Houston's Low Country Grill, 3800 North Main Street: 2 July 2012 15 comments
Well, we've been talking about this today in Have Your Say, but let's make it "official": Houston's Low Country Grill on North Main closed on 2 July.
That makes it the second restaurant that I know of in North Main plaza to close. Restaurants close all the time, this site is full of them, and while it is always a shame when somebody's venture fails and people are out of work, that is just the way things sometimes work out in the normal course of events: People get new jobs, maybe the owners try again later with more success. What makes this closing a bit different is that as I understand it, the city used tax dollars to build North Main Plaza and tax dollars to recruit and subsidize tenants. There's certainly nothing wrong with a business taking the best deal it can find, but perhaps those tax dollars could have been better spent than in offering it.
(Hat tip to commenter Jimmy)
15 Responses to 'Houston's Low Country Grill, 3800 North Main Street: 2 July 2012'
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tonkatoy
10 Jul 12 at 6:25 am
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I'm all for the city working to make different sections of town better to live but in order for something like this to work, the city needs to recruit businesses that are a better fit for the area in terms of demographics.
Andrew
10 Jul 12 at 1:04 pm
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Just what I want!! Load up the family for a nice dinner in da hood!! Shootings optional
Mike
10 Jul 12 at 4:02 pm
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This went in before WLTX swtiched to Facebook comments on their site.
I remember there being the following two comments on the page when it opened:
- It opens Monday, it'll be robbed on Tuesday
- Most of the people [the author] knows that would eat at this type of restaurant wouldn't come over to that part of Columbia to eat
I can't take credit for writing either of them but if a significant portion of their prospective customer base thinking thoughts like that, it isn't hard to figure out why this place folded.
Andrew
10 Jul 12 at 4:10 pm
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That's why the cardinal rule of Real Estate (and business) is Location, Location, Location.
You can have the best business in the world, but don't be fooled about people traveling to it in big numbers. Yes there will always be those that enjoy the adventure of traveling to out of the way places for great experiences - but most people prefer to stick with the McDonald's closest to home and like to vacation at Disney or in Vegas where everything is predictable and controlled. (Yes, I did say Vegas was predictable - the house always wins.)
larry
10 Jul 12 at 5:13 pm
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Forgot to add - being under a Rehab center may keep many of your patrons away.
larry
10 Jul 12 at 5:15 pm
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Larry's notion about the Rehabilition center makes me wonder if the facility should expand into the first floor of where Houston's Low Country Grill left
Andrew
10 Jul 12 at 7:17 pm
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Andrew, that first comment was from Dapandico, and the second from GrigorElRasputin, IIRC.
tonkatoy
11 Jul 12 at 6:35 am
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I feel bad for this, as North Main has some lovely neighborhoods being revitalized, and those residents (young professionals like myself), though not always in the majority, would love nice places to eat.
However, if you look at the hours sign picture, I think you will really see why it struggled - those were ALWAYS the operating hours, not just their "ugh we are struggling to stay afloat" hours! I could never make it over there...because I work during the day. :(
Cameron
12 Jul 12 at 5:38 pm
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So what you guys are saying is that someone should just open a liquor store or check cashing place in this spot?
michael
13 Jul 12 at 4:47 pm
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I think a restaurant that is more suitable for the demographics of that part of town is what would be helpful
Andrew
13 Jul 12 at 5:29 pm
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Not much money in that area, Andrew. Plus, the old Zestos a block down has the hamburger/hotdog thing covered.
Maybe a buffet, but even then I have my doubts about the viability of it.
A liquor store might make it, but I doubt a check cashing place would. They don't seem to be doing well.
tonkatoy
16 Jul 12 at 6:57 am
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that building wasn't even halfway full BEFORE they spent more govt. money to make it even bigger. the places that were there before couldn't stay open either. north main deli was good but there just isn't the market for this location. now if someone could just do something about the disgusting BiLo down the street...
brett
19 Sep 12 at 7:09 pm
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@Brett. Are you telling me that you do not like the smell of a badly ventilated fryer in the N Main Bi-Lo? The combination of fried chicken, fish, and whatever is still in there burning from yesterday is intoxicating!! Best part about it is the smell leaves with you on your clothes so you can smell it all evening long! And you call this disgusting?? Some people just cannot be pleased!!
Peter
20 Sep 12 at 10:21 am
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Is THAT why so many people stroll around w/o shirts in that area?
tonkatoy
20 Sep 12 at 12:23 pm
Those tax dollars would have been better spent policing the area and ridding it of crime. that's why those businesses were destined to fail in short order.
I'm surprised HLCG lasted as long as it did.