Fiesta #18 OST and Kirby December 2022 and January 2023 and another 2024 mini-update

Here is an older update from one of the few remaining retro Fiesta stores in the Houston area. Despite a complete renovation beginning in late 2022, this store has sat relatively unchanged since then. A very strange development since nearly all Fiesta stores have been remodeled since 2020. The good news is that we get to hold onto the neon and flashing lights for a bit longer. I have been to this store in 2024, and not much has changed. There is some video footage that I took from 2023 and 2024 that will be posted at a later time.  

Interior renovation had begun. 

The wood panel lattice had been removed from the light fixtures above the produce

Neon fading out.

The neon had been completely removed from the Chinese restaurant.

The neon was still on in this part of the store, but the wood panel lattice had been removed as well.

The lower food prices neon along with the parrots were now gone. You can see some of the dust build up where the signs were at.

The neon was off here and mostly removed. The wood panel lattice was gone as well.

The international flags were gone as well. 

The neon removal had stopped here.

The red light fixtures had been removed from the frozen food area. 

The wood panel lattice was gone here in the front corner of the store as well.

The wood panels above the checkouts. 

The Chinese restaurant, now without signage.

Now for a bit more of the nearby surroundings.

What in the world happened to the Gamestop?

As you can see from the promotional posters and store hours, the store was still open.

Just before the neon signs came down. The larger sign on OST had already been replaced with the new company signage. This may have been the last neon Olive Garden sign left in the area. 

In other news, Greenspoint Mall is officially confirmed to be closed. There was conflicting information online as to when the closure of the mall will happen, but as of August 23, 2024, the mall is closed. We can't pin down an exact date at this time, but the closure happened sometime between August 1st and my visit yesterday. The last two remaining entrances have been locked or chained shut. If you want to walk around the mall exterior you still have full access for now, but the inside is sealed off. August 31st update below.

August 31st update. Looks like some work is going on inside of the former Uniform Superstore/Palais Royal. From what I could see some of the kiosk businesses from the mall are setting up shop inside. People were getting turned away at the door so whatever is going on there is not ready yet. Even though the mall is closed, at least the old junior anchor may reopen to the public. I will keep my eye on this space if it does reopen. 

And finally, a North Shepherd Sears demolition update. The area around the store is fenced off with debris and heavy machinery inside of the fence. We walked on the perimeter sidewalk to get one last view from afar. Only the skeleton of the store and flooring remains at this point. It is really a shame that this structure is getting torn down, there are so many generic newer shopping centers and homes in that area already. If anything, the auto center could have been saved and turned into a retro style shopping center. 

The Sears auto center and main store in the far view.

The store is hallowed out so you can get a glimpse inside before the rest of the structure goes down. 

The iconic sign is outside of the demolition area, so hopefully it will be saved. Seriously this sign needs to be saved!

 

Richland Mall Waco Texas Oct 2021

Here is a return trip to the Richland Mall in Waco Texas.

A new Dick's Sporting Goods opened up in the JCPenney wing of the mall. 

The old Dillard's Women's store has moved to the former Sears anchor spot.

The new Dillard's Women's store. Parts of the Sears anchor can be seen even after the renovations.

Here is what the anchor looked like before.

The building has been extended but the second floor was closed off.

Bealls, Stage, Gordman's, now Tilt Studios.

Dillard's Men's store and JCPenney.

JCPenney logo with black letters.

JCPenney logo with white letters.

The new Dick's Sporting Goods store takes up a good bit of space and a former mall entrance.

This side of JCPenney got the new red letters. Back, white, and red JCPenney letters on this store.

The only vacant anchor just past Dick's.

A look into the mall at the JCPenney court. As you can see the new Dick's Sporting Goods sticks out into the mall corridor a good bit.

Looking into the main mall corridor.

The full mall entrance to JCPenney. Glad to see that the mirrored entrance stays put here.

Another view of the mall corridor with Dick's

Dick's with H&M a bit further down to the right.

H&M entrance.

The center court.

From the center court to the food court and new Dillard's store.

The old Dillard's store has left this corner of the mall without an anchor.

Another view of the center court.

The mall map shows a couple of anchor vacancies, but one has since been filled.

EntertainMart

A store similar to Hastings with used and new media. When Hastings closed nationwide, these stores popped up in smaller spaces at malls and some of the old shopping center spaces once occupied by Hastings. To see the old Hastings Bosque store, click here. 

Here is a tour of this EntertainMart location.

Video Games, Music, Movies, Books, Collectables, this store has a lot to see!

Excellent selection of video games new, used, and retro.

Back to the days of when the Saints were a good football team, sigh!

I forgot to mention their comics section. 

They had some instruments as well.

They even had a small VHS selection!

They had some interesting action figures, lol. 

The store took up two spaces with the majority of the smaller space being books. 

The middle of the store is where the checkouts and candy selection are located.

Trade Yo

What a cool store this is, definitely a great addition to Richland Mall.

Now for more of the mall.

Tilt Studios which is now open. This is the former Bealls/Stage/Gordman's space.

A peek inside through the construction wrap.

They still had a lot of work to do at this point.

Looking back into the mall from the Tilt.

Now we head towards the food court and new Dillard's store.

There it is, the new Women's Dillard's location.

Here is what that area of the mall looked like when Sears was still open. Sadly, the food court neon sign was removed.

The food court, a couple more restaurants can be found in the mall hallway to the left.

The Sears mall entrance minus the sign is exactly the same.

The view of the store map.

Once inside, all similarities to the former Sears are gone.

Back out into the mall we see another view of the food court.

And an excellent retro video game store (Special FX) that has been in the mall for several years now.

More of the food court with the main mall corridor just past the seating area.

The mall hallway just past the food court has an interesting mix of shops and restaurants.

This trip was made on a Sunday so Chik-Fil-A was closed for the day.

More of the mall, heading back towards the center court.

Tilt Studio entrance one more time.

The second, older Dillard's. Men's and Home.

Looking towards the center court from the older Dillard's.

Center court towards the JCPenney/Dick's court.

More views of the JCPenney/Dick's court.

The mall entrance near JCPenney and across from Dick's Sporting Goods.

It is strange to see how much the new Dick's store sticks out into the mall corridor.

As we leave the mall, here are some parting photos.

Overall Richland Mall is doing great. If they can get the old Dillard's anchor filled or knock it down for an outdoor lifestyle addition the mall will be set. There is an excellent variety of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options here. Ownership and management have done a fantastic job here.