tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post638174360170024188..comments2024-03-18T13:21:30.834-05:00Comments on The Louisiana and Texas Retail Blogspot: A walk through North Oaks Mall 2015. Updated 10/16/2019 with new photosUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-67414798486511675222020-03-06T23:06:07.660-06:002020-03-06T23:06:07.660-06:00Hey that aladdins castle is from corpus christis s...Hey that aladdins castle is from corpus christis sunrise mall Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14372545438076158470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-92097289049588318432019-11-04T15:53:36.255-06:002019-11-04T15:53:36.255-06:00I wonder if the Palais Royal is going to become a ...I wonder if the Palais Royal is going to become a Gordman's. It seems like Stage stores is pulling the plug on all of their Palais Royal stores in the area one by one. In other parts of Texas they have been converting Bealls into the Stage brand and renovating the stores.<br /><br />Bed Bath and Beyond closing is concerning, I guess it is too close to their Galleria locations to be viable. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-61391492087703654032019-10-18T01:20:16.472-05:002019-10-18T01:20:16.472-05:00Interesting changes happening in Houston
Myerland...Interesting changes happening in Houston <br />Myerland looks to be in trouble <br />Palais royal and bed bath and beyond are closing <br />Both of these stores are visible from beechnut Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-23850943383264313292017-12-02T07:44:17.536-06:002017-12-02T07:44:17.536-06:00I remember this mall as "Linked" from Ta...I remember this mall as "Linked" from Target to Palais Royal. There was a Record store just as you entered it from target side during the 80's, a leewards, novelty<br />shop, and some booths for kids that had cartoon coin -op televisions as well as a "mini-go-carts" on display<br />six theaters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-77991813450034177712017-01-07T01:58:28.436-06:002017-01-07T01:58:28.436-06:00It is rare these days to find a cinema from that e...It is rare these days to find a cinema from that era that is still operating with few changes over the years. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-54201817191507323032017-01-05T22:28:52.746-06:002017-01-05T22:28:52.746-06:00Hello mall entheusiasts! I am an employee at North...Hello mall entheusiasts! I am an employee at North Oaks Cinema 6, and have been since August of 2015. I came across this blog during an effort to find some providence of my workplace, and I am so excited that there is this much disscussion and history that is remembered. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18233635108051973338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-28936010596906143132015-12-21T11:41:53.381-06:002015-12-21T11:41:53.381-06:00It probably was one. I looked at it in Bing Maps a...It probably was one. I looked at it in Bing Maps and it looks a lot like the AMF buildings at Windfern and Bunker Hill. They all have a rock/pebble finish on the outside walls. Safeway used a similar design on a number of their stores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-86073731173609520922015-12-18T22:40:53.151-06:002015-12-18T22:40:53.151-06:00Actually I might be wrong about that "theatre...Actually I might be wrong about that "theatres" sign being the original from 1976. For some reason I am thinking it was an early 80's sign, but then that raises the question of... why would a sign from 1976 have to be replaced so soon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-23466147156679352352015-11-29T01:17:16.027-06:002015-11-29T01:17:16.027-06:00There is an older AMF bowling alley in Humble also...There is an older AMF bowling alley in Humble also, but I don't know if it was a Fair Lanes.jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-88566745639651265902015-11-25T23:23:06.149-06:002015-11-25T23:23:06.149-06:00Houston has several AMF bowling alleys, most (all?...Houston has several AMF bowling alleys, most (all?) of which started as Fair Lanes. It was around 1995 that AMF bought Fair Lanes. At least three of the Houston-area Fair Lanes (Diamond, Windfern, and Bunker Hill, all still open) opened sometime in the 70's and have changed not much since. AMF Willow Lanes though was a Fair Lanes that opened around 1985. Also I think AMF Woodlands Lanes was a Fair Lanes from the very early 80's.<br /><br />AMF is a company with a really unusual history. It began as a maker of all kinds of sporting goods as well as power equipment. DeWalt tools, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Hogan golf balls, pool tables, gymnastic mats, bicycles, and lawn tractors were all made by AMF at one time. I have no idea why but now bowling is AMF's only business. It was sometime in the 80's that they stopped everything else except making pool tables (that division disappeared in the early 2000s).<br /><br />Strangely, the AMF gymnastics division was spun off in 1980-something and renamed AAI, but the AAI products were at first identical to the AMF products that came before, and an AAI logo was created that was identical to the AMF logo (even though AAI broke off from AMF). One of AMF's gymnastic product lines was called AMF American and this continued as AAI American. <br /><br />Ironically, in the 21st century, AAI scrapped their AMF-style logo a number of years before AMF Bowling did a total logo redesign. I found it strange to begin with that when AAI ditched AMF (around 1985), AAI chose to reuse the AMF logo, which was created in the early 70's and by 1985 was already looking dated. At some 50's or 60's bowling alleys (either AMF-owned or not), you still today might see equipment with the AMF "circle" logo from that era. The logo that inspired the AAI logo is what I would call the "triangle" logo because of the triangle jutting into the top of the M in AMF.<br /><br />Here's a REALLY strange fact that I found out not too long ago: around 1993 (some time after AMF shrunk to bowling/billiards only), a gymnastics company whose name I now forget (it was "Sports Supply Inc" or something similar) started selling a line of gymnastics equipment with the AMF name, using the AMF name under license. This must have been a short-lived experiment but now I have to wonder... why did they do it? It's like AMF and the other company in the joint venture were creating totally unnecessary competition for AAI (and yet the AMF and AAI logos during the 1990s were still identical to one another). <br /><br />I wonder if AAI either sued or threatened to and this is why the joint venture ended. But I have a different theory that maybe only a very small number of the "new AMF" products were made, and that maybe this was a test-marketing exercise that was done to see how re-launched AMF gymnastics items would sell (maybe AAI was considering returning to the AMF name but didn't want to risk losing money themselves if it turned out to be a failure)? So maybe AAI had something to do with the AMF name being revived by the third company...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-39059078427161689702015-11-24T00:25:43.809-06:002015-11-24T00:25:43.809-06:00The Main Event Entertainment places have bowling a...The Main Event Entertainment places have bowling alleys, but they require a large amount of space to put bowling, pool, bar area, video games, restaurant, and laser tag in the same building. The bowling alleys that have survived have expanded or offered a much better environment than older bowling alleys. I remember when I was younger most bowling alleys had a strong smoke odor and dingy fixtures. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-65148601933682676152015-11-23T23:04:11.992-06:002015-11-23T23:04:11.992-06:00You're right, a gym would be a good use for th...You're right, a gym would be a good use for that theater spot if it ever opens up. 24 Hour Fitness is already across the street in the old Albertson's, but maybe someone like Planet Fitness would be a good fit. I think converting the theater space to a medical facility might be another good use of the space if a retailer can't be found. Something like a bowling alley might work too, but I can't even recall the last time a new bowling alley opened up around here. It was probably in the early 1980s. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-23614949342890254802015-11-23T14:28:34.607-06:002015-11-23T14:28:34.607-06:00A gym would probably be one of the few good reuses...A gym would probably be one of the few good reuses for the cinema site if it ever closes. A gym would require very little reconfiguration of the remaining mall space and they would be able to push the entrance up to where the mall corridor meets the front of the center. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-10395751046120043892015-11-13T20:11:03.659-06:002015-11-13T20:11:03.659-06:00I didn't realize the RoomStore at Willowbrook ...I didn't realize the RoomStore at Willowbrook Commons was ever a Phar-Mor. When approximately would this Phar-Mor have closed? The chain went out of business in 2002, but I'm pretty sure RoomStore opened at the Willowbrook Commons site no later than 2000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-76408993003664625852015-11-13T18:13:48.309-06:002015-11-13T18:13:48.309-06:00I can't really recall if the theater was close...I can't really recall if the theater was closed for any period of time, but the dollar theater has been there for many, many years now. It's still a popular theater as je says and I'm sure that the theater drives a lot of customers to the several eating establishments that are at North Oaks right now. <br /><br />Plus, it'll be hard for the center to redevelop that space for anything else since it's located further back than the rest of the center. It's probably ideal for a theater. The center would have to eliminate the Half Price Books, Bedrock Comics, and Ashley Stewart store (or a big chunk of the Big Lots) to reconfigure the theater and mall corridor into a traditional retail spot. It's probably not worth it for the center to lose 3 long term tenants (plus the Half Price Books is a very popular draw) for the sake of trying to attract one tenant. <br /><br />I'm sure that losing Target did hurt the center, but they were fortunate to get Hobby Lobby and Staples as replacements. The center does have a lot of popular discount type stores (TJ Maxx, Ross, Big Lots, and 99 Cents Only) along with some niche big boxes like Mardel and Half Price Books. The center also has a number of eateries and the theater too of course. I'd call the center a powercenter even if it has an odd mix of stores. It's certainly a lot more successful than many other shopping centers along FM 1960 as je says. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-58540060892954627912015-11-13T17:59:45.044-06:002015-11-13T17:59:45.044-06:00There were a few shopping centers with indoor corr...There were a few shopping centers with indoor corridors in the Houston area. North Oaks Mall was probably one of the most prominent ones. Another prominent one was the Westchase Mall. That was a related Weingarten development similar to North Oaks, but it was a little bit different. Westchase Mall still exists as a regular shopping center, but it does not have any remnants of the mall still open like North Oaks Mall AFAIK. <br /><br />I think Weingarten actually sold North Oaks a couple of years ago, but I think the <a href="http://www.weingarten.com/mediabin_import/Property%20Photos/0105%20(North%20Oaks%20Shopping%20Center,%20Houston,%20TX)/Site%20Plans/105%20-%20North%20Oaks(02-07-12).pdf" rel="nofollow">leasing plan</a> is still available from their website. AFAIK, Weingarten was trying to lease out the spaces inside the mall part of the center, but obviously those are a tough sell. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-23136587049193627312015-11-13T14:44:19.033-06:002015-11-13T14:44:19.033-06:00The theater does good business most nights, I have...The theater does good business most nights, I have seen the hallway filled with people waiting to get in on the weekends. I am not sure if the cinema ever closed, but it has been open for several years while the mall was mostly blocked in. <br /><br />The Target leaving hurt that section of the center for a while. A small portion of the former Target has not been redeveloped yet. The center does very well and stays busy especially on the weekends. Further down 1960 at Kuykendahl, 4 big box centers are at that intersection. Only one is doing well, and the other 3 have several vacancies. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-76072052946225818152015-11-13T13:36:39.314-06:002015-11-13T13:36:39.314-06:00The North Oaks Mall corridor was once connected to...The North Oaks Mall corridor was once connected to what was previously Target (now Staples). There are a few small store spaces in the old mall corridor that could be used again. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-21705060998764029112015-11-06T15:01:23.797-06:002015-11-06T15:01:23.797-06:00I do have to wonder... why is this theater still o...I do have to wonder... why is this theater still open? And considering it's in a mall/shopping center that never rally has been "dead", I'm surprised it was converted to a dollar theater in the first place (once AMC closed/sold it).<br /><br />Might it have sat empty for any length of time once AMC closed? I'm thinking it did because it seems that most chain theaters that close are redeveloped into retail or restaurant tenants. Maybe the dollar theater in this case was the only taker for the space after a few years of vacancy.<br /><br />By the way, has North Oaks as a center been hurt by the Target moving out?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-21739756711466604142015-11-04T00:37:59.337-06:002015-11-04T00:37:59.337-06:00Wonderful pictures! I had no idea this mall existe...Wonderful pictures! I had no idea this mall existed.. There is a shopping center at 290 and W. 34th in Houston that has a very similar layout with the center corridor heading all the way to the back. According to a site plan Weingarten is still trying to rent out the spaces inside the mall, and also it looks like there's a corridor around the back of Staples, were they once connected? Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-25116461698253257422015-11-02T17:29:42.162-06:002015-11-02T17:29:42.162-06:00Thanks to the above commentors for providing great...Thanks to the above commentors for providing great information regarding the movie theaters in the area and beyond. jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-67032029550333345792015-10-21T22:58:28.168-05:002015-10-21T22:58:28.168-05:00I can’t really say which theaters replaced which, ...I can’t really say which theaters replaced which, but there was also an old two screen theater (I’m not sure who operated it) that was located on FM 1960 between the North Oaks Mall location and Willowbrook Mall that closed sometime around the time that North Oaks opened. <br /><br />You probably know this already, but Greenspoint Mall got a new theater a few years ago. The old JCPenney was torn down and a Premiere theater was put up there. I don’t know how well it’s doing, but it’s there. <br /><br />As for the Willowbrook Mall area AMCs, the original location in The Commons across from the mall was recently torn down and replaced with a new Academy store (Academy previously had a freestanding location next to The Commons that opened in the mid-1990s). The old AMC was distinctive because the driveway in front of it (which was the center of the shopping center) was completely covered. Sadly, that’s gone now. I believe the two anchors next to the Academy may be empty too, but maybe something has come up there that I have not seen. One is the old Phar-Mor-turned-Room Store. The other was an OfficeMax that recently closed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-15688915776336939242015-10-20T20:45:32.451-05:002015-10-20T20:45:32.451-05:00One fact that's odd about AMC is that their fi...One fact that's odd about AMC is that their first 8-10 screen multiplexes (1983 was around when they were new) is that they borrowed a lot of design features from the small AMC theaters of the 70's. That "Theatres" font is one example. The circa 1983 AMCs also usually were built with wood shingles on the facade, but around 1985 the old sign font and 70's-centric wood were discontinued. I thought late 80's AMCs looked WAY more modern than their early 80's counterparts.<br /><br />Also, let me let you in on a secret: United Artists theaters still exist today, but are owned by Regal. I don't get why Regal kept the name, but the United Artists theaters tend to be older and more obsolete than the theaters with the Regal name. In fact it seems the United Artists theaters have been closing one by one as their leases expire, but Regal has been remodeling the theaters with their own name.<br /><br />What's sad is that both GCC and United Artists survived well into the 1990s (both started building multiplexes in the late 80's, not far behind AMC) but ended up selling out to AMC and Regal who now have something of a duopoly in parts of the country. Often AMC and Regal have theaters near one another, but agree to not show the same movies as one another.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-20147978249731578832015-10-20T06:32:58.745-05:002015-10-20T06:32:58.745-05:00As you can see, the night I took these pictures wa...As you can see, the night I took these pictures was the best opportunity to see this place without people. The cinema usually has a line of people at the ticket counter especially on weekends. That Tuesday night during the school year was a rare occasion to see the place nearly empty.jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028753244746628643.post-10465308006616721962015-10-20T06:22:46.200-05:002015-10-20T06:22:46.200-05:00Thanks for that extra information about the mall a...Thanks for that extra information about the mall and nearby cinemas. There have been so many changes over the years that have claimed many top movie companies in the US. AMC has been the most resilient and made the acquisitions and changes necessary to continue to thrive.jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642257521152353045noreply@blogger.com