River Oaks Theatre (Houston, Bellaire, Katy: townhouses, theater, closing)

[bluepencil]

Anyone else get a sick feeling in their stomach when they think about the impending destruction of two of the few and far-between historical landmarks in Houston? For anyone who doesn't know, it looks like a new Barnes and Noble will be going up to anchor a strip center where the old River Oaks theater is, which will likewise cause the nearby Book Stop in the Alabama Theater to close, too. First Cactus closes (although they were overpriced and their used music selection was very mediocre, it was a pretty cool store), and now its neighbors' doors will be closing too.

Houstonist's done quite a bit of coverage on this:
Houstonist: Getting Barnes & Noble's attention?

[tstone]

This kind of talk is nothing new. Unfortunately there is little regard for history in this city. It's the same way they want to bulldoze old, historic houses close to downtown so they can run a rail down Richmond.

[Nanner]

To clarify, the B&N won't be on the site of the River Oaks Theatre. It will be across the street, where the Three Brothers Bakery, Black-eyed Pea, and Jamba Juice used to be. The strip has already been leveled.

The last I heard, it's still in question what will happen to the River Oaks Theatre's strip. At least that was the "official" word from Weingarten.

[Mr. Krinkle]

Originally Posted by tstone

It's the same way they want to bulldoze old, historic houses close to downtown so they can run a rail down Richmond.

There never was a plan to tear down historic houses in order to build the rail down Richmond. The only people who tear down old houses are those developers that put up those cheaply built townhouses everywhere.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Mr. Krinkle

The only people who tear down old houses are those developers that put up those cheaply built townhouses everywhere.

Just like the Katy Freeway developers?

[Premont]

I was sad when the Bellaire Theater closed down years ago.

[Wysiwyg]

did you folks see anything in those theatres?

[Nanner]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

did you folks see anything in those theatres?

Yes, I go to the River Oaks all the time. And I went to the Bellaire several times as a kid, although not regularly. Never went to the Alabama. (I don't know when it closed, though--it might have been before my time).

Why do you ask?

[love roses]

I saw the Blair Witch Project there.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by Nanner

Yes, I go to the River Oaks all the time. And I went to the Bellaire several times as a kid, although not regularly. Never went to the Alabama. (I don't know when it closed, though--it might have been before my time).

Why do you ask?

nah, i just remember how NYC folks put so much money in moving a small 4-6 storey brownstone building one lot to the left just to save it from being demolished. it was an off-broadway theatre I believe. I never really understood that not being a performer/artist