The Collective Boutiques in Kingwood - Soft Opening This Weekend

Seems like online shopping stomps these stores to the ground.

One year and the building is vacant…..again!

Joe :
No one misses The Painted Tree. Another flea market. Real Kingwood people miss Steinmart. We miss a store that you can buy gifts and clothes.

WitchQueen : More sunshine. A lot of people enjoyed the Painted Tree. If we want cheap clothes, we go to Target.

TEXASGIRLMAMMA :
Target is better for individuals to buy needed items for their homes than a flea market/craft sale. There is a reason Painted Tree had no cars parked in front of it.

Joe : And this is all new nice stuff…not at all flea market.

WitchQueen :
Wow what is your problem with small cottage businesses coming together as a collective?
I have been making art and things for over 30 years and had to haul it out every weekend and once a month at art fairs. It's a ton of work for a few hours, only to break it all back down. I tried a few times to rent a small store front. Way to big and started at $5000 a month, plus plus plus, and on top a 3 to 5 year lease.
I really hope they swing it this time. I come from an area that has a very successful weekend collective. That place gets packed Thursday night, Fri, sat and sun. Custon clothing, custom accessories, I home decor, none of it off the rack. Best part is all booths are small businesses that they run. They are there, loggong inventory, taking names, filling orders, doing the work. Just like your so called real store that sells Chinese junk on mass levels.
You won't find the art and decor in my home in any mass market.

WitchQueen :
What else could they put in those spaces though? They're giant. Doesn't help that (from what I've been told) HEB put those poles up that block access to the whole corner of the lot between Sprouts and that Jewelry place. Not sure if true or not, but why do they make it so hard to park in that area?

beadweaver :
Yeah, but do they have wrapping paper, gift cards, office supplies, plant food, medicine, washing detergent, or any household items you want in one, fast location? No. We have a great farmers market on Thursday but I don't want to wait until Thursday to get a loaf of bread. That is why we have grocery stores. Point is - We can have a craft fair once a week for gift items. There is a reason Painted Tree had empty parking lot. Steinmart was always full. Do the business math.

WitchQueen : And yet Steinmart left too.

OceanMan :
It will be worse with a gym stuck between grocery store and small businesses. Crunch won't last any longer than any of the other gyms last. They get your fees and skip town as soon as a new sparkly workout place comes along.

MissAmericanPie :
Steinmart went out of business everywhere. Do your research before jumping on neighborhood chat.

WitchQueen :
That was my point. Even if something YOU approve of dosent make it, it goes by by.

WitchQueen :
You really do not get the point. I'm not going to banter with you. I don't have to do the math, I've already done in. Adding those basic monthly bills to run a small store runs anywhere between $10/15,000 on the short side. And that's not the cost to buy or make inventory. That just operating costs on a monthly. When you sign a commercial lease, there is no saying, I tried, I quit. It's yours for 3 to 5 years, if you open or not. Not all stores need to be a one and done.
I miss shopping at different stores for different things. I grew up in a very bustling downtown, with department stores, furriers, shoe stores, drug stores, bakeries, a cobbler (shoe maker) a Milner (hat maker) etc, all downtown. We also had our 5 & 10, our hardware store etc.
Small businesses support communities. They are the ones that sponsor our children's school sports, arts, music. They are the ones to train our children to be productive respectable employees by giving them their first jobs. They are the ones to sponsor community parades, concerts, fireworks, and they write big checks for volunteer fire departments.
Keep supporting those corporate big box stores. When their profits slip, they too will go the way of all corporate stores. A mom and pop will feed you if your hungry, the corporate man see you as a profit, you feed them.

WitchQueen :
I'd argue Crunch has a better chance than the Club Studio next to Ace, because it has a healthy market next door. They also have way more locations, so you can use your membership more easily. Similar to the new 21 next to Traders. Again, what would you put in those two giant spaces that doesn't require parking? Helicopter pads?