Who remembers these places in the evolution of Houston's nightlife? (Brownsville: shops, to eat)

[ParaguaneroSwag]

I was too young to go out at the time this thread was made. Now that I am at going out age, I rarely hear people talk about Washington Ave when in Houston. We usually go places Midtown, EaDo, or some spots near Uptown for raves. Is Washington Ave dying down? Or is it turning into a restaurant district?

Currently, EaDo I see the most potential. It's really turned from an abandoned warehouse ghost town to a vibrant revamped nightlife district. And its only due to improve, with the Hotel RL scheduled to start construction in the summer, and the Conservatory & Prohibition Super Club & Bar scheduled to open in Spring (replacing Chapman & Kirby). The new business from the hotel will create new satellite developments as well.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by texas7

As Washington Ave. is the "it" place right now, I have to wonder what will happen to the area when the upscale crowd goes elsewhere as historically they always move on to the next hot spot leaving the current to fall to disarray. Will it become a blighted area as most of the "clubby" areas of the past have.

Who Remembers:

The hot place at one time is now the area referred to as the Gulfton Ghetto. Then the hot place became Westheimer from the Galleria to Augusta and then again at Gessner/Westheimer

Then came the Richmond Strip

Then Downtown - shortlived as a hot place
Then Midtown - still has it's share of nightlife but not an overwhelming presence that usually leaves an area blighted when it disappears
Presently Washington Avenue

Some of these were from my underage drinking days and some before my nightlife days........

Crazy Banana
The Orchard Club on Glenmont
Bonaparte's Retreat
Barbary Coast
Ciao
Studabakers
The Fox Club
Cooters
Todds (Richmond)
Xanadu
The Place on Woodway
Genesis
Uncle Sams aka U.S. Disco
Annabelles
Squeeze Box
Todds (Clear Lake)
The Atrium Club (Clear Lake)

By chance, Was the Richmond Strip area the hot spot in the Mid 80s? I remember a club on Richmond that I went to at that time.

[Inwoodpines Alum]

Does anyone remember the name of the club downtown where when you went downstairs it was open to the bayou and seemed like you in a cave? For the life of me, I can't remember the name of that place.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Hopeful for Life

By chance, Was the Richmond Strip area the hot spot in the Mid 80s? I remember a club on Richmond that I went to at that time.

Yeah. You could barely drive down the street with all the cruising. There were a bunch from the club (various names) in the old theatre in the strip center on Richmond between Post Oak and Sage down to 6400 at 6400 Richmond. Mix of country and pop/rock clubs.

[Redlionjr]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

I was too young to go out at the time this thread was made. Now that I am at going out age, I rarely hear people talk about Washington Ave when in Houston. We usually go places Midtown, EaDo, or some spots near Uptown for raves. Is Washington Ave dying down? Or is it turning into a restaurant district?

Currently, EaDo I see the most potential. It's really turned from an abandoned warehouse ghost town to a vibrant revamped nightlife district. And its only due to improve, with the Hotel RL scheduled to start construction in the summer, and the Conservatory & Prohibition Super Club & Bar scheduled to open in Spring (replacing Chapman & Kirby). The new business from the hotel will create new satellite developments as well.

Washington Ave is more so diversifying it's scene with trendy hip restaurants more than anything. Which is cool imo.

[DeanoSF]

Originally Posted by Inwoodpines Alum

Does anyone remember the name of the club downtown where when you went downstairs it was open to the bayou and seemed like you in a cave? For the life of me, I can't remember the name of that place.

Powertools?

[borgerboy]

Oh the Orchard club! I moved to the orchard apts. after graduating college at ttu in 74. I alternated between the orchard and the bayou landing. I know, that was quite a dichotomy.

[jennifersenn]

Originally Posted by katygirl68

Yeah, that area used to be the swingles apartments, only young singles. One even had a disco next to the pool. Then they stopped allowing adults only and people moved and rents went way down. Now they're gang land (Southwest Cholos, MS-13, etc.). I wouldn't live there if the rent was free. Scary place.

The neighborhood went down the toilet because of the murders that happened at the Orchard Apartments in August '79. The first girl was murdered and the killer cut off her head and took it with him. Two weeks later, a second girl was murdered, just a few doors down from where the first girl was killed. At the time, I lived at the Napoleon Square Apts., a couple of blocks away. I also worked at the same office as the second victim. This scared the hell out of me and I moved out the next weekend. MANY people moved out of the area due to these murders, and that is what brought that whole area down. Rumors at the time ran rampant, and one theory was of a "crazed maintenance man" who made copies of apartment keys. Another theory was that both girls met their killer at "The Orchard Club", the disco that was located inside the apartment complex. One thing is for sure, this occurrence brought about "security gates" at apartment complexes here. Before this happened, every complex was just easy-access to anyone. This is one of the most famous crimes in Houston history, and remains unsolved to this day.

[clprodj]

Numbers and The Hop Clear Lake are the sole survivors in the club business. Didn’t see anyone mention Bayou Mammas.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by clprodj

Numbers and The Hop Clear Lake are the sole survivors in the club business. Didn’t see anyone mention Bayou Mammas.

Can't tell if you are joking, or are for real. Doing a search on this thread shows Bayou Mama's noted several times in the past.