Ranking It

The most popular stores in Texas surprise: Yelp data shatters some stereotypes as No. 1 confounds

Ever wondered what kind of store is the most popular within Texas (or any state for that matter)?

A new collaboration between Yelp and The Huffington Post reveals exactly what kinds of stores are most popular in each state, based on the review website's store listings. Yelp calculated the percentage of a given type of shopping business relative to the total number of business listings in that state, then compared those percentages with each type of store's representation nationwide to produce a list of the Top 10 most disproportionately common stores in each state.

The most common types of stores in Texas are car battery stores. As it turns out, car battery stores are actually the most popular type of store in four other states, including Georgia, Kansas, Maryland and Ohio.

In Texas, the relative percentage of car battery stores is 443 percent higher than the national average. The second most common types of stores in the state are video game stores.

"My suspicion is that in certain states you have these stores that are just dedicated to car batteries, and in others they're part of a larger outlet or department store," Yelp data scientist Will Seltzer tells The Huffington Post. Seltzer also points out that businesses on Yelp may be tagged with as many as three different store categories, which could help explain the prevalence of car battery stores.

In Texas, the relative percentage of car battery stores is 443 percent higher than the national average. The second most common types of stores in the state are video game stores (305 percent higher than the national average), followed by vape shops (No. 3), stores selling guns and ammunition (No. 4), and golf equipment stores (No. 5). Other store types that made the Top 10 within Texas include uniform shops (No. 6), stores selling items and furniture for babies (No. 7), discount stores (No. 8), shopping centers (No. 9) and department stores (No. 10).

"Baby gear and furniture [stores] show up in the Top 10 in Utah and Texas, and those are two states that have some of the highest birth rates nationally," Seltzer says.

Some of the most interesting kinds of stores to top the list for each state include vinyl record stores in Maine and Louisiana, knitting supply stores in Alaska and formal wear shops in Mississippi.

Curious to see what types of stores are the most popular in other states? Check out the full list.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

New Memorial City development leads Houston's top 5 stories this week

Courtesy of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Greenside will feature a one-acre greenspace.

Editor's note:It's time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week. The top Houston news includes a family-friendly Memorial City development, a Montrose pizzeria closure, and a stylish new lounge for Upper Kirby. Get the details below, and find fun stuff do in town this weekend here.

1. New development with 1-acre green space coming to Memorial City area. The rapidly growing area will soon be home to Greenside, boasting a mix of restaurant, retail, and other family-friendly businesses, designed by the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

2. Creative Montrose pizzeria will shutter after only a year-and-a-half. ElRo Pizza & Crudo will close at the end of the year, due to a steady decline in business.

3. Stylish new lounge shakes up Houston with art-inspired drinks and caviar. Cheers to this new nightlife spot, which is now open in Upper Kirby.

Sante cocktail lounge Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees. Photo by Chris Furia

4. These are the 6 most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters. One of these ZIPs is also among the 10 most affordable in the U.S.

5. 15 Houston restaurants crafting nostalgic and decadent ice cream sundaes. The classic ice cream sundae is having a moment, and these restaurants are serving up decadent versions.