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Retail Center At 1111-1201 Westheimer Rd.


VelvetJ

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yes, that sounds to be the case from what i've read here and on b4-u-eat.

the old Cabo is a Sushi spot, which moved from its Galleria location. I'll probably check it out this weekend or next week.

b4-u-eat review for Coco's

B4-U-Eat is an awesome site. We use it all the time when venturing out to new restuarants.

But if you hit the new sushi place this weekend fill us in with your comments. If I were a betting man I would bet they are out of business within 6 months. That is the way that site is.

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Coco's has been my favorite Sushi place for years (nevermind the lack of ambience.)

I thought they had gone out of business until I found them on b4-u-eat this morning. What luck, finding out instead that they've moved much closer to my neck of the woods! I'll be dining there very soon.

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Coco's has a loyal following, including me. I am excited to learn that they moved and didn't close.

Mamasan, the owner, is the best. If she likes you, there is usually free sake at the end of your meal. ;)

I ate there tonight and the food is as good as always. It is a regulars kind of place, so be patient if you're new -- you'll soon become family.

Where else can you listen to the dance music while eating sushi and watching sports?

Edited by lilyheights
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I've been there twice now - Mamasan is indeed a character and very cute. She gave us free sake both times! :)

The first time I was there, I was with my boyfriend and the second time was with friends and she asked if she "knew any of us"... Obviously, she wants to know her patrons, which is always good! Everyone there is very nice.

The decor is a little strange - the seats & tables look like cheap versions of the modern decor that Uptown Sushi uses, but what's with the native american stuff in the corner? Yeah, I don't know... It looks like they're not done figuring out how to decorate.

She did say they were at their old location on Richmond for 12 years, and they decided to move.

Sushi's good, I've been twice in 2 weeks and I'll go back.

There was a constant stream of patrons in & out both times I was there (weeknights), and it's definitely more crowded than Yan Sushi down the street (which is one my faves), and they've been in business for years.

I think (hope?) we have a winner!! :)

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The decor is a little strange - the seats & tables look like cheap versions of the modern decor that Uptown Sushi uses, but what's with the native american stuff in the corner? Yeah, I don't know... It looks like they're not done figuring out how to decorate.

Those are Japanese drums and Japanese whatnot. Mamasan has always had a strange decorating sense...the last place (that was around forever) made you afraid you'd turn into a Nagel print. Believe me, the decor at the new place is much better. :)

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  • 3 years later...

The Hollywood Video in Montrose is now closed. The beautiful Marquee facing Westheimer is stripped and the last great video store in Houston is gone. Thank the Lord we still have AV Plus on Waugh. I love going to a video store and browsing the aisles. Netflix is cold and Redbox is like getting a soda from a vending machine.

This city sucks. We lost two great renovations in a few months (the Alabama Bookstop and now Hollywood Video). With the recent loss of Mary's, Montrose is on the verge of falling to the yuppies. These losers have already killed Washington Avenue.

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The Hollywood Video in Montrose is now closed. The beautiful Marquee facing Westheimer is stripped and the last great video store in Houston is gone. Thank the Lord we still have AV Plus on Waugh. I love going to a video store and browsing the aisles. Netflix is cold and Redbox is like getting a soda from a vending machine.

This city sucks. We lost two great renovations in a few months (the Alabama Bookstop and now Hollywood Video). With the recent loss of Mary's, Montrose is on the verge of falling to the yuppies. These losers have already killed Washington Avenue.

The loss of Hollywood Video was inevitable... I've always thought that there could be a better use for that building, but I guess any use is better than having it demo'd. The bigger concern for me is the high vacancy rates near Montrose/Westheimer. I think it will be quite some time before that immediate area is completely yuppified (if ever)

Was Washington Ave all that great before?

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This city sucks. We lost two great renovations in a few months (the Alabama Bookstop and now Hollywood Video). With the recent loss of Mary's, Montrose is on the verge of falling to the yuppies. These losers have already killed Washington Avenue.

Change is inevitable. A hundred years ago, Montrose was a suburb of Houston with all the urban appeal of a place like Kingwood. In another hundred years, Montrose will be completely different than it is now. People who resist change are termed 'conservatives,' which is the opposite of the type of person who you apparently think should be occupying Montrose. There's some irony there.

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The theater marquis has been half deconstructed with most the cladding off for 2-3 months now.

I didn't mention it because I figured most people knew and that it was probably just getting a face lift so nothing to be concerned about.

Doesnt seem like such a special building if nobody noticed it was half gone till it hit the news.

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Was Washington Ave all that great before?

The Abyss, Pat & Pete's Bon Ton Room (now Pearl Bar), Club Hey Hey, Fabulous Satellite Lounge (now hair salon), Mary Jane's Fat Cat (now Pearl Bar), Rhythm Room (now Pandora Lounge), Rockefellers (now a wedding reception venue), Shimmy Shack (now Pearl Bar), The Vatican, Walter's on Washington (soon to be a Little Woodrow's).

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I didn't even notice they were gone, that's how crappy the area round the marquee has looked for a very, very long time. I never understood why they didn't put their storefront on Westheimer. Sort of a moo point now....

Eh, and since when did yuppies not rent videos?

Edited by sidegate
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I didn't even notice they were gone, that's how crappy the area round the marquee has looked for a very, very long time. I never understood why they didn't put their storefront on Westheimer. Sort of a moo point now....

Eh, and since when did yuppies not rent videos?

Netflix and Redbox are gobbling up video stores.

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Well putting it down to yuppie-zation is probably not entirely accurate. The area is attracting more families with children (try taking a couple of screaming kids down to browse videos) and older empty nesters, who would be less inclined to make the journey to a brick and mortar video store. If anything, yuppies out and about of an evening in their X3s would more likely to frequent a physical store than those other demographics. Anyway, for the convenience of Netflix and now Amazon VOD, it's hard for me to justify a trip to a video store.

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I hope I sound hopeful-- when I ask if there is anything or any organization out there that might step up and rescue the Hollywood video? . . . . . . . . and maybe also make sure the Alabama theater remains with us?

when last springs "charette" was gathering information on what would improve the intersection of westheimer and montrose--there were a lot of us that suggested restoring the marque to be lit again at night---think how lovely that would have been.

Edited by trymahjong
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I hope I sound hopeful-- when I ask if there is anything or any organization out there that might step up and rescue the Hollywood video? . . . . . . . . and maybe also make sure the Alabama theater remains with us?

when last springs "charette" was gathering information on what would improve the intersection of westheimer and montrose--there were a lot of us that suggested restoring the marque to be lit again at night---think how lovely that would have been.

You're right - restoring the facade and marquee would help make it a landmark.

I'm sorry to hear Hollywood closed, but as for blaming it on yuppies. "Yuppies"? C'mon, get real.

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That strip of Westheimer has magically been transported to my own personal kingdom where I have limitless wealth and no-one to argue with me. Here's what I'd do

Find a tenant for the marquee building and incentivize its restoration and use as the front entrance

Find a tenant for Charlie's who will turn it into a lively restaraunt/bar a la Chuys

Knock down the strip mall and rebuild it with storefront windows in all the units and a zero foot setback (like the Montrose side is) and stick the parking behind. Move the Bookstop there. Move Mo Mong's there.

Introduce a sign ordinance and if Burger King and their ten foot sign don't comply boot them out

Knock down Mary's (it's going to happen anyway...)

Ban drive throughs on that corner

Find new tenants for Prive and the Mexican place...

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I'm all for local colour but not when owners let a place go. I was a big supporter of restoring Wilshire Village but I'd take new construction any day over what it had been allowed to turn into. Dark, sparsely frequented places that are a shadow of their former selves - Charlies, Mary's - just bring a place further down.

And Chuy's is damn good at what it does....

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i'm out of town at the moment so i haven't actually seen if improvements are still going on--- but have a bit of info about ruggles --------the manager says YES it will reopen-- i had posted this earlier that the restaurant donated food (terrific food too) to the fundraiser Avondale took part in Oct 22--to benefit Houston Buyers Club---and la strada also donated great food--plus no mention of closing--i'm surprised that they are closing-- it's SRO at brunch time Saturdays---

now for a question----------again i want to sound hopeful----

do companies that do the "movie taverns" in suburban mall theaters ever consider urban theaters like the old tower theater??

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