IronTiger Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I was browsing around Google Earth and found 7005 Beechnut, "Beechnut Academy", which almost certainly looks like it was a large retail store (Kmart? Wards?? A supermarket?) at one time. The building is an academic disciplinary center now and has been one since at least 1999. I was hoping anyone here on HAIF could help me out, because it has piqued my curiosity... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spacecityroller Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 The farthest back I can remember, it use to be a Sam's club. Then later turned into a walmart. It had a taco bell and kfc in front of it at the corner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
placoors Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 It was a Wal-Mart and had turned (or was going to turn) into the Beechnut Academy when I moved out of the neighborhood in December of 1997. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txreb Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 It was a GEMCO back in the 70s. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilyheights Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I remember it as GEMCO, a membership store for government employees, I think. Way before Sams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I knew it started with a G. I was going to say Globe. Forgot about Gemco. I actually had a membership since I worked as a city employee back then. I don't think it lasted to long. I do remember the building later turning into one of the first Sam's in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I went to Gemco, and I wasn't a govt. employee...the one at Airport Blvd. and Gulf Frwy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 it was Wal Mart in the early 90's, was Globe when we moved here in '75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) Gemco was a membership store, but it didn't have anything to do with government employees. Per Wikipedia: "GEMCO" never was an acronym, despite rumors ("Government Employees' Merchandising Company," etc. probably stemming from a similar store named Fedco in southern California) to the contrary. The letters were simply an easily pronounced and remembered name. Edited February 4, 2015 by mkultra25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 So Gemco, then Sam's, then Wal-Mart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Globe, Gemco, Sam's, Wal-Mart, hcc, then what it is now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 It started as Globe? (I can't find it on HCAD) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnu Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 My 1968 and 1976 directories have Globe at 6200 Bellaire.Unfortunately they don't have a listing for Gemco on Beechnut, though. If you look at the front elevation of 7055 Beechnut (I think you mean 7055 instead of 7005 - since that address doesn't seem to exist on the tax rolls), it looks similar to the Gemco that NenaE mentions at Airport and the Gulf Frwy (which also later became a Sam's Club) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 My 1968 and 1976 directories have Globe at 6200 Bellaire.Unfortunately they don't have a listing for Gemco on Beechnut, though.If you look at the front elevation of 7055 Beechnut (I think you mean 7055 instead of 7005 - since that address doesn't seem to exist on the tax rolls), it looks similar to the Gemco that NenaE mentions at Airport and the Gulf Frwy (which also later became a Sam's Club)HCAD I know can be a finicky beast with addresses. One time I couldn't find the Midtown Randalls because the store address was different than the HCAD address. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 (edited) The Gemco in that area was on Fondren just south of Beechnut. When we were visiting back in the 80s it had become a Sam's Club. No idea what the 7005 Beechnut location was, but there wasn't a Globe there either. Edited February 6, 2015 by Dave W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Gnu, you're right... Globe as at Bellaire and Hillcroft where the Fiesta is now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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