Historic Alabama Theater may become Trader Joe’s grocery store

Proposal sent to City review

Jay Blazek Crossley, Sep 20, 11.

Houston may have its first Trader Joe’s grocery store fill in the historic Alabama Theater, if plans for redeveloping the location are approved by the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission, according to the Houston Chronicle:

Property owner Weingarten Realty Investors has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission outlining proposed changes to the exterior of the Art Deco building.

The changes include new signs above the historic marquee and a circular turret with the Trader Joe’s name on the back of the building at 2922 S. Shepherd Drive near West Alabama.

As a historic landmark designated by the city, changes to the building’s facades must be reviewed by the commission. Even if committee members disapprove the plans, however, the owner still can go forward with the changes after a 90-day waiting period.

The interior space is not subject to review.

David Bush, of the of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, said the exterior changes to the front of the building appear to be minor.

A bigger concern, he said, is the interior.

When the theater was renovated for the previous tenant, Barnes & Noble’s Bookstop, many key architectural details were left intact.

“The murals on the walls, the lighting and the color scheme are pretty much all 1939 when the theater opened,” he said.

The bookstore also incorporated the theater’s sloped floor and balcony levels where it kept additional merchandise and sold coffee.

(Image Credit: rhaaga / Creative Commons License, flickr)