The Westpark Tollway lies just north of the former Clodine General Store
The former Clodine General Store sits abandoned on the southeast corner of the Westpark Tollway and FM 1464, south of Barker Dam in Fort Bend County. The store is one of the few structures left of the now-unrecognizable town of Clodine.
The town was likely named after a railroad official, Clodine King. It was established in 1888, approximately 21 miles southwest of Houston along the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad.
By 1896, Clodine had a post office, general store, a Baptist church, and 50 residents. In the 1930s the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad was sold and the train depot closed. The population had dwindled to 25 by 1914. At that time, residents had telegraph and telephone service. It was the shipping point and market for nearby farms and the Clodine oilfield in 1947.
The former Clodine General Store
Occasionally I would stop by the general store to mail packages instead of enduring the traffic and long lines at a Houston post office. Stepping through the doors of the store was like stepping back in time. There was an old-fashioned refrigerated meat case, a long wood-topped check-out counter with an old cash register. The floors were wooden and worn and the shelves were stocked with various food items and sundries. The staff was helpful and always made friendly conversation.
As I took the pictures for this blog post, I was filled with sadness. The doors of the Clodine General Store are locked, glass in the windows is broken, weeds surround the building, and a “No Trespassing” sign is posted beside the door. Some post office boxes are still on the right side of the front door. On the right side of the building is a boarded, abandoned house and on the left, the Westpark Tollway. Across the tollway is a Kroger shopping center. George Bush High School is further down FM 1464.
The abandoned house to the right of the former Clodine General Store
It’s a shame that this building has been left to ruin. It sits at a busy intersection and would probably still be a good location for a post office and a small mom-and-pop store. It would be nice to take children in to view a little bit of history—what stores used to be like, or for adults to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life, for just a bit.
In the area today, there are two streets with the Clodine name: Addicks Clodine and Alief Clodine.
In conducting my research, I found no historical markers for the Town of Clodine or the Clodine General Store.
Thanks to Diana Helms for suggesting this story.
Hello Kathy, The store is not abandoned. It belongs to my family – my grandfather (the owner of the house and the store) died just a few months before you made this post. He had been in a memory care facility for several years before he died. My father is the sole heir, and has be tasked with dealing with the property with little to no preparation made by my grandfather. We have tried to find a special place for the store, but it is not considered historical because of a fire in it in the 70s which reduced the original construction percentage.
Sarah, you might like this quick pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/katy-lab/46626863845/in/dateposted-public/
I would like your permission to return and do some proper photography of the place.
Best regards,
AJA
I met your dad at the store and I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Let me know if i can be of service. Mary Redd Broker Associate, Nexus One Properties, 8326562058. I used to shop at your store when it was up and running. We discovered it when we built our house across from your store in the subdivision across the street.
Sarah I’m Debra George. Grew up by this store. How may I get in touch with you?
Debra George, are you any relation to Sarah George ? She lived across and down the road from the Clodine store. I believe she passed away about 5 years ago. She was a dear friend of mine. We use to visit her little club ‘Sarah’s’ back in the early 70’s.
I would like to hear about when you worked there. It was good to see you and thanks for the photo ( @ Taste of Texas).
Sarah,
My family lived across the tracks from the store and me and my little sister would go and visit your grandmother and have tea parties her and your uncle Wes. Ask your father about the Hodges!
I used to stop there back in the mid to late 80’s for lunch. They had the best BBQ sandwiches and my friends and I would stop in, buy lunch and eat on that front porch. I sure loved that place. It just felt “right”.
Late 80s would stop by and pickup bread so my boys could feed the geese in the George Bush Park pond and I would pickup BBQ sandwiches and double yoke eggs for me. 🙂🤗 Loved the folks and the store. Great memories.
I have done detailed pen and ink drawing of this store.
I specialize in historic architecture in fort bend county and Galveston country.
Nina Struthers
It’s just absolutely stunning, I drive by there everyday and always manage to stop at a red light and just picture the history in the building. I’ve never been in as I recently moved on this side of town and I am so fascinated in reading the history, behind this abandoned property. I have lived in Houston all my life and never knew about this historical structure. Saddened it didn’t qualify I would have loved to seen the inside. Good Luck and God bless you!
Years ago we would stop in the Clodine store after duck hunting and warm up next to the wood stove , sipping coffee. I very fond of the area , so much history is disappearing with the demise of the beautiful Clodine Store and Post Office. It’s absolutely ridiculous that it cannot receive an historical status caused by a fire drone that old wood stove. The Alamo has been blasted , burned and rebuilt and , as far as historical buildings go , is untouchable. The same considerations should be afforded this little country store
The Clodine Post Office/Store is gone. The land was sold. The new owners had the building and the house next door to it torn down last week. Most likely a shopping plaza will be built there.
OH no! I had planned to stop by and take some pictures of the old store. I spent some summer days at my cousins folks house across the street of the railroad tracks. The Katy Auto Center sits there now.
fond memories!
and the person Deidra whom commented earlier is my cousin’s folks! Hello Deidra!