated on the inside. If Sears not only pulled itself back together but bought the building, they would likely sell it (land value's high) or at best, renovate the exterior to something modern/boring. If Sears died and the store closed entirely, the Art Deco facade would be restored and it would be torn down for yet another boring development. Sears and this building probably don't have a lot of years left, but the demise of both will probably be hand in hand. You've posted this bad information about the Sears property ownership before and I've corrected you before. (On the earlier occasion you told us the property was owned by Rice University.) The midtown Sears property is owned by Sears. Sears has not been investing in any of their stores for quite some time, whether owned or leased (I think they own most of their stores). That is just one of their many many problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 You've posted this bad information about the Sears property ownership before and I've corrected you before. (On the earlier occasion you told us the property was owned by Rice University.)The midtown Sears property is owned by Sears.Sears has not been investing in any of their stores for quite some time, whether owned or leased (I think they own most of their stores). That is just one of their many many problems.I remember having that discussion. What I find more interesting from your link, though, is that the physical condition of the building is considered "unsound". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 The building is valued at $42,556, but the land is valued at $5,175,000. That's $0.21 per square foot of building, but $46.00 per square foot of land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Given that houses in far better condition in the Loop are being knocked down for new townhomes, unless this Sears is a huge success, it really makes a lot of economic sense to close this location, knock down the building, and sell the land. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I dig this Sears. I pass by it everyday on 59. The fiesta sign at night really throws in the pizazz. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) I dig this Sears. I pass by it everyday on 59. The fiesta sign at night really throws in the pizazz.No, I don't have anything against it. If they remerchandised it and restored the facade, well, that'd be awesome. But between the woes of Sears Holdings and the poor condition of the building, it isn't likely it will be around for much longer. Edited February 11, 2014 by IronTiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therepguy Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Better yet, Sears should rehab the building back to it's original Art Delco design and use it as an anchor for a area wild remake of the area! just a through or two RickHouston 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pragmatist Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) Â For those who don't know/remember what the store looked like, this can be added to this thread. Edited February 11, 2014 by The Pragmatist 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Reading about how the Sears in Six Corners, Chicago, recently celebrated 75 years last year (it opened 1938). Could a similar event happen for the Midtown Sears this year? I hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) To Pragmatist: Thank you for sharing those great photos. I haven't seen them before. Someone (even Sears) could do something great with that building. Edited February 12, 2014 by Dakota79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) Sears renovating by taking off cladding from great art deco architecture---GREAT IDEA! The Renovation (Great paint job) of old Cleburne Cafeteria--Great idea More Great ideas are needed for this section of Midtown. I'm hoping that Half-price Books will move into this area "If and When" the location on Westheimer and Montrose gets booted. Edited February 12, 2014 by trymahjong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Sears is pretty much occupied trying to figure out whether they can make their stores relevant in the 21st century. I wouldn't expect them to devote any effort to renovating individual locations (especially individual locations where they don't have any competition), anytime in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Given that houses in far better condition in the Loop are being knocked down for new townhomes, unless this Sears is a huge success, it really makes a lot of economic sense to close this location, knock down the building, and sell the land. Something very tall would have to go here... Perhaps mixed use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Something very tall would have to go here... Perhaps mixed use.Yes, we certainly wouldn't want it to be hidden behind all the very tall buildings that surround it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Given that houses in far better condition in the Loop are being knocked down for new townhomes, unless this Sears is a huge success, it really makes a lot of economic sense to close this location, knock down the building, and sell the land.I don't know how well this location is doing---but in my experience of visiting the store . . . the parking lot usually has a lot of cars and there is always a line to check out. The downstairs where the tools are always seems to have people in the aisle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 What I find interesting about this discussion is that there seems to be an assumption that this is a community decision. Sears gets to make the decision about how they operate that location and whether they think that they need to do any renovations. This is a classic example of how lack of competition causes entropy. They aren't doing anything with the store because they have no competition. People shop there because it's close and they don't have a better alternative. Sears doesn't do anything because they are getting good revenue and they have no reason to invest in the property. If you really want Sears to either upgrade their store or vacate the premises, then someone should open a power center with a Target and a Kohl's 1/2 a mile a way and watch how quickly changes come to the Sears property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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