Gulfgate Mall History

[OjazosNegros]

Hmm, let's see-there was Craig's, Margo's La Mode (where I bought all my school clothes), Wild Pair and Mark's T-Shirts to name a few.

[24zulu]

Hmm, let's see-there was Craig's, Margo's La Mode (where I bought all my school clothes), Wild Pair and Mark's T-Shirts to name a few.

Good memories on the stores. I went there many times, but we all played hide and seek, and rolled down the hill while our mothers shopped. I couldn't tell you one store that was there, we were never interested in that. I do remember the bowling alley, only because it appeared to be in a basement, and no one else had one. Also, there was a really pretty girl that worked the counter. She gave me a free hotdog once, and told me I was handsome. Of course she was probably 21 years old ( To serve beer in those days ), and I was @ 12...uhhh....

[NenaE]

On a recent drive through Glenbrook Valley, I saw two old Gulfgate items. Some of those huge pink granite rocks that used to sit outside Joskes (on that hill with the fence) are now sitting in someone's yard. I can't imagine how they moved them. And one of those mod white benches (with open sides) is sitting outside the carpenters union. Wonder what else is out there.

[little frau]

On a recent drive through Glenbrook Valley, I saw two old Gulfgate items. Some of those huge pink granite rocks that used to sit outside Joskes (on that hill with the fence) are now sitting in someone's yard. I can't imagine how they moved them. And one of those mod white benches (with open sides) is sitting outside the carpenters union. Wonder what else is out there.

I remember those big rocks!! How in the world did you identify them as the Gulfgate ones? I'm impressed.

[little frau]

here's a link to telwink's postcard of Gulfgate: http://www.flickr.com/photos/telwink/2142990578/in/set-72157603570060893/

It's a very early one, notice the trees around Plum Creek, and the drive-in theater. The General Cinema theaters were not built until the '60's, what was there in this pic?

When my younger sister got out of high school in '73 in Oklahoma, she came Houston to work. She got a job at Frito Lay over on Griggs at I45 and moved into one of those four plex apartments on Woodridge across the street from that church. They were about where all those trees are in the post card photo, where the Chase Bank or maybe Wendy's is today. For some reason I don't remember the drive in theater......when did it close?

[NenaE]

I'm assuming those are the Gulfgate rocks due to their sheer size (they are enormous) and the pink granite color with black specks. They really look out of place sitting in a front lawn.

The drive-in was not there, when I first knew Gulfgate, in the mid-late 60's. My mom remembers it from the 1950's. You're right, those apts. were located behind the Wendy's, nice huge old trees there.

[yuan1274]

I'm assuming those are the Gulfgate rocks due to their sheer size (they are enormous) and the pink granite color with black specks. They really look out of place sitting in a front lawn.

The drive-in was not there, when I first knew Gulfgate, in the mid-late 60's. My mom remembers it from the 1950's. You're right, those apts. were located behind the Wendy's, nice huge old trees there.

I lived not too far from Gulfgate from 1962-64. We went to that drive-in theatre which was called the Winkler. As far as I know it stayed open for about 3 or 4 years after I moved away in the summer of 1964.

[NenaE]

So, the walkway bridge is being replaced at Gulfgate...it's being called "dilapidated". A picture of the new bridge design is found in the Chronicle Business section today, under the hotel article, third page.

[djrage]

I asked that because in that picture it looks like some kind of building is on the other side. If my memories serves me correctly, that movie theatre was built sometime in the late 1960s/1970s. I remember people were amazed that there was a "TWO-SCREEN THEATRE!"

I think this is it. Someone out there can feel free to confirm it or not.

Is this the inside of it?

And here's another old photo showing the back side of the Weingarten's sign. My mom bought her groceries there. And I think that "ABC" was a hobby store which sold model airplanes, cars, etc.

Not sure if this has been answered... That bottom photo is from one of the cinemas that used to be inside the Galleria

[NenaE]

I have some pictures of the front steps, incline at the Gulfgate Theater's drop off area. Loved the slope it had. Will try to post once this school semester is over, in about a week.

[chrispy]

In the 1980s I recall the video arcade was called Time Out and was right across from the toy store. Joske's became Dillard's, Pickwick Music became Sam Goody, the underground bowling alley closed around 1986 or so I think. I remember Casual Corner, Piercing Pagoda, Wilson's/service Merchandise, Piccadilly Restaraunt, Great Expectations hair salon, Sakowitz. I kinda wish they had left the structure as it was but I like the new HEB there.

[Juliet Shohreh]

I remember one of the department stores in The Gulfgate Mall having a made of wood place where they hung blue jeans. I remember thinking how cool it was. It was during the 1970s. It really looked 70s style too. It kind of reminded me of something that came out of a television series or sitcom from the 1970s. I wish that was still there in The Gulfgate Mall. So many memories are not there anymore, how sad!

[NenaE]

Do you remember where in the mall it was located? It wasn't The Gap, was it?

[NenaE]

I can't respond to that other Gulfgate topic, it's locked. So I will write my reply here...Very good memory about the Cinema bathrooms. I had forgotten about the sinks in every stall. That was a beautifully designed movie theater. As a child, I always wanted to go to that one, instead of Park Place or Broadway theaters, with grandmother. Of course now, I can appreciate their beautiful design, as well. Welcome to HAIF, and use the search feature. You will find many great discussions on the topics you recall .

[Juliet Shohreh]

No, this was during the 1970s! I do not believe it was The Gap. It was a large department store in The Gulfgate Mall, and I think was a Foley's, Dillard's, or something like that. The wooden thing that had the blue jeans hanging was like a gabza (do not know how to spell it, sorry). I meant 'Gazebo' not 'Gabza' sorry. I meant that the wooden platform was like a gazebo which they hung blue jeans in. I found that design so neat, and it really fit in the 1970s style. I miss it! Does anyone here remember that store? It wasn't The Gap! That was for sure! It was a higher class department store. Like I said before it was probably Foley's or Dillard's (or something like that).

[NenaE]

If it was Gulfgate, in the 1970's, it was either in Sakowitz or Joske's stores. Dillard's replaced Joske's in later years, eighties, maybe.

[Earlydays]

Probably Joske's, Sakowitz was never at Gulfgate....

[NenaE]

What was the store that was located at the northern tip of Gulfgate layout? The building was painted white, with green, striped cloth covered windows, on black rod fixtures? It sat closest to the church? Joske's just south-east of it, had multi-levels with flood control doors, for basement entrance level. and had granite boulders outside that entrance, by the hill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfgate_Mall

It was Sakowitz. I have a picture of it somewhere.

Edited September 1, 2012 by NenaE

[little frau]

Yes, there was a Sakowitz in Gulfgate.

Foley's was never there. Had to go to Almeda Mall for Foley's.

Edited September 1, 2012 by little frau

[Earlydays]

Yes, there was a Sakowitz in Gulfgate........

I stand corrected.....

[Juliet Shohreh]

I believe you 'all are correct

[JuliaBOldLady]

My Mother worked for Joskees for 37 years and I can assure you the live dobermans were not in Joskees. However according to her they did have live dogs for security at Sakowitz. I remember when I was around 14 seeing the signs on the windows. It stated that the store was protected by dogs. I'm not sure if they were allowed to roam free or if the company that had the security contract actually had dogs. Kind of like the HPD canine (K-9) patrol cars do.

Joskees and Sakowitz were the place to be in those days. You are correct that it was Sakowitz that had the dogs. There in the mall was Ones-a- Meal, the underground bowling alley and bar.

[JuliaBOldLady]

I know I am late responding to this topic but there was an underground bar and bowling alley  at Gulfgate along with Gulfgate State Bank, Sakowitz, Joskees, One's a Meal and several other shops. Joskees had a (I can remember the name of it) modeling program to teach young ladies how to behave in public, wear their clothes, walk properly etc. They had a fashion show that went with it. Across the street was Frizell's Pontiac and on the corner was Globe Department store which later became K-Mart.

 

[msteele6]

There was a club at Gulfgate that was underground (not a part of the bowling alley). It was located right next to the flagpole next to Joske's.

 

This topic was brought up in the section on the East End under the topic "Old Gulfgate Mall".

 

There is a picture there showing the area in which the club was located.

[JuliaBOldLady]

Probably Joske's, Sakowitz was never at Gulfgate....

Sakowitz was at Gulfgate. I shopped there with my mother often. Dad would get on to her for over using the charge plate and then she would use the Joskees for a while. 

[anthonytexas]

Went down to that bowling lane many times as a teenager and would bowled when the worker wasn't looking.

[ggmsmolly]

I was secretary to the Manager of Joske's, Warren Benedict, at Gulfgate Mall in the late 60s and the old  underground establishment that I remember was a bowling alley.  Mack Newberry was the Mall General Manager.  Tim Collins was the PR Manager of Gulfgate.

[ggmsmolly]

Sakowitz was in Gulfgate Mall. When you look at the mall, it was at the very far, right side, by Joske's.  I worked there in the 60s at Joske's and knew the manager of Sakowitz.

[IronTiger]

Did some reading and it appears that the Weingarten inside Gulfgate Mall was bought by Safeway. I wonder how long that arrangement lasted, because they were long gone by the time they pulled out of Houston just about four years later.

[chrispy]

I remember my father giving us money every Mother’s Day to buy her perfume at Sakowitz and Joske’s. Sakowitz was a bit pricey so we ended up getting White Shoulders or something else at Joske’s most of the time. Eventually, we realized that she must’ve been sick of that fragrance so we upgraded to Exclamation. Like the perfumes, the parents are all gone now.

We ate at Piccadilly Cafeteria about 3x a week (Josie was the best server- always remembered what we liked and greeted us by name). I remember we would walk in right there: the old bowling alley and post office was to the right. As you’d walk in there would be Pickwick Music/Sam Goody’s on the right and Great Expectations and the GNC vitamin store on the left. I think the GNC used to be a Hallmark card store before that though. My mother had a fixation with Afro-like perms for a year or so and we always got our haircuts at that salon. At the end of that hallway was the Walgreens drugstore with their soda fountain. Loved the milkshakes! 

As you stand in that center section, if you turned left you would be walking towards the bridge over 610. There was a Wilson’s down there and I think that the Armed Forces recruitment office was at the end. I used to get their free book covers with images of futuristic battle cruisers in space and whatnot for my schoolbooks. 

If you had turned right, I believe there was a Palais Royal. I remember taking my grandmother there to buy dresses. NOT a fun thing for a kid to do! Lol

As you walked down that way, I remember there was a Casual Corner with a rustic wood facade and plastic stained glass windows. My mother loved their suede jackets, embroidered belts, Chelsea boots, etc. Very hip for the 1980s! At that point, there was the entrance to Joske’s and I think Sakowitz was just past it. There was also a Piercing Pagoda in a kiosk there in the 1990s. First piercing I ever got and it got horribly infected!

At that intersection, you’d be at the center of the mall. I remember, if I turned left and away from Joske’s, I would be heading towards Time Out arcade, KAY-Bee Toys (I think?), and a Radio Shack. There were other stores there like the Gap, Foot Locker as well but I’m trying to remember the layout. The Gap and Foot Locker were over by the Joske’s end of the mall. Eventually, Foot Locker was the only store making a profit in there  

Once you got to that end of Gulfgate, I vaguely remember the Weingarten’s being over there but we always shopped at Lewis and Coker on Telephone Rd. If my mother wanted something specific from Weingarten’s, we usually went to the one on Lawndale @ 75th.