Houston's Abandoned Italian Shopping Village

Westbury Square is an abandoned 1950s era shopping village near Meyerland in Southwest Houston.
Sources / Further info:
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[@lynnebelt8722]

The architects name is William F Wortham Jr. not William J. Wortham Jr. He was my dad. I grew up watching the square be built. Loved Rumpleheimer’s (ice cream shop)!!

[@dianemorris9335]

I worked at Rumpleheimer's. Sad to see it all in ruins. Wish we had a drone picture of it in it's good ole days!

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

He "was" your Dad. I hope you are receiving your fill of "Rum"pleheimer's", imaginary or otherwise, at the Cuckoo's Nest.

[@evinchester7820]

LOVED THEM TOO. And Wilderness Equipment and Supply.....

[@jwoodrff]

Fondly remembered by many.

[@Slayerjane61]

When I was a child in the late '60's and early '70's, going to Westbury Square was a real treat!

[@fayettevilletxguardian7979]

Thank you for documenting this. I have very fond memories of going there as a young girl and teenager. It was magical. Had it not fallen into such disrepair and demolition, I'm sure the new wave of honoring small spaces and walkable malls could have allowed this to see a rebirth. "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone - pave paradise and put up a parking lot..."

[@gregstephan2247]

I remember the square well. My family lived in Westbury starting 1959. I worked at the Village Inn Pizza '69-'70 when I left the city and joined the Air Force right out of high school. The square was a fun and interesting place in it's glory days.

[@honestytoafault]

thank you for your service to our country

[@aggieengineer2635]

I am so glad to have seen this. I grew up just a few blocks away in the '60s. We visited Westbury Square several times a week, and I attended school at the adjacent Little Red School House. It was a good time and place to grow up.

[@TexasTrailRunner]

Love these lesser known Houston stories keep it up!!!

[@AlbertNurick]

Westbury Square used to be such a wonderful Houston landmark. Great video, Scott!

[@bogbunny42069]

i live right down the street from here... learning the history of this place was awesome. I cried a little lol

[@ArafatCapital]

Samee

[@avalosavalos795]

Dam. I pass by there every day and always wondered what it used to be

[@christopheralexander5493]

I'm moving into Westbury Square Townhomes in September!

[@mjt2231]

I'd give anything to own one of those.

[@dfwtrucker1]

I could always tell there was an interesting story behind this place when I'd drive past it on Bellfort.... thanks for the video.

[@prepperpatti-rc3nl]

It was a lovely place to shop. There was Houston Trunk company there with a dance studio above that. There was a Rumpleheimers ice cream parlor and a little dutch store with a dutch wind mill at their entrance. The dutch store sold spices from all over the world. I think there was an indoor carosel there with the old horses kiddos could ride. It was a lovely place to spend the day. Some apartments above some of the shops. Large gay population lived in them from what i could tell back then. A very special place to shop,have lunch and enjoy as a family.

[@tomwilliams7773]

I was one of those local kids who rode a bike there after it opened until I moved away in 1968. By that time my favorite place to hang out was "The Electric Paisley".

[@rustyreid]

Sad. I used to live across the street from the square. While going to UH, I worked as a waiter at the steak house located there, and was a regular visitor to the Pizza shop that featured live music. Westbury Square was magic.

[@bluehealin]

definitely a destination in the late 60's. A most hip place.

[@kathyjackson9620]

As a teen in the 70's I often visited Westbury Square it had a nice bohemian vibe

[@aislinnluv]

I loved Westbury Square!

[@haitianjedi9411]

Hey that's my hood...live right off gasmer street.....went to westbury highschool....

[@staceyroberts7766]

Loved going to Westbury Square as a kid. I wanted to attend The Little Red Schoolhouse so badly. Also couldn't go without stopping by the candle store to see the crazy, groovy candles. This outdoor shopping concept is back, sure wish WS would be re-envisioned. Great flashback, thanks!

[@shirleyconti1361]

A beautiful older lady , retired from Neiman Marcus opened an essential oil and fragrance store there , she was amazing!!! 76 yrs old from West u.

[@stacymirba1433]

It's amazing to see the contrast a minute apart from :48 to 1:48 when you can see where the fountain used to be and is now the delivery entrance of a Home Depot. Just amazing to think what a downgrade that land has seen over the years and even more amazing that most people would never know.

[@hudekhoustonartist]

I did a search looking for something on this place. My older sister who was 12 was all excited to go to this place. I was 9. I had no idea what I was going to see. I remember a large horse made out of something like crystals that I believe was in a candy store. This was about 1962 ish. I've been back a few times reminiscing as I live in the area now.

[@evinchester7820]

My father took me there around 1980 to buy me some shoes. Now this was in 1980 and my father paid $500 for a pair of shoes for me. I needed a suit and he bought one as well for me. At $500 for the suit. Here it is July 2022 and I am now donating that suit, which you can still wear, to a charity. I'll keep the shoes. Oh. I don't fit in the suit anymore...sadly....lol.

[@robocop8289]

Thank you Scott for this story. I live nearby and have watched the steady decline of this once elegant space,

[@marcusvaughn7019]

I was born a few years after this place was built in the early sixties. It was fantastic and it looked just like a small village in Europe. There were hippie/head shops, wonderful restaurants, a candle factory, Olde Time ice cream parlor, wine shop, very exclusive European antique store. It was great, and open late on the weekends. My Mom even worked there several years at a party/gift shop named, "The Gay Dot!" It's really a shame they let the place get so run down. I was there last in 1978 and it was still doing decent business, esp. Pier 1 Imports. Such a cool place, thanks for sharing, I always wondered if the place was still open.

[@shockalockabocka]

I went to Little Red Schoolhouse in the 90's there. It was empty except for the Tuesday Morning, and then Home Depot came and the school had to relocate bc the buildings we occupied were demolished. It was kinda spooky at times. Sometimes we would hold book fairs or events in the empty store fronts and all the junk that had accumulated in the closets and backrooms was pretty bad.

[@CasualNotice]

The Community Theatre that rented two (not one) of the spaces was The Company OnStage. They'd been there since the early 80's and were (at least proximally) responsible for what little upkeep the mall had after the Home Depot sale. They left at the time of the last sale because they were told the entire place was going to be leveled. They're still operating in the Westbury neighborhood, having found a new permanent home on the grounds of St. Luke's Lutheran Church.

[@davidcook3086]

Great content

[@rbsmith3365]

That built in 1962 and, I don’t understand why in this neighborhood and too far instead of loop 610? Until 1971 The Galleria was opened.... Too many choices for your business. My friend is living at condo next door ( 1971). It’s eyesore. And later about 2000’s when Home Depot was added and people like migrants who hung around on edge of parking lot and hopefully to be picked up for work. It’s nuisance and trespassing too.

[@kayumochi]

I was a kid who lived within walking distance from there between 1975 - 1980 and the Square was a blast then: a place where young people could go without parents (and supervision) and have fun. Don't think places like this even exist for young people anymore., places where you could walk or ride your bike to and just be a kid with other kids.

[@gasparma2316]

That’s crazy n now that’s what people are into here in Houston outdoor shopping areas

[@gurgisjones1120]

The drone video is amazing. Captures what you can't see from the ground, or direct overhead aerial.

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

Thanks! I need to do a follow up, I haven't been out to this site in a while.

[@johndoehoe8881]

@@ScottDaileyKZbin I was thinking about going tomorrow actually !

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

​@@johndoehoe8881 Let me know what you find!

[@CashWhisperer]

Until a few years ago it was home to the BEST cigar shop in all of Houston. "smoke shop" Has an entirely different connotation

[@terutt]

Enjoying these videos...keep up the good work!

[@armandozuniga4623]

Jensen dr and lullen well in between Barry and Parker rd all that looked like it was a thriving shopping center

[@krakenrises5213]

I remember going shopping there with my mom when I was little

[@danmacfarlane3444]

Good job. Loved it there as a child.

[@djwurm2009]

I lived from 2010 to 2019 in the houses behind Westbury Sq and I drove by it everyday. the owner has been trying to sell the land for millions over what it is worth and city has been fighting him for years. it is now a drug and homeless haven with people living in the apts under a roof that is leaking bad.

[@robertmontgomery5277]

I live at Westbury Gardens....I can see Home Depot ...it is a shame that, the city, and who ever owns that land now, can't or won't do better for the neighborhood...it is a eyesore

[@joetaylor2394]

Blight ruined it along with the Galleria

[@EnigmaartsPhoto]

My favorite place to go growing up in the 60's and 70's, we continued to go there through the 90's until the Chinese restaurant finally closed. My family (and my ex and I) owned homes in the Westbury neighborhood not far from The Square.

[@hinahanta]

I have seen this place, very cool video!

[@Devon_maloy]

I went to the theatre as a child.

[@patriotjon8535]

Westbury Square started its decline When the oil industry collapsed in the late 70's. I spent many days and nights there at Shakeys Pizza. While in Jr high, And High school. Sad to see it in such bad shape.

[@DDWASH9595]

GREAT VIDS BRO

[@flickr4jazz]

Junior High and High school kids in the mid- to late 70s used to go there to buy their drugs! Good times!

[@shirleyconti1361]

I've been away for 45 yrs , when in houston I still go to nielsons deli , buy my roast beef on rye, extra mayo, 2 qt of potato salad to go , still can't Crack that mayo secret !!!!!

[@keithallen2457]

Ran so many calls here, lots of crazy people squat in this complex.

[@99redcentaurs]

Very cool.

[@cbalducc]

Does Houston’s humid climate play a role in the deterioration of these developments?

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

It does - buildings in desert or otherwise dry air climates tend to do better.

[@personmcperson4440]

Look what they took from us. What did we get in exchange? 68 lane friggin' highways. Thanks, Texas.

[@robertking1480]

In the 60s my mom would go to a place in Heights to buy italian commidities made home made pizza There was no pizza places in early 60s no pizza hut ect ect No microwaves too black n white t v. NATIVE HOUSTIONION1957

[@DragoniclaZerlord]

Is it still there?

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

I believe so, I haven't been by in a few months though.

[@Nivasi]

is meyerland even still there?

[@CasualNotice]

Meyerland Mall was rebuilt in the early 2000's and is a thriving shopping area.

[@Nivasi]

@@CasualNotice my ex mother in law went there back in the 'day' early 70s.. I noticed JC Penny is still there..

[@danielarmstrong946]

its completely gone now btw

[@motom1ke]

Address

[@FINDERSBEEPERS]

Great explore guys keep up the good work we subbed pop over and check us out.

[@The_Weirdness42]

Thaaaaaaaaaat's a pretty hollow way to network isn't it?

[@FINDERSBEEPERS]

selfsceaft not at all... it’s nice to see well worded good explores with great history, we have a different way of exploring and it’s great way to see different approaches and share best practices whilst enjoying each other’s works.... so no this isn’t just a way to get another KZbinr to come to our channel! We love this genre!

[@The_Weirdness42]

@@FINDERSBEEPERS Okay. Maybe I had you pegged wrong. How did you find this guy's video anyway? It's had relatively little exposure.

[@FINDERSBEEPERS]

selfsceaft we are in the UK and we have looked Into popping to America to explore and meet up with our mate Steve ronin, we have just got back from Estonia and russia and love to try new countries so it will have been Andy looking at potential explores (I’m not going to lie it wasn’t me... but it’s 4.30 and he will be asleep because he’s old 😂😂 and I’m up editing) But If we see videos we like we give credit where it’s due

[@The_Weirdness42]

@@FINDERSBEEPERS I love the duality of that response. We all sometimes gaze into destiny's gloomy eyes. Looks like you guys have got an adventure cooked up! Maybe the journey is your destiny.

[@gameingwithyou5895]

Who remembers Gulf Gate Mall in Houston Texas....the movie theater across the freeway ...man I remember stealing from Claries as a kids and me and my friends running and hiding from the police on the bridge lol

[@Squee_Dow]

I remember when Gulf Gate was built. I lived in a small town outside of Houston, and I loved going into Houston to Gulf Gate to get my new school clothes. I never did any stealing. These days, I don't go into Houston if I can possibly avoid it. The last time I was in Houston was for an Astros game in 2018.

[@AstroVanTribe]

good video - My only complaint is the narrators voice, kind of went through my head like a nail....

[@NBDG713]

Airsoft there

[@ScottDaileyYOUTUBE]

Ha! There are some people who live there...

[@MrDisgruntledGamer1]

a christian book shop and smoke shop? haha yep thats houston. Those are super common in poorer areas

[@HTownNardDawg]

The "smoke shop" was Westbury Square Cigars. It was a cool family owned business with a great cigar selection there in the early 2000's.