The Potpourri House in Tyler, Yeah Yeah … I Know

July 20th, 2010

I’m about to do two things that could conceivably come back to haunt me. First off I’m going to discuss a favorite Tyler eatery / department store / catering service, in a way that implies I’m not a big fan. Secondly, in discussing this establishment it will become apparent that I’ve been there. Ok so am I being too cryptic? Fine. The restaurant… or whatever, is the Potpourri House, (as I guess the title of this article gives away). Now it takes either a big man, or a shameless one to admit that he’s been to the Potpourri House, I’m not sure which one applies to me.

The Potpourri House is a difficult business / eatery to describe. It is part gift shop, part café or tea house, part fine dining restaurant. As the name implies, they have a large supply of scented candles, incense, and of course potpourri. The store also carries inventory like higher end clothing and jewelry. I have this weird mental picture of patrons browsing through the store with a glass of wine in hand complaining about the men in their lives, or talking about Sex in the City. I don’t know why, that’s just the strange association I have with the restaurant.

The food at the PH is actually pretty good, the portions are not exactly man size, but it’s tasty and generally light. The menu consists of a lot chicken, roast beef and shrimp. I guess at this point I should either turn in my man card or explain why I was interloping in this very feminine universe. First off I’ve been there two or three times. It seems the party planning committee at work contains all ladies, and they love the Potpourri House. And by the way the establishment specializes in parties, businesses and church groups. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much because work has always paid for the meals, but I’m not going to lie, it would be nice to have those parties somewhere else. I’m not suggesting a cigar bar or anything, I’d settle for gender neutral at this point. Anyway the party is generally the place where the Christmas bonuses are handed out, so I try to attend. But I do feel pretty out of place, and I often grab a bit to eat when I get home.

The Potpourri House is not terrible it’s just very girly. I suggest that any male avoid it if at all possible. If that’s not possible try to avoid telling your buddies where you had lunch. For more information on the Potpourri House, visit their web page at www.potpourrihouse.com. For reservations call begin_of_the_skype_highlighting(903) 592-4171. They are located at 3320 Troup Highway in Tyler. end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Tags: Catering Service, Church Groups, Cigar Bar, Clothing And Jewelry, Department Store, Fine Dining Restaurant, Gift Shop, Glass Of Wine, Incense, Man Size, Mental Picture, Party Planning, Patrons, Planning Committee, Potpourri, Roast Beef, Scented Candles, Sex In The City, Shrimp, Talking About Sex
Posted in American Food, Clothing, Jewelers, Restaurants, Tyler Businesses | No Comments »

Walmarts in Tyler

January 12th, 2010

While I’m not sure Tyler warrants them, we now have three Wal-Mart Supercenters in town. The idea of one stop discount shopping is a fine idea. I’m a firm believer in free enterprise capitalism. So if I’m critical of the store it’s not about politics. It is about the quality of the product and care given by the employees to address customer needs as well as maintain the store.

The South Broadway and the Troup locations are pretty nice stores. Although they are not the Wal-Mart’s I usually shop, I find that they are orderly and the employees are generally fairly knowledgeable. I have heard the retail giant often poked fun at for its greeters. Not unlike walking into church there is usually someone there to welcome and if necessary point the customer in the direction of what he or she is looking for. This is not something I require in a department store but it is nice. The employees at these locals are mostly neat in appearance, and reflect positively on their perspective stores.

This is not my impression of the highway 64 location. Upon entering the store the customer is “greeted” by an employee who stands and listlessly stares in the direction those entering the building. The store’s appearance is another problem. It is generally disorganized, and what is more, the employees usually know very little about the products they sell. On more than one occasion, I’ve had workers tell me they were unable to find what I was looking for and simply leave me to search the aisle on my own. And then there are the customers themselves… I guess I’ve just never experienced the joy that loitering in a department store can bring.

As a rule, I like Wal-Mart’s low prices and their community involvement. The company is a good company, but some of the local outlets need some serious quality control. In comparison with other companies like Target who’s stores are always neat and the employees are always attractive, Wal-Mart has its work cut out for it. For those who have a choice of Supercenters I would shy away from the 64 location. Better yet, try shopping on line at www.walmart.com.

Tags: Aisle, Appearance, Capitalism, Community Involvement, Department Store, Firm Believer, Free Enterprise, Good Company, Greeters, Locals, Perspective, Quality Control, Retail Giant, South Broadway, Stares, target, Tyler Texas Walmart, wal-mart, Wal-Mart Supercenters, Walmarts, Warrants
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Walgreens on the West Loop

November 29th, 2009

I’ve written on the positive effects that expanding business and entrepreneurism can have on a community. On such example is that of the new Walgreens on the west loop. For years and years the lot on the corner of sixty four and the loop had been wasted on the disreputable “Rose City Motel.” This had been a source of embarrassment for many Tyler residents, (myself included), who found it necessary to pass the establishment on the way to the airport to pick up out of town guests. Well at long last the shame has left, the motel has been bulldozed, and the valuable real estate reoccupied by more legitimate businesses, one of which is Walgreens Pharmacy.

Of all the new businesses on the west loop in Tyler, Walgreens is one of the most welcome and maybe the most helpful as well. The staff is there to offer whatever advice and help that they can when it comes to normal everyday ailments. They offer a full range of over the counter products for those like me, who prefer treating their own symptoms rather than constantly shelling out for a doctor’s prescription. For those situations when the doc’s help is absolutely necessary however, the store offers both walk in or drive through pick up.

But the store is much more than just a pharmacy. They offer a wide variety of health and beauty products as well as groceries and other odds and ends. While Walgreens is a pharmacy first and foremost, it is also a sort of mini department store. Personally, I stop off frequently for items like milk, which runs just under two dollars a gallon. I won’t say that their entire inventory is as inexpensive, some things seem kind of high to me, the diapers and related products for example. It’s best to know what you usually pay for those items, or do a little comparison shopping. By the way, the store is going to be offering Christmas pictures on December fifth, from eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon. They assure me that the prices will quite cheap.

Hopefully, Walgreens will not be the only new business in west Tyler. The more run down motels and third rate tattoo supply shops we can drive out and replace with real reputable businesses and jobs, the better. As someone who lives in west Tyler, I’m glad to support stores like Walgreens. Come to think of it I’m out of milk, guess I should swing by the pharmacy.

Tags: Christmas Pictures, City Motel, Comparison Shopping, Department Store, Diapers, Drug Stores Tyler Texas, Embarrassment, Everyday Ailments, Groceries, Health And Beauty, Health And Beauty Products, Legitimate Businesses, New Businesses, Odds And Ends, Pharmacy's Tyler Texas, Related Products, Shame, Town Guests, Two Dollars, Walgreens, Walgreens Pharmacy, Walgreens Tyler TX, West Loop
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Serving your family at every stage of life

October 31st, 2009

Well here we were the day before Halloween and I had yet to decide on a topic on which to write that coincides with the season, but along came Walmart. Now I realize the retail giant gets a lot of undeserved criticism, but in this regard I find the critics to be constructive. The store announced that they will now be selling caskets and urns on its website. I believe in capitalism, the open market, and making a buck. I also believe in saving a buck as a consumer, but this is an example of a product whose price I am fairly indifferent about.

I confess that I’m not sure why this story bothers me so much. I just find it strangely depressing that the last purchase of my life would be made at the same place I buy diapers, food and everything in between. I guess it’s kind of a circle of life thing. I’m starting to feel like just another resource for the department store to tap. If a product called Soylent Green appears on the shelves, here’s a hint, don’t eat it! It tastes just like people. I think death and mourning is probably not a good product for whole sale retailers. Buying urns in bulk, or dropping off and picking up your dead at the drive through window could prove just a little dehumanizing. I can hear it already, “Will the Hague family please report to isle five for your father’s wake.”

In all seriousness, I understand that fraud and scams in the funeral services are very real mine fields for grieving families to navigate. Largely for this reason, my own father sees it as perfectly acceptable for the department store to offer the on-line products. By the way, the caskets actually have product names like; “the executive,” (almost sounds like something one might prefer to test drive prior to purchasing), and “Mom and Dad remembered.” There’s nothing like a little manufactured sympathy. It comes down to this, I just don’t want to be considering end of life options while in the middle of it. And Dad, I don’t care what you say; I’m not burying you in a Walmart casket!

Instead of turning to a department store in preparation for the life to come, I suggest simply planning ahead. Find a funeral home and director you know to be honest, and make your wishes known to your family not your local Walmart. As I finish this piece I am reminded that I need to head to Walmart for more Halloween candy. Hey! Maybe I should pick up an urn to put it in!

To see the on line listings follow the links below.

Walmart Caskets

Walmart Caskets link 2

Tags: Capitalism, Caskets, Circle Of Life, Department Store, Diapers, Funeral Services, Hague, Life Options, Mom And Dad, Mourning, Product Names, Retail Giant, Scams, Seriousness, Shelves, Soylent Green, Stage Of Life, Urns, wal-mart Tyler Texas, Walmart, Walmart Tyler Texas, Whole Sale
Posted in Shopping Centers | No Comments »

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The Potpourri House in Tyler, Yeah Yeah … I Know

Walmarts in Tyler

Walgreens on the West Loop

Serving your family at every stage of life