PRESS KIT - thetippingpointstore.com

PRESS KIT
Media Contact:
Tina Zulu
Zulu Creative
tinazulu@zulucreative.com
713.554.9858
THE TIPPING POINT FACT SHEET
Store Address
1212 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
www.thetippingpointstore.com
info@thetippingpointstore.com
(713) 655-0443
Philosophy
To offer high-end collectible athletic shoes and related merchandise
to sneaker connoisseurs and consumers looking to express
themselves through footwear as an essential part of their fashion
individuality in an art gallery atmosphere.
Established
Houston, Texas; August 6, 2007
Founders
Thomas Nauls, Dace Graham and Kenneth Baugh
Products
Exclusive, collectible and vintage sneakers by Converse, Reebok,
Adidas, Pro-Keds, PF Flyers, Puma, Asics/Onitsuka Tiger, Nike
and Vans ranging from $40-$200. Many of these products will have
an artistic, international lifestyle theme affiliated with them. Product
stocked in our level of accounts is limited to a distribution level of
around 1,000 to 3,000 pairs in the entire country. In addition, The
Tipping Point will offer special merchandise to commemorate
holidays, special events, and sporting events throughout the
calendar year. Also available will be a thoughtfully curated
selection of apparel, books, music and art that inspire and influence
the sneaker culture.
Locations
The Downtown Houston location is the first franchise in a genre;
The Tipping Point plans to expand into other markets where there
is not a strong sneaker boutique presence such as San Antonio,
Austin and Beaumont.
Employees
3
THE TIPPING POINT MANAGEMENT TEAM
Thomas Nauls, Lifestyle Curator and General Manager – Mr. Nauls has extensive retail
management experience, including being previously employed with Foot Action in their
management training program. He will be responsible for managing day-to-day store
operations, hiring and training part-time employees and tracking product inventory
levels.
Dace Graham, Sneaker Curator and Finance/Purchasing Manager - Mr. Graham is responsible
for all of the finance and purchasing functions. Mr. Graham has several years experience as a
procurement analyst for Coca-Cola. Mr. Graham's financial control skills will be invaluable in
keeping The Tipping Point on track and profitable.
Kenneth Baugh, Marketing Manager – Mr. Baugh is responsible for managing the marketing
campaign and determining the appropriate advertising mix for this venture. Mr. Baugh has many
years of advertising, marketing, and creative experience with Rice University and is a visible
fixture in the Houston community.
THE TIPPING POINT PRODUCTS
Adidas
Asics Onitsuka Tiger
Converse
Nike
PF Flyers
PRO-Keds
Puma
Reebok
Vans
THE TIPPING POINT OUTREACH
Our community outreach focuses on initiatives that
support creativity and innovation in fine arts, motion
picture art, literature, performing arts, architecture,
math/science, fashion and philosophy since they are the
inspiration behind our products.
Furthermore, we are dedicated to helping Houston make
the transition into a more creative, international city that
celebrates diversity and has a traditional form of urban
living.
By partnering with local non-profit organizations and businesses that share similar values as our
organization, such as the ones listed below, we will be successful in our mission.
Organizations
•
Soular Grooves
•
Push Houston
•
Houston Art
Alliance/Art Hound
•
•
Spacetaker
•
Central
Houston/Downtown
Management District
•
The Urban Land
Institute
Midtown Management
District
•
South Texas School of
Law
•
Workshop Houston
•
Bayou City Outdoors
•
Hot Town Cool City
•
University of HoustonDowntown
•
Isabella Courts
•
•
Ensemble Theater
Art Institute of Houston
•
•
La Strada
Jet Lounge
Yao’s Restaurant
(2008)
•
•
Bayou Place
Soundwaves
(Montrose)
•
House of Blues (2008)
•
Dean’s Clothing
•
The Community
Artists’ Collective
•
Museum of Fine Arts
Houston
•
Houston Public Library
•
Rice University
•
Starbucks (25 Energy
Zone Locations)
•
The Social
•
American Apparel
•
AA Concept Stores
•
Marriott and Marriott
Courtyard Hotel
Businesses
•
TOMS Shoes
•
The Breakfast Klub
•
•
Domy Book Store
•
G Gallery
•
The Flat
•
Wulfe and Company
•
•
Mirador Group Inc.
•
Warehouse Live
•
NOTSUOH
•
Whole Foods Market
•
Central Market
•
Zulu Creative
Reggae Hut
•
Humble Building
Apartments
•
Hilton Americas
•
Midtown Art Center
•
HCC-Central Campus
•
Engine Room
•
The Proletariat
•
The G.R.A.B.
•
TSU Art Department
•
Blaffer Gallery
•
South Texas School of
Law
•
The Park Shops
•
Discovery Green
(2008)
•
One Park Place (2008)
•
Borders (2 Energy
Zone Locations)
•
House of Blues (2008)
•
Factory People (2008)
•
Books-A-Million (2008)
•
The Meridian
•
Empire Cafe
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF THE TIPPING POINT
Houston Downtown Management District - Economic Development Organization- Awarded the
Tipping Point a $50,000 economic development retail incentives grant on September 14, 2006.
HDMD is the mastermind behind Main Street Square’s conversion into a mixed-use retail zone.
They also provided demographic and economic statistics for our business plan. Our main contact
is Heather Henzie who serves as the Retail Development and Planning Coordinator. She will
continue to oversee our venture, facilitate marketing opportunities through the HDMD and provide
information on the development of other downtown retail projects.
Wulfe and Company-Commercial Real Estate Agency - This organization is responsible for
many successful retail endeavors over the past couple of decades, most notably the Meyerland
Plaza and the Gulfgate Shopping Center. The Tipping Point has worked closely with Monte
Large, Jeff Kaplan, and Adam Brackman. These associates form the WulfeUrban division, which
assist all endeavors in the inner city for the company. Their expertise assisted us in deciding our
location and negotiating the terms of our lease.
Barnes and Turner, Attorneys at Law-Attorneys - Mr. Barnes has been practicing law for 30
years and currently one of the managing partners of his own law firm, Barnes and Turner. He
and his partner, Mr. Sylvester Turner have represented businesses of all sizes including startups, such as ours, and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Barnes and Mr. Turner will continue to advise
the Tipping Point on all legal matters including business documents, contracts and intellectual
property issues.
Epic Business Planning, LLC - Economic Advisor- The Tipping Point worked with Mr. Todd, a
consultant for Entrepreneurial Planning & Investment Counsel (EPIC). He created a custom
financial model to accurately forecast our financial statements and provide a value for our
venture. With his experienced consulting we were able to arrive at a forecast backed by sound
logic that identified all cost-related factors. He will continue to offer his financial guidance as
needed.
The Mirador Group Inc. - Architectural Corporation-The design of our store was done by Jay
Clues. He also oversaw the build out process. They are responsible for the construction and
design of several Houston landmark destinations. They include the Red Cat Jazz Café, Katz Deli,
and the renovation of the Sakowitz Building.
George Baugh III and Company, CPA - Certified Public Accounting Firm- Mr. Baugh’s
accounting firm has been established for 25 years. They have assisted such financial institutions
as Unity National and several local non-profit organizations. His firm reviewed the financial model
prepared by Epic Business Panning Inc. to ensure our projections were reasonable. In the future
his firm will assist the Tipping Point in tax preparation and bookkeeping.
Rick A. Frazier - Business Advisor- Mr. Frazier is the Chief Quality Officer and Senior Vice
President of Technical Stewardship- Marketing, Strategy and Innovation for The Coca-Cola
Company. His extensive corporate background spans over the past 20 years and includes
positions held at Fortune 500 companies such as Pillsbury and Quaker Oats. His knowledge of
business development, strategic planning, and price negotiation have proven to be an invaluable
resource to our business.
Zulu Creative, LLC - Zulu Creative a marketing and brand management company in Midtown
Houston, worked in collaboration with Southern Draw Studios to develop The Tipping Point’s
brand identity, marketing materials and retail promotions system. Zulu Creative also handled the
marketing and public relations to promote the opening and sneak peek event introducing The
Tipping Point. Together, Zulu Creative and The Tipping Point will produce special events to
promote The Tipping Point Lifestyle.
THE TIPPING POINT LOCATION INFORMATION
Inside the Loop
The population of the inner city keeps growing in an area that is only 97.3 square miles.
Here is a chart showing how the population per square mile has grown since 2000, and
projections for the future.
2000
2007
2015
2025
2035
Population
433,000
525,005
621,887
673,795
694,341
Density
4,451
5,397
6,393
6,926
7,138
Change from 2000
21%
44%
56%
60%
About Downtown
Our organization is confident that Downtown
will give us an advantage over competition in
that it is an emerging section of Houston that
has not been over saturated with retail stores.
Over the last ten years the city of Houston has
made a vigorous commitment to revitalize
Downtown through a number of grant
programs, tax incentives and economic
development committees. According to the
Houston Downtown Management District,
nearly four billion dollars has been spent since
1996 on commercial and residential projects.
Main Street Square is the centerpiece of the
successful transition to this part of the city.
Along with the addition of Metro Rail in January
2004, there has been a visual improvement to
all roads, street lights, street signs, and
sidewalks in the entire area. The commitment
by the City of Houston, the Downtown
Management District, Central Houston, and
other organizations has improved street level
aesthetics tremendously. This has attracted
restaurants and clubs, such as Red Cat Jazz
Page 11 of 25
Café, Morton’s Steakhouse and Sambuca. In the next phase of an entire revitalization of Main
Street Square will be the addition of mix-use retail/residential projects. The streets earmarked to
benefit the most are Main, Polk and Dallas, leading directly to the George Brown Convention
Center, Discovery Green, One Park Place, and the Toyota Center.
Being geographically surrounded by freeways not only gives it easily identifiable borders, but also
makes Downtown readily accessible from any part of Houston including historic neighborhoods
and subdivisions like, Third Ward, Upper Kirby, Montrose, Medical Center, West University, The
Heights and the Museum District. Downtown Houston is a logical choice for a residential area to
serve the two largest employment centers in the region with more than 200,000 jobs. There are
also five colleges and universities nearby with combined enrollments of over 50,000.
Downtown Demographics
The residential population within the zip code (77002) where The Tipping Point is located is
roughly 4,000. The types of residents attracted to downtown living tend to be young urban
professionals working downtown, empty nesters, and reverse commuters. Residential units -lofts, condos, apartments -- tend to be in the mid to upper income level range. By 2010, the
residential count downtown will reach 10,000.
In addition to the residential population growth, downtown boasts a daytime presence of 150,000
and attracts over 22 million annual visitors. According to a 2005 estimate, the city had a total
population of 1,273,730 in a 10 mile radius from center city. The racial makeup of that population
was: 49.65% White, 22.95% Black or African American and 48.09% Hispanic or Latino which has
a separate classification. This highlights the racial diversity that is comprised within Downtown
Houston, and will be reflective of our customer base.
Information provided by www.houstondowntown.com
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THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE TIPPING POINT STORE’S NAME
The Tipping Point’s namesake and philosophy was adopted from
the book by Malcolm Gladwell which embraces the concept that
ideas can be spread quickly by a select group of early adopters
who take something unknown and make it a trend.
Synopsis of The Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell, 2000, NY:Little Brown & Co.
D.Kailin 2/19/03
Prologue:
Ideas, like viruses, can be spread in a geometric progression
a. if one crafts contagious propagation
b. if one applies little causes that have big effects
c. if one attends to creating a tipping point, when
everything changes all at once
There are three rules of epidemics:
1. The Law of the Few: The adroit combination of three special kinds of people make
things happen.Together the social power of the messengers can translate ideas &
practices learned from innovators and early adopters into forms palatable for the early
majority.
A. Connector: spreaders; penultimate people persons; a small number of people
link a large number of people together; the strength of many weak ties,
acquaintances spanning multiple fields.
B. Maven: information brokers; motivated to teach, share, and help others; the
link to innovative ideas and practices.
C. Salesman: persuaders; based on quality & quantity of counters to objections;
based on optimism, charm, enthusiasm, charisma; and based on being a Sender:
drawing others into your rhythm and terms of interaction.
2. The Stickiness Factor: Ideas and practices - the messages - must be framed in ways
that make them memorable and that move us to action.
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A. Repetition: must be heard/seen at least 6 times to be remembered but this is a
fairly expensive approach.
B. Participation: interaction of receiver with message, e.g. click on "the Gold
Box".
C. Practical & Personal Info: The message must speak to the listener in a
personally meaningful way; e.g. map of health center & times open gets people
to come for immunization more than scary stories.
D. Comprehensible: we watch (TV) when we understand and look away when
confused. Information clutter reduces attention; drop extraneous details,
exaggerate key points.
3. The Power of Context: Context shapes behavior; the small rules the large (so solve
the little problems); using environment changes to create desired tipping points,
thresholds.
A. Broken Window Theory: un-repaired window says no one cares, invites crime.
Ditto for graffiti.
B. Small Groups as Incubators: The Rule of 150: closer knit connections below
this threshold; above it, a completely different dynamic happens. Small groups
can have a conjoint working memory system, recognizing and drawing more
deeply on unique individual capacities.
Epilogue
Innovators and Early Adopters (entrepreneurs, startups) are Visionaries of revolutionary change.
Early Majorities are risk-averse big companies, pragmatists seeking incremental, measurable,
and predictable improvement. The task we face is the translation of ideas and practices from the
former into terms acceptable to the latter, using the three rules of epidemics.
Page 14 of 25
PRESS RELEASES & PRESS FEATURES
Media Contact:
Tina Zulu
Zulu Creative
tinazulu@zulucreative.com
713.554.9858
Page 15 of 25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tina Zulu, Zulu Creative
(713) 554-9858
tinazulu@zulucreative.com
THE TIPPING POINT, AN UPSCALE COLLECTIBLE SNEAKER LIFESTYLE STORE, TAKES
THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FASHION RETAIL DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
Houston, TX – June 26, 2007– Opening July 16, 2007 at 1212 Main Street on the ground floor of
the historic Humble building, The Tipping Point is leading the way for fashion retailers setting up
shop in Downtown Houston along the Main Street Light Rail. The Tipping Point will make a bold
arrival one year prior to the neighboring Houston Pavilions, a 700,000 square foot multi-use retail,
entertainment and commercial development scheduled to open October 2008. Funded in part by
a generous retail development grant from the Houston Downtown Management District, the
upscale collectible sneaker lifestyle store will be the first and only retailer in the area offering
limited edition and exclusive styles from Converse, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Asics/Onitsuka Tiger
(Spring '08), Nike and Vans. Also available will be a thoughtfully curated selection of apparel,
books, music and art that inspire and influence the sneaker culture that has recently emerged in
many other metropolitan cities across the globe.
The socially conscious and forward-thinking pioneers behind The Tipping Point intend to build a
brand that extends beyond fashion by partnering with local non-profit organizations and small
businesses to create a springboard for creativity and innovation to flourish through a series of
book signings, art exhibitions, movie screenings and music listening parties. The first of many
Tipping Point sponsored events to come working towards this goal, is the Sneaker Pimps Tour,
the world's largest touring sneaker exhibit featuring over 1,000 pairs of rare, limited edition,
vintage, celebrity signed, artists collaborated sneakers and a collection of sneaker inspired
artwork, fashion and photography scheduled on September 8, 2007 at Warehouse Live.
The Tipping Point, whose namesake and philosophy was adopted from the book by Malcolm
Gladwell, embraces the concept that ideas can be spread quickly by a select group of early
adopters who take something unknown and make it a trend. By connecting with the multicultural, socially conscious, and open-minded forerunners of Houston - those who set the pace in
fashion, art and lifestyle, The Tipping Point is sure to leave a footprint that will lead the way for
other retailers to follow.
For more information, visit www.thetippingpointstore.com.
###
Page 16 of 25
Contact: Tina Zulu, Zulu Creative
(713) 554-9858
tinazulu@zulucreative.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE TIPPING POINT TO HOST A “TOMS SHOES STYLE YOUR SOLE” SHOE DESIGNING
PARTY TO PROVIDE SHOES TO NEEDY CHILDREN IN SOUTH AFRICA
HOUSTON, TEXAS – July 21, 2007 – On July 28, 2007 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Tipping Point,
a collectible sneaker lifestyle store located at 1212 Main Street in Downtown Houston, will host a
TOMS Style Your Sole shoe designing party. During the party, participants may purchase and
decorate a pair of TOMS Shoes. For every pair of TOMS Shoes purchased, another pair will be
given to a child in need. The party is one of thousands happening on the same day all across the
country helping TOMS reach its goal to raise over 50,000 pairs of TOMS Shoes to be given to
needy children in South Africa this fall. Participants may also enter their design in a national
contest for the best shoe design. The winning shoe will be produced in limited edition for TOMS
retail partners nationwide.
Houston-based artist and Whitney Biennial 2006 Participant, Robert A. Pruitt will be in attendance
designing a special shoe for the event.
“We are thrilled to be able to support TOMS Shoes in their wonderful mission.” says The Tipping
Point co-owner and lifestyle curator, Thomas Nauls, “We want The Tipping Point to be an energy
center for creativity and innovation and this event offers that plus a humanitarian element which
makes us honored to be involved.”
The Tipping Point would like to recognize the generous sponsors of the event -- Starbucks,
Sharpie, Sumo Lounge, Texas Art Supply, Zulu Creative, Josh Zulu and Susie Lopez.
Space is limited and RSVP is required by July 26, 2007, rsvp@thetippingpointstore.com.
###
About The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point is the first and only upscale collectible sneaker lifestyle store in Downtown
Houston. The store offers limited edition and exclusive styles from Adidas, Asics Onitsuka Tiger,
Converse, Creative Recreation, Nike, PF Flyers, PRO-Keds, Puma, Reebok and Vans.
Also available is a thoughtfully curated selection of apparel, books, music and art that inspire and
influence the sneaker culture. For more information, visit www.thetippingpointstore.com
Page 17 of 25
About TOMS Shoes
After spending time in Argentina on The Amazing Race, Blake Mycoskie decided to travel back to
volunteer in this poverty-stricken country. Seeing so many children without shoes, inspired Blake
to start TOMS (named after “shoes for Tomorrow”). The must-have shoe for the season, TOMS
is spreading like wildfire. With celebrity devotees including Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson
and Renee Zellweger, this simple yet stylish shoe retails for $38 and can be found at Nordstroms,
Macys, Urban Outfitters and specialty boutiques nationwide. For more information, visit
www.tomsshoes.com
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http://www.examinernews.com/articles/2007/08/17/west_university/community/comm15.prt
Page 21 of 25
Print Page
A footprint for innovative creativity
By CYNTHIA LESCALLEET
If Houston wants to offer a more urban lifestyle downtown, it’s going
to need sneakers — and an attitude.
Taking its first steps toward incubating both is The Tipping Point: Art
in Transit, a hip new shop and innovation center that opened last
weekend at 1212 Main St.
The venture’s name and philosophy are a nod to the phenomenon of
how new ideas spread, a concept described in a trendy book of the
same name by Malcolm Gladwell.
Proprietor Thomas Nauls, 28, considers himself a “lifestyle curator.”
His socially conscious shop sells upscale and collectible sneakers as
well as books, music, art and apparel he feels “inspire and influence
creativity.”
Tipping Point co-owner Thomas Nauls
knows how to read a sneaker. - photo by
Neil Lokken
Chess is also a piece of his business plan, he said. He’ll carry the game. And, just as chess requires moves
predicated on future outcome, The Tipping Point is in position for the emerging urban lifestyle downtown, he said.
The location itself is an example of thinking in the future tense. Rather than open in a neighborhood with an
established personality, for example, Nauls and co-owners Kenneth Baugh and Dace Graham picked a place to
help forge one.
The shop is in the ground floor of the historic Humble building, fronting the light rail line. As trains pass, they
become a blurry backdrop in the shop’s windows. Across the street, meanwhile, a 700,000-square-foot,
mixed-use development called Houston Pavilions is under construction by Entertainment Development Group.
Nauls knows how to read the sneakers on the back-lit shelves of his “store/energy center.” Some are retro,
others limited edition. Still others are rendered by artists as wearable art, such as a classic Rebok rendered in
artwork inspired by the late graffiti artist Basquiat, whose exhibit was at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston a year
ago.
“You always discover something new you didn’t see before,” he said, showing how the splashy imagery continues
inside the shoe.
“Clients can appreciate the colors (even) if they don’t understand the reason for it,” he said.
Nauls, a contemplative fellow who speaks like a poet, considers himself a rather conservative sneaker man. He
likes the comfort of the retro Rebok style Nylon.
Conversant in sneaker history, he rattles off the stories behind some of the big names of the industry: Nike, Puma
and Adidas, Converse and Vans.
Sneakers are an essential part of urban living, he said. They’re needed by workers coming out of downtown office
buildings or residences in search of food, entertainment, a stretch or a sprint to the transit line.
He’s a believer Houston will join the so-called “sneaker culture” that has emerged in other metropolitan areas.
“I see a transition coming and I want to hop on it before anyone else does,” he said.
To help that movement, The Tipping Point will partner with local nonprofit organizations and small businesses to
foster innovation. It will host books signings, art exhibitions, movie screenings and music-listening events.
Next month, for example, the shop will help sponsor the “Sneaker Pimps Tour” on Sept. 8 at Warehouse Live, 813
St. Emanuel St. The exhibition has more than 1,000 pairs of rare, limited edition, vintage and celebrity signed
sneakers plus sneaker-inspired artwork, fashion and photography.
The Tipping Point is partially funded by a retail development grant from the Houston Downtown Management
District. The incentives program hopes to add “shop” to a list of downtown experiences like “work, live, eat and
visit,” said Angie Bertinot, the management district’s retail development marketing director.
The group behind The Tipping Point is a “perfect” fit for downtown revitalization program, she said. It’s quirky,
offers goods and experiences and does so right on Main Street.
8/21/2007 10:37 AM
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/06/25/daily57.html?t=printable
Houston Business Journal - June 29, 2007
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/06/25/daily57.html
Page 22 of 25
BUSINESS PULSE SURVEY: Would you support legislation that limits/bans the use of certain electronic devices while driv
The Tipping Point opens downtown location
Houston Business Journal - June 29, 2007
An upscale collectible sneaker store is opening in the historic Humble building on July 16.
Located at 1212 Main, the new store, called The Tipping Point, is one of the first new fashion
retailers to set up shop along the Main Street light rail in downtown Houston.
The Houston-based retailer will offer limited edition and exclusive styles from Converse, Reebok,
Adidas, Puma, Nike and Vans.
The store will also carry a selection of apparel, books, music and art that influence the sneaker
culture that has recently emerged in many other metropolitan cities.
The Tipping Point is opening more than a year ahead of the neighboring Houston Pavilions, a
700,000-square-foot retail and entertainment development scheduled to open in October 2008.
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8/16/2007 2:09 PM
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Boutiques to give downtown retail a new
charge
Houston Business Journal - November 3, 2006
by Allison Wollam
Houston Business Journal
The Central Business District is in line to get an influx of trendy retail boutiques, thanks
in part to a nearly two-year-old grant program that has kicked into high gear.
Local retailers AA Concepts and The Tipping Point have landed grants from the Houston
Downtown Management District, making them only the third and fourth projects to
receive the monetary incentives since the program was started in early 2005. Meanwhile,
Austin-based Factory People is also in the early stages of a planned expansion into
Houston's CBD.
Lifestyle retailer AA Concepts has secured a $175,000 grant from the management
district to open a store in the firmer Sakowitz Building, and sneaker boutique The
Tipping Point received a $50,000 award for a store in the old Humble Building.
The Houston Downtown Management District, funded through taxes imposed on
property owners in the district, approved $1 million in 2005 to start the grant program
aimed at bringing "soft goods" retailers to downtown.
Soft goods include everything from books and music to clothing and art. Restaurants and
bars are not eligible for the grants.
Los Angeles-based clothier American Apparel Inc., a cutting-edge company that caters to
socially conscious buyers, was the first retailer to take advantage of the program when it
landed a $150,000 grant in early 2005. The company plans to open a store in the
Sakowitz Building once a certain portion of the building is leased to other retailers.
Since then, the only other grant recipient has been the planned 800,000-square-foot
Houston Pavilions entertainment complex, which received a $600,000 grant for retail and
$400,000 to create a streetscape along Dallas Street.
Whereas the Pavilions has already landed some big-name tenants such as House of Blues
and Lucky Strike bowling alley, these two newest grants are expected to help ramp up the
fledgling retail scene for boutique stores in the downtown area.
Kathy Williams, retail development specialist for the Downtown Development District,
says AA Concepts -- which currently operates three stores in Houston named Wish,
Page 24 of 25
Fabrik and Method -- will receive its grant once the proposed 5,785-square-foot store is
built out in the historic Sakowitz Building.
AA Concepts tailors its store designs and merchandise to suit the specific demographic in
which the store is located. In the case of the Sakowitz Building, the retailer is planning to
debut a new concept, Habita, which is described as a lifestyle store that will sell home
furnishings, accessories and apparel.
AA Concepts is in the process of finalizing its lease, and Williams says an opening date
has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, Williams says, upscale sneaker boutique The Tipping Point will receive its
grant when the Houston-based retailer completes construction of its store in the old
Humble Building at the corner of Main Street and Polk.
The Tipping Point is a start-up company which Williams says will debut its concept with
a 1,100-square-foot store by early next year.
The retailer will offer one-of-a-kind and collectible sneakers as well as apparel and
branded footwear.
Meanwhile, a funky Austin-based retailer is also planning to expand to Houston with a
new location in the Sakowitz Building.
Factory People caters to customers in search of hard-to-find cult clothing designers such
as Evil Genius, Fred Perry, Kid Robot and Yoko Deveraux.
Although a lease has not yet been signed, Factory People Owner Thomas Popov says he
hopes to open a Houston location by the second or third quarter of 2007.
He says the Houston store will be similar to the original contemporary showroom in
Austin, but it will also "have more of a Houston flavor."
Williams says interest from retailers has been pretty steady since the announcement of
the Houston Pavilions complex, which will be bounded by Dallas, Polk, Main and
Caroline streets.
In addition to House of Blues and Lucky Strike, high-profile restaurants such as Red Cat
Jazz Cafe, McCormick & Schmick's and Lawry's The Prime Rib have also signed on to
anchor the development.
"The knowledge that we have the arrival of The Pavilions coming has spurred a lot of
interest in the downtown area," Williams says. "The infusion of retail that The Pavilions
will bring to downtown is causing a a spur of activity."
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