Town & Country Village is an upscale shopping center in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

, USA. It is located along Beltway 8 between Memorial Drive

Memorial Drive (Houston, Texas)

Memorial Drive is an arterial road in the western half of Houston, Texas, United States. It runs from Interstate 45 west to State Highway 6, a distance of approximately 20 miles , although a section goes through several predominantly higher-income residential neighborhoods in the cities of...

 and the former Town & Country Mall

Town & Country Mall

-External links:*Gonzalez, J.R. "." Houston Chronicle. December 15, 2009.** redevelopment...

.

History

The Original Town & Country Village was built in the 1960s with upscale tenants like Joske's and Sakowitz. Moody Rambin updated the village in the 1990s with a redesign of new buildings designed to host upscale, yet non-expensive shops in a comfortable environment.

The center did fairly well in the 1990s, the fresh, new architecture and good location on Beltway 8 attracted shoppers from all over the surrounding area. But the area's best years are in the 2000s, and currently the center is doing better due to a surge of shoppers after Town & Country Mall shut down. The center also hosts a good variety of stores, with major tenants including Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...

, Randalls, and Cafe' Express.

In the near future, the center will probably try upgrading the northernmost section of the center, which is very unincorporated and is hard to access. Despite some rumors, Town & Country Village will not be expanding into the former Town & Country Mall lot, which is currently being rebuilt as the new CITYCENTRE shopping plaza.

Architecture and Landscaping

The center has very upscale architecture, not found in many other Houston city plazas. The center has a very modern, smooth architecture style and numerous fountains, gardens and patios. One of the best examples is the Cafe' Express patio, including a small fountain/pool and roadside gardens.

The landscaping, designed by Kudela & Weinheimer, is also carefully detailed, many avenues crossing the center have trees and imported grass lining them, and many ferns and potted plants are also located near Barnes & Noble. Entrances to the center have palm trees, gardens and fountains lining them, and extra decorations in the holiday season.

Sections

There are four different "sections" in the center. These sections are actually different clusters of buildings, or stores, put together. The area north of Florence Drive is not listed as a section, but is still considered a part of Town & Country Village.

Section A

Section A is one of the most successful sections of Town & Country. Located on Beltway 8 at Florence Lane, it includes a mix of stores and restaurants, such as Cafe Express

Cafe Express

Cafe Express operates 19 fast-casual, bistro-style restaurants in the U.S. state of Texas. The company has its headquarters in Houston.The chain was founded in 1984. At one point Wendy's International, Inc. owned 70% of Cafe Express...

, Bank of America

Bank of America

Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...

, and Bombay clothes.

Section B

Section B is the southernmost section, stretching from Memorial Drive to Kimberly Road along Beltway 8. It has a newer, more unnoticed mix of stores, such as GAP clothes

Gap (clothing retailer)

The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...

, Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works, LLC, is an American retail store under the Limited Brands umbrella. It was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio and has since expanded across the United States and Canada. It specializes in lotions, bath items, personal care items, and home fragrances.The company launched both a...

, Jo Ann's clothes, and Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor (retail chain)

ANN INC. is an American group of specialty apparel retail chain stores for women, headquartered in New York City, . The stores offer classic styled suits, separates, dresses, shoes and accessories...

 clothes.

Section C

This is the largest of all the sections, and is the only one with a second level. Major tenants include Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...

, Hallmark Cards

Hallmark Cards

Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....

, Randalls, and Walgreens

Walgreens

Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...

.

Section D

Section D is located east at Memorial Drive & West Bough Lane. Focused on smaller, lower-budget retailers, is includes a store mix like Nextel, Quizno's Subs, and Houston-based TGF Haircutters.

Tenants

There are numerous stores and restaurants in the center, including:

• GAP
  Gap (clothing retailer)
  The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
  
   clothes
  • GAP
  • GAP Kids
  • Baby GAP
• Randall's
• Banana Republic
• Barnes & Noble
  Barnes & Noble
  Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
  
  
• Williams-Sonoma
  Williams-Sonoma
  Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a high-end American consumer retail company that sells kitchenwares, furniture and linens, as well as other housewares and home furnishings, along with a variety of specialty foods, soaps and lotions...
  
  
• Pottery Barn
  Pottery Barn
  Pottery Barn is an American-based home furnishing store chain with retail stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Since September 1986, when it was purchased from GAP, Inc, Pottery Barn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams-Sonoma, Inc....
  
  
• Restoration Hardware
  Restoration Hardware
  Restoration Hardware is an American furniture chain of home furnishings, bath fixtures and bathware, functional and decorative hardware and related merchandise. The company defines its wares as classic and authentic American. Restoration Hardware, Inc. sells its merchandise offering through its...
  
  
• Hallmark Cards
  Hallmark Cards
  Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
  
  
• Cafe Express
  Cafe Express
  Cafe Express operates 19 fast-casual, bistro-style restaurants in the U.S. state of Texas. The company has its headquarters in Houston.The chain was founded in 1984. At one point Wendy's International, Inc. owned 70% of Cafe Express...
  
  
• Quizno's Subs
• Walgreens
  Walgreens
  Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
  
  
• Ann Taylor
  Ann Taylor (retail chain)
  ANN INC. is an American group of specialty apparel retail chain stores for women, headquartered in New York City, . The stores offer classic styled suits, separates, dresses, shoes and accessories...
  
  
• Bath & Body Works
  Bath & Body Works
  Bath & Body Works, LLC, is an American retail store under the Limited Brands umbrella. It was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio and has since expanded across the United States and Canada. It specializes in lotions, bath items, personal care items, and home fragrances.The company launched both a...
  
  
• Bank of America
  Bank of America
  Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
  
  
• Starbucks Coffee
• Charles Schwab
  Charles Schwab Corp.
  The Charles Schwab Corporation , is an American brokerage and banking company, based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1971 by Charles R. "Chuck" Schwab, as a traditional, brick and mortar brokerage firm and investment newsletter publisher. In 1973, the company name changed from First...
  
  
• Talbots
  Talbots
  Talbots is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s classic clothing, shoes and accessories. Established in 1947, the company sells items such as the blazer, trench, white shirt, ballet flats and pearls....
  
   clothes
• AT&T
  AT&T
  AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
  
  
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
• Everything But Water
• Cool Cuts 4 Kids
• Chico's
• Soma Intimates
• American Express Travel Related Services
• TGF Haircutters
• La Madeleine
• Relax The Back
• Nori Japanese Sushi
• McCormick's and Schmick's (Opening Summer 2010)
• Pronto Cucinino-Italian Restaurant (Now open)
• Dental Service Management (Now open)

External links

• Town & Country Village (Official Site)