Thursday AM October 16th, 2008
| by: Ed Mayberry The Houston Pavilions officially opens today, although the House of Blues has already hosted a few performances. Ed Mayberry reports. listen now:  The new open-air retail entertainment center at Fannin and Polk consists of two levels of retail and restaurant space, with entertainment venues on the third floor. The second and third floors are connected by sky rings spanning Fannin and San Jacinto. Co-developer Geoffrey Jones says this gives convention-goers, for example, more to do downtown. "The Pavilions will also generate an increase in property sales and use taxes. Let's not forget that these three blocks that the project itself sits on were previously surface parking lots since 1941. The Pavilions I think will also provide a significant boost to retail development up and down Main Street." Eventually there will be over 50 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues at Houston Pavilions. "The project now is about 60 per cent leased, and that's awfully good considering the general state of the retail industry and what's going on in the economy. Many of our tenants will be opening between now and the holidays, and then we will be having a grander Grand Opening celebration, so to speak, this spring, when the entire project is leased and opened." House of Blues developer Dan Ackroyd performs as part of the Blues Brothers this Saturday. More than 200 live events are planned each year. Ed Mayberry, KUHF Houston Public Radio News. > view printer-friendly version listen to audio: > in your media player download audio: > podcast > iTunes > direct subscribe to audio category: > latest podcast > iTunes > return to previous page |