U-Tote-Um Grocery/Convenience Store On San Felipe St.

[devonhart]

A close look at the sign shows more detail than I remember on later signs.

[brhaltx]

Where is/was that building located?  Is it the one inside the loop close to the railroad tracks?

[Michelle C]

Yes, that's the one. The Shell station in the back ground was at the end of Midlane street.

Edited August 14, 2014 by Michelle C

[NenaE]

I believe there is are remnants of one that was on the 1-10 feeder, outbound, after the beltway, before Eldridge. I could be mistaken. The slender 1950's design always catches my eye. Can someone confirm or deny this?

Edited August 15, 2014 by NenaE

[blue92]

A close look at the sign shows more detail than I remember on later signs.

 

Sure that's on San Felipe, I know that's what's typed on the pic, but that looks like the U-Tot-em that was on the northwest corner of Beachnut & Post Oak before Post Oak became 610 across the street from Meyerland Plaza. In the 50s my older sister went to Bellaire HS and when we drove her to school each morning we passed by the U-tot-em on Beachnut.

 

[devonhart]

Sure that's on San Felipe, I know that's what's typed on the pic, but that looks like the U-Tot-em that was on the northwest corner of Beachnut & Post Oak ...

Pretty sure, got the photo from an article about repurposing the vintage strip mall.

http://retailremix.com/houston-strip-center-retai-repositioning/

[mollusk]

Then as now, strip shopping centers could get pretty generic.  It's also got the same lines as the one that used to be just north of Memorial on Wycliffe a few years after that photo, except that the U-Tot-em was at the opposite end.

[Michelle C]

Just about all the Utotems looked alike. I can tell you for a fact the one pictured above is on San Felipe. I had a relative that owned the Shell station in the back ground.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Michelle C

[mollusk]

The part that really takes me back is most of the front of the store consisting of garage doors rolled open.  I remember that when I was a kid, the summers weren't kind to the chocolate and candy bars.  

[NenaE]

The part that really takes me back is most of the front of the store consisting of garage doors rolled open.  I remember that when I was a kid, the summers weren't kind to the chocolate and candy bars.  

 

I don't remember this style. The mid sixties must have introduced a new concept, air-conditioned stores. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

 

Edited August 18, 2014 by NenaE