The world comes to Houston to shop.
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Houston is indeed a shopping mecca. From lavish malls like the Galleria and Memorial City to “storefront neighborhoods” like Post Oak, Highland Village, Uptown Park, River Oaks Shopping Center, and Rice Village, Houston’s shopping scene is as vibrant and diverse as the city itself. Little enjoying an international clientele who return to Houston again and again.
Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue all have stores here. For everything you need to decorate your new Houston home, there’s Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, IKEA, Pottery Barn, and much more. Houston Pavilions downtown offers more than just shopping, with great dining and entertainment all in one convenient, stylish spot.
Visit Katy Mill’s Outlet Mall on Interstate 10 in Katy for bargain shopping. Both Conroe and Cypress boast outlet malls with their own bargains.
For groceries, many Houstonians like Central Market, Whole Foods, H-E-B, Costco, Rice Epicurean, Kroger Signature stores, and the Houston Farmers Market in the Heights.
Antique stores and art galleries abound in the Museum District along Bissonnet Street, the Upper Kirby area along Ferndale Street, the Montrose area along Hazard Street, and in the Heights along both Yale Street and Heights Boulevard. Just a short drive out of the city, the little towns of Chappell Hill and Round Top host annual antique and flea markets each fall that attract the most discriminating collectors.
No matter what you’re looking for and no matter how much or how little you want to spend, you’re bound to find it—and more—somewhere in Houston.
The Shops at Houston Center
1200 McKinney, Houston TX, 77010
Located adjacent to the Four Seasons Hotel and across from the George R. Brown Convention Center, this convenient mall features more than 70 stores. Four restaurants and a food court are also part of this 200,000-square-foot retail center.
Retailers like JoS. A. Bank, Worth the Weight, TMobile, and Waldenbooks provide excellent shopping opportunities, while establishments like Strip House, Massa’s Seafood Grill, Ninfa’s, and Longhorn Cafe provide full-service dining choices to please every palate. For the Downtowner on-the-go, the food court at The Shops at Houston Center has favorites like Roman Delight, Murphy’s Deli, Chick-fil-A, Otto’s BBQ, Planet Smoothie, the famous Doozo Dumplings & Noodles, and many more options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ten Thousand Villages – Houston
2424 Rice Blvd., Houston TX, 77005
Ten Thousand Villages provides a marketplace for fairly traded handicrafts and promotes cross-cultural experiences and understanding. Through sales, the store’s customers improve the economic life of artisans and their families by providing income for food, education, health care, and housing.
Currently, there are over 60,000 artisans and their family members in Asia, Africa, Central America and the Middle East depending on Ten Thousand Villages stores in North America to do good work on their behalf. Over 70 percent of artisans are women.
Ten Thousand Villages Houston opened in Rice Village in 2000. Ten Thousand Villages Houston is one in a network of over 100 Ten Thousand Villages fair trade retail outlets in North America.
The Galleria
5085 Westheimer Road, Houston TX, 77056
The Galleria, an international shopping destination that hosts more than 24 million visitors annually, offers world-class shopping with more than 375 stores, 30 restaurants, two hotels, and a full-sized ice rink. The Galleria is home to a who’s who list of designers, including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, and Ralph Lauren, among many others. Sitting alongside the upscale boutiques are anchor stores Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and two Macy’s department stores, adding up to more than two million square feet of shopping thrills.
A range of restaurants to suit every can be found throughout The Galleria—from steakhouses and dumpling bars to sandwich shops and fast food. On the lowest level, in the heart of the food court, guests can put their skating skills to the test on an ice rink made famous by Olympian Tara Lipinski or, grab the kids and head for the child-focused Little Galleria Play Area, located on the second level in front of Borders.
Highland Village
4055 Westheimer Rd., Houston TX, 77027
This upscale shopping center located near The Galleria features prestigious nationally known retailers, exclusive specialty stores, and fine restaurants.
Highland Village was built nearly 50 years ago to serve the surrounding exclusive neighborhoods. Lined with palm trees, the stucco-clad center houses some of the most recognizable names in retail including Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Gap, Restoration Hardware, Fitigues, Cole Haan, Chico’s, lucy, Lucky Brand Dungarees, and Victoria’s Secret, along with exclusive specialty stores like Tootsies and Michael Kemper Salon & Day Spa.
Highland Village is home to several of Houston’s most distinctive dining establishments: famous New York steakhouse Smith & Wollensky, lauded for its USDA Prime beef, dry-aged on-premises, succulent seafood, extensive, award-winning wine selection, and exceptional service; and nationally-known P.F. Chang’s China Bistro with its outstanding Chinese cuisine blended with casual American hospitality. New additions to Highland Village are the swanky RA Sushi and Tex-Mex favorite Escalante’s.
Memorial City Mall
303 Memorial City, Houston TX, 77024
A Houston mainstay, Memorial City Mall is shiny, new and very shoppable after an extreme makeover that brought a wealth of new stores to its halls. Memorial City’s newest stores, which opened in July 2006, include Old Navy, The Apple Store, Aldo, The Body Shop and Sports Fan Attic. Other Memorial City retail offerings include Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor Loft, Brookstone, Coach, Express, Foot Locker, J Jill, New York & Co., Sephora, Target, White House/Black Market, Z Gallerie and more.
Families will appreciate the food court with a beautiful Italian carousel, an NHL-regulation ice skating rink, a soft and cushy play castle and shopping wing designed just for the little ones.
West Oaks Mall
1000 West Oaks Mall, Westheimer and Highway 6, Houston TX, 77082
West Oaks is newly renovated with an elegant, modern ranch-style theme featuring four department stores and 115 specialty shops.
The 1.1 million square foot regional center is anchored by Dillard’s, Macy’s, Sears, Linens ‘n Things, and the 950-seat Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, an unrivaled cinema experience with full food and drink service in six theaters showing a mix of new release movies and specialty programming. Additional shops include American Eagle Outfitters, Bombay Company, Express, Finish Line, Forever 21, Hollister, Lane Bryant, The Limited, Rack Room Shoes, Steve & Barry’s, Zales, and more.
Macy’s
1110 Main Street, 6th Floor, Houston TX, 77002
Macy’s carries the latest designer fashions, cosmetics, and accessories for you, your family, and your home.
There are 8 Macy’s locations in Houston. Click here
to view them all.
Pinto Ranch Fine Western Wear
1717 Post Oak Blvd., (at San Felipe), Houston TX, 77056
Pinto Ranch strives to sell the finest in western wear, including boots, hats, men’s and ladies apparel, accessories, tack and saddle gear. The Pinto Ranch cowboys continue to work cattle on horseback today and fire brand under the well-known YY brand. Adhering to these time honored traditions has preserved a true western lifestyle and spirit that can be found in the store.
The Pinto Ranch began operations in the 1930s and the generations that have been part of the ranch share a common passion for fly fishing along the rivers, packing in the mountains, and simply witnessing the striking beauty of the land. The ranch has flourished by an unwavering commitment to quality and preservation of the natural state of the land. This commitment to quality is found in every aspect of the Pinto Ranch store. In the store you will find authentic furnishings and Indian rugs, handcrafted tack, chaps and saddles, as well as beautifully designed boots, belts, buckles, and apparel.
Sunny Flea Market
8705 Airline Dr., Houston TX, 77037
One of the largest open-air markets in the country, the 35-acre Sunny Flea Market hosts more than 30,000 visitors a week. Sunny Flea Market averages more than 1,000 sellers each week and is home to numerous snack bars, street vendors, and restaurants offering a delectable variety of American, Chinese, and authentic Mexican food. Discover spice shops, fruit markets, and health and beauty supply stores.
Charming Charlie
6959 Harwin Dr., Houston TX, 77036,
Charming Charlie sells earrings, sterling silver, custom-made jewelry, purses, watches and sunglasses at discount prices.
The 9,000-square-foot store overflows with sterling silver and semi-precious jewelry, fashion handbags, sunglasses and gifts. Adding to its caché, Charming Charlie is the only qualified dealer of Oakley, Ray-Ban and Kenneth Cole sunglasses on Harwin Drive. Not just content to sell jewelry, the owners of Charming Charlie also offer a monthly beading class where you can learn to bead and string your own creations.
Rice Village
6100 Kirby Dr., Houston TX, 77005
Rice Village, near Rice University, is an eclectic mix of national brand names and unique, one-of-a-kind boutiques. The Village, as it is known by locals, has been one of Houston’s oldest and best-loved shopping destinations since the 1930s.
With more than 300 shops in the immediate 16-block area, Rice Village is known for its small and eclectic shops and boutiques. Recent expansion in the area has also brought in high-end clothing stores and the nation-wide retail venues such as Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and Express. It’s the unique boutiques like Z. Bead, White Buffalo, Hemline, and Lot 8 that grant the Village its personality.
Rice Village is also home to some of the best and most varied places to eat in Houston, featuring Italian, French, Indian, Mediterranean, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese restaurants.
River Oaks Shopping Center
1964 W. Gray., Houston TX, 77019
River Oaks Shopping Center, one of the oldest in Texas, offers top-notch shopping in Houston’s most fashionable neighborhood.
With a snazzy “modern” design evocative of when the center was built in the 1930s, the mix of stores in the pedestrian center makes for a perfect day of leisurely window shopping. National names like Gap and Ann Taylor sit alongside locally-owned, luxury boutiques like 310 Rosemont, Events, and La Mode Lingerie. The center also makes room for world-class restaurants including Tintos Spanish Restaurant and Wine Bar, Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen and
Uptown Park Shopping Center
Post Oak Blvd. at Loop 610, Houston TX, 77056
This European-style shopping village caters to a sophisticated clientele, all the while maintaining its old-world charm. Catering to life’s indulgences, the center is lined with shops, boutiques, and cafés that create an intimate atmosphere with an emphasis on charm. Lush with fountains, detailed architecture, and lavish landscaping, the surroundings are warm and inviting. This is a place where shoppers can linger at intimate gathering spots, sip on a glass of wine, or stroll with a latte.
Luxe linens can be found at the Longoria Collection; divine lingerie draws shoppers to Top Drawer; stellar cuff links at Bill Walker Clothier; and the little ones never had it so good in clothing from Haute Baby. Sports fans not in the mood to shop can be dropped off at Champps Americana for a brew and bite to eat. To wine and dine, cocktails at Belvedere or a nibble at posh Uptown Sushi are a treat, but discover the seafood of the Pacific Northwest at McCormick & Schmick’s.
New additions to Uptown Park are Arturo’s Uptown Italiano with New Italian cuisine and hairdressers to the stars Jose Eber/Ceron salon.
Harwin Drive Shopping District
Harwin Drive between Beltway 8 and Hwy 59, Houston TX, 77036
This area boasts stores selling leather goods, jewelry, perfume and clothing–some real and some faux–at incredible prices. Bargaining is a must!
Be sure to stop and smell the perfume at BBH & E, where friendly staff will help you navigate the popular brands. If you fell in love with a particular scent in Paris and just can’t find it stateside, pop into Trendsetters. Some of the best clothing (and even wedding dresses) can be found at Roop Sari Palace, and you’ll discover a most impressive selection of accessories at Rose Boutique.
A few things to keep in mind as you shop:
Fake designer purses with purposefully misspelled names such as Kade Spate or Pradda can be found for about $30. Locals know the Harwin fake situation for bags and luggage, but ask a store employee, and they may act clueless. Designers don’t appreciate the copying of their high-price items. Stores selling these bags know this and will gauge your interest before showing the goods.
All of the stores selling south Asian or Indian clothing are generally closed on Tuesdays.
There are no places to relax on Harwin — no food courts, dressing rooms or restrooms. Just a string of shops owned by people from all around the world who don’t mind a bit of haggling. Even when the prices seem competitive, it never hurts to ask for an even better deal.
Historic Houston Heights Shopping District
Heights Blvd., Yale Street and 19th Street, Houston TX, 77008
Antiques, home decor, vintage clothing, art galleries, and garden shops abound in this picturesque Victorian neighborhood.
Make the shops along 19th Street a priority, and you won’t be disappointed. One of Houston’s best resale shops, Retropolis, carries plenty of kitsch, but among the lace and floral prom dresses from 1975, shoppers can find wearable pieces for very little. Fun accessories and colorful housewares are among the countless items to be had at Jubilee on 19th Street. Antique aficionados have plenty to choose from among the multiple antique stores that dot the street.
Lower Westheimer Shopping District
Westheimer between Montrose and Shepherd, Houston TX, 77098
Lower Westheimer, also known as the Westheimer Curve, is a winding road of offbeat and sometimes simply amazing shopping. You never know what surprise piece you will find at Buffalo Exchange, a resale shop that mixes street clothes with last season’s designer duds dropped off by local socialites. Stylish shoppers who want to stretch their dollars make a beeline to Fashion Recycler on Westheimer to nab name-brand and designer clothing, handbags, and shoes sold at half the original price. Old Blue House Antiques houses unbelievable amounts of antique furniture, collectibles, and housewares. The Emporium is an antique and hardware store that includes massive doors and fireplace mantels and a vast assortment of garden fountains and gates.
Tootsies
4045 Westheimer, Houston TX, 77027
Tootsies, the grande dame of Houston boutiques, is Houston’s version of Fred Segal. From couture to casual, Tootsie’s selection of designer labels runs the gamut from Diane von Furstenburg and Nicole Miller to Andrew Gn, Lela Rose, and Derek Lam. If you never met a shoe you didn’t like, then Madison at Tootsie’s, the Los Angeles import, is the place to shop for everything from Jimmy Choo to Costume National.
Legendary and luxe, Tootsies is the kind of place where one woman can go looking for an evening gown while another shop for everyday sportswear. Both, however, will receive impeccable service. Not for the faint of budget, Tootsies caters to shoppers who appreciate the finer things of life, but plenty of good deals can be uncovered on the sale racks.
Melodrama
5306 Almeda, Houston TX, 77004,
Melodrama is a sleek boutique that outfits women with hip and accessible clothing and accessories. Owner Jackie Adams stocks her store with lines such as Fondue, Hot Sauce, and Miss Me and is a one stop shop for those in need of a trendy head-to-toe look, or for somebody who simply wants to punch up their style with a unique piece or two.
Only a limited number of hot items are ordered to ensure very few fashionistas will be wearing the same thing, and certain lines in the boutique go up to a size 12.
Hong Kong City Mall
11021 Bellaire Blvd., Houston TX, 77072,
Hong Kong City Mall is one of the largest Asian indoor malls in the U.S. The more than 20 restaurants and cafes, along with a multitude of shops, resemble a small city. The beautiful Asian architecture, colorful gardens, fountains filled with lily pads, and an enormous parking lot make it a centerpiece for Houston’s Asian community.
The mall attracts more than 50,000 tourists each year. Anchoring the mall is Hong Kong Food Market; other tenants include a variety of oriental shops and a large Asian food court. Connected to the west wing of the mall is Ocean Palace, Houston’s largest dim sum restaurant to date.
Texas Junk Company
215 Welch St, Houston TX, 77006,
This well-organized warehouse of a store has been a favorite for Lone Star trinkets for more than 20 years. There are cowboy boots (900 pairs of them), which vary in style from eel to ostrich and from no-name to handmade. All have been arranged neatly by size with the highest concentration to be found inside a small shelf-lined room. Texas Junk sells hundreds of picture frames, lamps, record albums, band uniforms, rotary telephones, and doors.
Hours: Thu-Sat 11am-6pm
