Beechnut Street and Endicott Lane
Houston, Texas
The Bayou City's second major shopping mall was built as the centerpiece of the 2,700-unit Meyerland housing development. MEYERLAND PLAZA, developed by George Meyer, was built on an 80-acre plot, located 6.7 miles southwest of the center city. The original retail center encompassed approximately 476,000 leasable square feet. There were twenty-seven store spaces.
While several contemporary shopping malls had a tunnel and basement for shipping and receiving, the service area of MEYERLAND was situated on its roof. This made it similar to Miami's NORTHSIDE CENTER (1960) or New York City's KINGS PLAZA (1970).
A 3-day grand opening gala commenced at MEYERLAND PLAZA on October 31, 1957. "Around the Shopping World in 80 Acres" was officiated by Oscar Fitzallen Holcombe (Mayor of Houston) and George Meyer. They cut a ceremonial ribbon, initiating the festivities.
Events included shows by flamenco dancers, can-can dancers, Bozo the Clown and Koko & His Performing Pets. There were free kiddie rides. The highlight of the grand opening was the ascension of "La Coquette," the hot air balloon used in the filming of Michael Todd's "Around The World In 80 Days." Over $15,000 worth of prizes were also awarded. These included two 33-day around-the-world trips and a new 1958 Rambler automobile.
MEYERLAND PLAZA was anchored by a 2-level (105,000 square foot), Houston-based Meyer Brothers, 2-level (64,100 square foot) J.C. Penney and a Wichita Falls, Texas-based White Stores. White Stores was a Western Auto-type mercantile with lines of home appliances, furniture, automotive accessories, toys and sporting goods.
Inline stores included W.T. Grant, Mading's Drugs, Thom McAn Shoes, Palais Royal, a (32,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth and (27,300 square foot) Henke & Pillot supermarket. "Henke's," a subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger, was rebranded by Kroger in 1966.
The mall's first movie house, the General Cinema Corporation Meyerland Cinema I & II, opened on April 14, 1965. It was a freestanding structure, located in the southwest parking area, and was identical to GCC twin cinemas opened simultaneously at the GULFGATE and NORTHLINE malls. It was reconfigured as the Meyerland Cinema I-II-III in 1978.
A 3-day grand opening gala commenced at MEYERLAND PLAZA on October 31, 1957. "Around the Shopping World in 80 Acres" was officiated by Oscar Fitzallen Holcombe (Mayor of Houston) and George Meyer. They cut a ceremonial ribbon, initiating the festivities.
Events included shows by flamenco dancers, can-can dancers, Bozo the Clown and Koko & His Performing Pets. There were free kiddie rides. The highlight of the grand opening was the ascension of "La Coquette," the hot air balloon used in the filming of Michael Todd's "Around The World In 80 Days." Over $15,000 worth of prizes were also awarded. These included two 33-day around-the-world trips and a new 1958 Rambler automobile.
MEYERLAND PLAZA was anchored by a 2-level (105,000 square foot), Houston-based Meyer Brothers, 2-level (64,100 square foot) J.C. Penney and a Wichita Falls, Texas-based White Stores. White Stores was a Western Auto-type mercantile with lines of home appliances, furniture, automotive accessories, toys and sporting goods.
Inline stores included W.T. Grant, Mading's Drugs, Thom McAn Shoes, Palais Royal, a (32,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth and (27,300 square foot) Henke & Pillot supermarket. "Henke's," a subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger, was rebranded by Kroger in 1966.
The mall's first movie house, the General Cinema Corporation Meyerland Cinema I & II, opened on April 14, 1965. It was a freestanding structure, located in the southwest parking area, and was identical to GCC twin cinemas opened simultaneously at the GULFGATE and NORTHLINE malls. It was reconfigured as the Meyerland Cinema I-II-III in 1978.
J.C. Penney was replaced by a 2-level (194,100 square foot) store. This full-line unit was dedicated on January 14, 1971. The original space was taken by a relocated Palais Royal. With these modifications, the mall spanned around 663,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of fifty stores and services.
Shopping venues in the vicinity of MEYERLAND PLAZA included SHARPSTOWN CENTER (1961) {1.9 miles northwest, in Houston} and WESTWOOD MALL (1975-1998) {4.6 miles southwest, in Houston}. Although only 3.3 miles north, the GALLERIA complex (1970) was so upscale that it provided no commercial competition for MEYERLAND PLAZA.
All the rivalry eventually caught up with MEYERLAND PLAZA. By the late 1980s, it was in decline. The center had gone through five changes of ownership; four of these transactions being conducted between 1984 and 1989. A fifth sale closed in August 1993. The dilapidated and virtually vacant complex was acquired by a joint venture of Houston's E.D. ("Ed") Wulfe and Boston's Harvard University. A redevelopment got underway in February 1994.
Portions of the mall structure were demolished, with the remainder being renovated. Big box stores were installed in existing store space. These included a (60,200 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond, (29,900 square foot) Marshalls and (53,800 square foot) Service Merchandise.
New retail area was also built. A 1-level (107,000 square foot), Saint Louis-based Venture discount mart held its grand opening in November 1994. A south parking area strip plaza housed stores such as a (33,700 square foot) Stein Mart, (25,300 square foot) Office Max and (29,300 square foot) Lil' Things. These were open for business by mid-1995.
A new movie venue was built adjacent to the existing tri-plex. The General Cinema Corporation Meyerland Cinema 8 showed first features on March 17, 1995. After this dedication, the tri-plex was demolished. The Meyerland Cinema 8 went dark on September 29, 2000. Entertainment Film Works re-opened the complex on April 20, 2001. It shut down after one year. Nova Cinemas converted the theater into a second-run, discount venue. This operation closed down in 2003, with the abandoned movie house being bulldozed.
Shopping venues in the vicinity of MEYERLAND PLAZA included SHARPSTOWN CENTER (1961) {1.9 miles northwest, in Houston} and WESTWOOD MALL (1975-1998) {4.6 miles southwest, in Houston}. Although only 3.3 miles north, the GALLERIA complex (1970) was so upscale that it provided no commercial competition for MEYERLAND PLAZA.
All the rivalry eventually caught up with MEYERLAND PLAZA. By the late 1980s, it was in decline. The center had gone through five changes of ownership; four of these transactions being conducted between 1984 and 1989. A fifth sale closed in August 1993. The dilapidated and virtually vacant complex was acquired by a joint venture of Houston's E.D. ("Ed") Wulfe and Boston's Harvard University. A redevelopment got underway in February 1994.
Portions of the mall structure were demolished, with the remainder being renovated. Big box stores were installed in existing store space. These included a (60,200 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond, (29,900 square foot) Marshalls and (53,800 square foot) Service Merchandise.
New retail area was also built. A 1-level (107,000 square foot), Saint Louis-based Venture discount mart held its grand opening in November 1994. A south parking area strip plaza housed stores such as a (33,700 square foot) Stein Mart, (25,300 square foot) Office Max and (29,300 square foot) Lil' Things. These were open for business by mid-1995.
A new movie venue was built adjacent to the existing tri-plex. The General Cinema Corporation Meyerland Cinema 8 showed first features on March 17, 1995. After this dedication, the tri-plex was demolished. The Meyerland Cinema 8 went dark on September 29, 2000. Entertainment Film Works re-opened the complex on April 20, 2001. It shut down after one year. Nova Cinemas converted the theater into a second-run, discount venue. This operation closed down in 2003, with the abandoned movie house being bulldozed.
The Venture chain's expansion into the Texas market was short-lived. In July 1997, Lone Star State stores were acquired by Kmart, with the MEYERLAND PLAZA location re-opening, as a Big Kmart, on November 14, 1997. Big Kmart was shuttered in early 2003 and re-opened, as a Target, on July 24, 2005.
Meanwhile, after a successful and award-winning redevelopment of MEYERLAND PLAZA, Ed Wulfe and company embarked on a reinvention of Houston's first major shopping center, GULFGATE MALL. A revitalized MEYERLAND PLAZA was sold to Atlanta-based Ronus Properties in August 1998. The retail hub was sold again in September 2013, when it was acquired by a joint venture of Houston's Fidelis Realty Partners and New York City's BlackRock, Incorporated. At this time, the main shopping center structure encompassed approximately 546,500 leasable square feet and housed twenty retail spaces.
Meanwhile, after a successful and award-winning redevelopment of MEYERLAND PLAZA, Ed Wulfe and company embarked on a reinvention of Houston's first major shopping center, GULFGATE MALL. A revitalized MEYERLAND PLAZA was sold to Atlanta-based Ronus Properties in August 1998. The retail hub was sold again in September 2013, when it was acquired by a joint venture of Houston's Fidelis Realty Partners and New York City's BlackRock, Incorporated. At this time, the main shopping center structure encompassed approximately 546,500 leasable square feet and housed twenty retail spaces.
One of these was occupied by Bed, Bath & Beyond, which closed in January 2020. Dick's Sporting Goods assumed the space and opened on May 13, 2022. Palais Royal went dark in September 2020. Stein Mart pulled the proverbial plug on their MEYERLAND store in October 2020, with Jo-Ann Fabrics leasing the space. Best Buy, occupying a (33,600 square foot) Circuit City, opened in May 2010 and closed for good on October 31, 2020. Nordstrom Rack set up shop and welcomed first patrons on September 26, 2024.
Sources:
The Houston Chronicle
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
http://blogs.chron.com / Bayou City History / "Meyerland Plaza in Pictures" / J.R. Gonzales
Houston Architecture Info Forum
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
http://www.houstonfreeways.com
Project Reference File / Retail Meyerland Plaza, Houston Texas / July-September 1995
Harris County, Texas property tax assessor website
The Houston Chronicle
The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Texas)
http://blogs.chron.com / Bayou City History / "Meyerland Plaza in Pictures" / J.R. Gonzales
Houston Architecture Info Forum
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
http://www.houstonfreeways.com
Project Reference File / Retail Meyerland Plaza, Houston Texas / July-September 1995
Harris County, Texas property tax assessor website
http://www.ronusproperties.com / Ronus Properties
http://fidelisrealtypartners.com / Fidelis Realty Partners (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://fidelisrealtypartners.com / Fidelis Realty Partners (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.frpltd.com / Fidelis Realty Partners
https://tshaonline.org / Texas State Historical Association
http://realtynewsreport.com
https://tshaonline.org / Texas State Historical Association
http://realtynewsreport.com
https://houston.culturemap.com
https://communityimpact.com
FAIR USE OF MEYERLAND PLAZA IMAGES:
The graphics from The Bellaire Texan help illustrate a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The images are of lower resolution than the originals (copies made would be of inferior quality). The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute the images in any way. The images are being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original images in any way.
FAIR USE OF MEYERLAND PLAZA IMAGES:
The graphics from The Bellaire Texan help illustrate a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The images are of lower resolution than the originals (copies made would be of inferior quality). The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute the images in any way. The images are being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original images in any way.
