Memories of Gulf Gate Mall

As a little girl born in 1956 I will always remember Gulfgate Mall. The main stores I remember was Sakowitz and Joskes. It was the first regional mall in the Houston area, opening as Gulfgate Shopping Center on September 20, 1956 with Joske's, Sakowitz, Weingarten's, J.J. Newberry and W.T. Grant.  I also remember Bakers shoes was there. Sometimes I go there in my dreams and shop. I will never forget a dress I bought at Sakowitz. My Mom loved to shop there. They had a resturant there too and I remember eating lunch there. Sometimes we would have lunch at the DOT coffee shop that still is in the same place today. I also remember people use to get dressed up to go shopping. Heels, stockings and a dress for ladies and a suit or sportcoat and slacks for men. Much different than you see today at our malls.One thing is there use to be a large clock with 4 sides in the mall and now one of the sides of this clock is installed in the wall of one of my listings for sale..The shopping center was enclosed around 1967 and, after years of decline and competition, shuttered in 2000.  Looking at the clock and hearing where it came back brought back many fond memories of a bygone era