Comments on: Almeda Mall; Houston, Texas

By: Lorna

Lorna — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:31:45 +0000

I have very vague memories of Almeda Mall back from my childhood in the early and mid 70’s, mostly told to me by my parents. We lived in Freeport, down on the coast, and back before the days of Brazos Mall (in Lake Jackson) we would every so often make a special trip up the old Hwy 288 to go to Almeda Mall. (Almeda was the mall of choice due to it’s close proximity to 288.) I don’t recall much from the inside of the mall, but I do remember the Foley’s arches outside having an inlay of Robins Egg blue color. Seeing those was how I knew I could stop saying, “Are we there yet??” Apparently Almeda was the cat’s meow back then.

One thing I do recall is that a trip to Houston and Almeda was a very big deal for my older brother and I. The trip always coincided with Red Lobster’s all-you-could-eat popcorn shrimp special. I remember at one visit the waitress getting so ticked off because she kept on having to go back for more shrimp for my brother.

Good times.

By: Ann Gilbert

Ann Gilbert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:53:12 +0000

If anyone is still interested…..Almeda Mall is still kickin, not butt , but still alive. It’s clean and security is very present. Personally, I don’t shop there; I can’t afford to shop anywhere. However, I find it a great place to walk for exercise. Many people do. There are usually more walkers than shoppers. So, I hope the plan to keep it open is still alive.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:27:33 +0000

@Troy T, : I used to work at Chick-Fil-A in 1986 as well – I think that is when it was. I had to wear that stupid chicken costume and pass out samples of chicken to everyone! I remember Farrell’s Ice Cream place. That was the best! I drove past the Almeda mall in 2006 and it looks run down! It was sad to see. However, the memories are great!

By: Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D)

Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:33:24 +0000

Shrug. As far as I know, Macy’s is in limbo.

It was a low-end Foley’s before that and the Macy’s conversion did little more besides a new faceplate and different low-end merchandise.

Hurricane Ike hit in Sept/08, and it was closed due to leaks. Macy’s soon announced that Almeda would renovate and reopen, but not Northwest. A store closing list released the following January did not axe Northwest however. The last time I checked (June), it was still closed but had the Macy’s brand on the outside.

By: Chip

Chip — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:27:07 +0000

Is Northwest still a viable mall? Found an online directory of that mall, still has Macy’s open. Looks like very few national chains, just cheap M&P stores. With a nearby high school called a “dropout factory”, is crime a major problem?

By: Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D)

Jonah Norason (Pseudo3D) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:34:31 +0000

Here are a lot of great links about Almeda.

http://southernretail.blogspot.com/2009/05/almeda-mall-may-09-2009-update-to.html
John’s update to the Labelscar post.

http://southernretail.blogspot.com/2009/07/big-news-at-almeda-mall.html
Another link of Almeda Mall of John’s. Includes interiors.

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/index.php?showtopic=16626&mode=threaded
Everything you ever wanted to know about Almeda’s history is here.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/07/30/story8.html
A proposed plan to de-mall Almeda Mall.

Also, the Macy’s (old Foley’s) remodeled and reopened after nearly a year of Hurricane Ike, but now its now only one level.

By: Troy T

Troy T — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:14:37 +0000

Almeda was my mall growing up in the 70s and 80s. I worked in Chick-fil-a from 86-88, which was almost next door to Pic-a-dilly. I heard it closed a couple of years later. I have alot of memories of this mall, and I haven’t been there since the late 80’s. Mainly I remember the Chick-fil-A store owner would tell us good night at 8pm, then sometimes walk around the mall and hide behind the big tree in the middle of the mall to spy on us. He thought we couldn’t see him- haha. Oh, somebody has to mention there was a Farrell’s Ice Cream shop that was like an ice cream restaurant. It was always fun to go there.

By: JohnE

JohnE — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:56:09 +0000

A new anchor is going to open in the old JCPenney spot. Click on my name to see my blog and an update on this mall.

By: blah

blah — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:07:44 +0000

ok so im working at Almeda temporarily for the month of january to help out one of our stores, and ws there in Novembr working as well. There is barely any traffic in the mall, all the big stores are closed, and not only does it look old but its not well taken care of. and the bathrooms are ALWAYS disgusting . not really sure where the maintenance team is. ever.

Macy’s is still closed, jc penneys is gone, steve and barrys is closed now too…the food court only consists of like 5 things- taco bell, a gyro/burger place, thirsty’s, sbarro, and a knockoff of china wok, (except yes, the piccadillys is lovely). oh and wait…they have a great american cookie company!!
The only thing still open in that mall are shoe stores. If you want shoes, this place is perfect. Theres foot locker, foot action, champs, journeys, lady-foot locker, foot this, foot that….but besides that theres just like 300 wireless booths with accessories for cell phones, a store called “Belts of the World” (??), a gift shop, a store called Bigg City (if you want an oh-so-pimpin throwback oilers jersey or a shirt that says Made in Screwston on it…) and an airbrushing place that will uh, airbrush your brand new Jordans? or something?
yeah.
not so much.

By: linea rivera

linea rivera — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:31:07 +0000

i am so glad almeda is going to reopen very convenient for several people who dont like alot of traffic, or shop where there are long lines of waiting to be assisted. i will spend all my money at almeda!s macys thank yoiu very much for reopening