Downtown Houston Becomes Tourist Attraction and Retail Haven

Retail is coming to Downtown Houston.

Thanks to Houston’s growth as a tourist city and its place on numerous publications’ “Best Places to Live” lists in 2012, visits to Houston are increasing and downtown commerce is booming and thriving.

Downtown Houston features some of the city’s most prime commercial real estate. The downtown area is home to some of the city’s hottest shopping districts and indoor malls, like the midtown district and the Houston Pavillions. New on the market, the historic downtown Macy’s building offers a prime location in the center of the shopping district. The building is a direct stop on the downtown MetroRail. 

The Downtown Macy’s Building

Travel to the edge of downtown to experience trendy midtown district dining, and duck into one of the area’s many locally-owned boutiques. Buy retail space in this area to reach a socially conscious younger crowd.

The true heart of the downtown shopping district is in Main Street Square. Just across the street from the old Macy’s building, the new Houston Pavilions has become a hub for Houstonians to eat, drink, and be merry. The mixed-use shopping center includes retail stores and entertainment venues like Forever XXI, BCBGMAXAZRIA, House of Blues, and Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge. Downtown shopping lovers can also visit The Shops at Houston Center located just two blocks away to get their fix of stores like Jos. A Bank, Dress Barn, and Radio Shack. Both shopping centers are currently leasing retail space.

The Houston Pavillions

As more conventions and tourist vacations are booked every year in downtown Houston, foot traffic and the need for retail will increase. Local and national retail business owners should act now in order to meet the demand. 

Retailers should look to move downtown within the next two years. Downtown’s quickly changing landscape is sure to become a hotbed for profitable commerce. Those interested in moving into a downtown retail space should buy or lease now!

To learn more about opening a business, buying or leasing a retail space in Downtown Houston, visit http://downtownhouston.org/retail/starting-a-business/. 

Houston Becomes Second Fastest-Growing U.S. City (BuchananL SMR)

February 13, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOUSTON BECOMES SECOND FASTEST-GROWING CITY IN U.S.

HOUSTON – Houston is the second fastest-growing city in America according to a study by Forbes Magazine. Forbes’ Morgan Brennan writes that Houston owes its growth to Texas’ prosperous economy. Southeast Texas offers “robust labor markets, unemployment rates under 6%, no state income tax, a business-friendly regulatory environment,” and a heavily multicultural population that help retail businesses and franchises flourish.

To help more retail corporations thrive in the city’s growing economy, Houston Mayor Annise Parker is actively recruiting retail companies interested in opening locations in downtown Houston. In January 2013, Parker created the Downtown Houston Retail Taskforce.

“We are committed to creating a better Downtown experience for the new families moving to the Greater Houston area,” said Mayor Parker. “As Houston’s economy continues to thrive, we want to make sure that our city’s small business owners and our national retail partners thrive with us.”

The taskforce’s “Downtown Means Dollars” campaign aims to increase the number of newly opened businesses and franchises with locations in Downtown Houston by 10% by December 2013.

Watch an Aerial View Video of Downtown Houston

“We want to build on the tremendous growth that our area has seen in the last year, and we want to continue to make our city more prosperous,” Mayor Parker said.

The Greater Houston area has a population growth rate of 2%, and Houstonians make a generous median salary of $70,900 per year. The population is full of voracious consumers with semi-disposable income who are ready to find new places to live, work, and shop. The “Downtown Means Dollars” campaign works to connect willing consumers with the retail companies they love.

Houston’s few government regulations, great economic conditions, and diverse buyer base make opening a store in Downtown Houston a smart move for any retail executive looking to earn a profit.

Visit http://www.houstontx.gov/ to learn more information about the Downtown Houston Retail Taskforce and the “Downtown Means Dollars” campaign.

See what people are saying about Downtown Houston:

• Downtown Houston
• The Downtown District
• TripAdvisor

The Downtown Retail Task Force was created in January 2013 by mayor Annise Parker. The task force will report to Andrew F. Icken, Chief Development Officer for the Mayor, and will be chaired by Fred Griffin of Griffin Partners. Members include Eury; Jonathan Brinsden with the Midway Companies, owner of Houston Pavilions; George Levan, President of Crosspoint Properties; Doug Kelly with 1110 Main Partners LP; The Finger Companies’ Marvy Finger; Dawn Ullrich, President of Houston First Corporation; Ed Wulfe of Wulfe & Co; and Xavier Pena and Deborah Keyser of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

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Contact Information:

Lindsay Buchanan

Cell: 713-269-0667

E-mail: lindsaybuchanan10@gmail.com

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Microsoft Wins Big with New Internet Explorer Ad

“We Met In the 90’s” Microsoft Ad

One of my debutante sisters shared this great piece of content from Microsoft on her Twitter feed today. It’s a new video from Microsoft promoting Internet Explorer and their Surface tablet.

Microsoft is using this piece to market to Millennials by appealing to their 90’s nostalgia. The short video features a few of my childhood favorites like Oregon Trail, slap bracelets, and boys with bowl haircuts.

The content is so relevant right now, because it seems like trends from the 90’s have popped back up everywhere in pop culture and fashion lately. Destiny’s Child has a new song out, women are wearing peplum tops and dark lipstick again, and Tim Allen is back on ABC with a new show.

I thought the content was smart, to the point and showed that Microsoft is thinking very pointedly about who their customer is, and what he or she likes. I appreciated that they targeted such a specific audience. It seems that companies, especially tech companies, have cast such a broad net with their advertising and social media campaigns lately in order to draw revenue from as many different groups as possible. In my opinion, targeted advertising content shows the consumer that the company actually cares about and wants to understand him. Great move, Microsoft.

I was impressed by the video, both as a consumer and a public relations professional. Even though I’ve become an Apple devotee in the past 4 years, I found myself thinking about buying Microsoft’s new Surface tablet.

It will be interesting to see how this ad affects the Microsoft Surface’s ROI with Millenials.

What did you all think of the ad? Let me know!

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