A Long Time Coming

Cartier's days at Galleria are numbered: Luxury jeweler plans temporary moves and big new store

Get the moving trucks rolling. After more than 16 years in the same Galleria retail space, Cartier is decamping to three different Houston locations in the next 24 months.

The luxury jeweler is leaving its longtime confines next to Chanel in the Neiman Marcus wing of the shopping mall on March 27 for the St. Regis Hotel where it will set up shop on March 28 while construction commences on a temporary store at 2031 Post Oak Blvd. in the Post Oak Centre (between Norris of Houston Day Spa and Jenni's Noodle House in a location previously occupied by the Dustin Mounts gunsmith shop).

Once the Post Oak space is complete, probably in late spring, Cartier will set up shop there for about a year while construction of a lavish permanent store takes place.

Officials declined to confirm the permanent location while details continue to be worked out, but real estate sources point to the River Oaks District mixed use complex currently under construction as the likely home for the new Cartier store. Dene Oliver, CEO of OliverMcMillan, the San Diego-based real estate firm that is developing the project at 4444 Westheimer, previously confirmed that Hermès and Tom Ford will be among the major tenants. Diane von Furstenberg, Roberto Cavalli and Dior are also among the high-end names rumored to be eyeing the center.

The permanent Cartier store is scheduled to open in the summer of 2015.

Cartier officials said the phone number (713-871-0177) will remain the same across all locations and that the Houston staff is committed to "providing the highest level of service" during the moves.

Cartier relocated to the Galleria in 1998 from The Pavilion, a shopping center on Post Oak Boulevard that was torn down a few years ago to make way for the BLVD. Place mixed-use complex currently under construction.

A scene from a famous L'Odyssee de Cartier advertisement.

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shop for props

Discover handmade treasures at Houston Grand Opera's garage sale

Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera/Instagram

For the first time since 2016, the Houston Grand Opera is holding costume and props garage sale on Saturday, September 14.

Calling all costume enthusiasts, theater lovers, and interior design buffs. Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is opening its doors for a unique, first-come-first-served garage sale. With a massive collection of costumes, props, and furniture from iconic productions like Aida, Hansel & Gretel, and Carmen, this sale offers a rare opportunity to grab one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for a costume party, home decor, or DIY projects.

For the first time in 16 years, HGO is inviting the public to step behind the curtain and experience the artistry that goes into their productions. The sale showcases the incredible craftsmanship of HGO's costume shop, which employs dozens of skilled professionals who make or tailor each piece by hand.

The props department's specialized artisans also play a crucial role in creating the magic seen on stage. By making these items available, HGO is giving local theater companies, high schools, colleges, and the general public a chance to bring these beautiful pieces into their own productions or homes.

At the sale, shoppers can expect to find 68 racks of costumes and hundreds of hats, shoes, and other props.Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera

Since the last costume and props sale took place eight years ago, the nationally acclaimed opera house is bursting at the seams.

"We store items as long as possible and reuse them in any way we can," Kristen Burke, HGO director of production, tells CultureMap. "However, there comes a point about every decade or so when we outgrow our storage capacity. We then have to make some hard decisions. What might we use again? What is worth keeping in storage? What do we need to part with?"

HGO's limited storage space is a windfall for Houstonians. Shoppers can expect to find 68 racks of costumes and hundreds of hats, shoes, and other props, including fun must-haves like thrones and prop coffins. According to Burke, items will range in price from $1 to $200, with the majority in the under-$50 range. "Many pieces have a value well over that price, as they were handmade by our talented artisans. There will be some incredible deals to be had at this sale," says Burke.

Items will range in price from $1 to $200, with the majority in the under-$50 range.Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera

For HGO, sustainability is very important. If the items don't sell, they try to donate or find new uses for them. The goal is to avoid waste and give their incredible handcrafted creations a second chance to shine.

Houston Grand Opera Costume & Props Sale; Saturday, September 14, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm; 1977 Tellepsen St., 77023.

hgo houston grand opera shopping sustainability