Houston’s Most Famous Sex Shop Finally Shutters, Freeing Up Prime Galleria Area Space

Space City is losing its naughtiest landmark, and Houstonians are sure to feel a little less frisky. Zone d’Erotica, the sex shop by The Galleria that made Houston visitors do double takes for years and years, is being replaced by a new Velvet Taco.

If your mind’s well and truly in the gutter, you can rejoice in the fact that a spot with taco in the name is replacing a sex shop, known for its adult novelties and leagues of barely-there lingerie sets.

This won’t be the prominent Houston location’s first foray into food. In past, less-seductive-more-sedate lives before the reign of Zone d’Erotica, the space was home to a Roy Roger’s at one point and a Luke’s Burgers at another.

No one was really ever seen entering or exiting Zone d’Erotica, regardless of the time of day. One had to wonder how the haven of all things hanky panky stayed in business.

But it was a daily vision for folks driving past on the freeway on their way to work, on their way to shop, and more. For some, it was an eyesore, a source of embarrassment, sticking out like a sex-positive sore thumb. Some Galleria devotees found it disturbing that you could find dildos so close to Dillard’s.

For others, Zone d’Erotica made for some laughs and delight during traffic jams.

The building on a 10,000-square-foot lot off 610 always stood out, and not just for its XXX theme. The vibrant purple-and-pink marquee, with a heart winking out in the space of an apostrophe, was just impossible to miss.

Snap some Instagram pics while you still can. According to the Harris County Clerk’s Office, the property was sold in May.

The optics may be better for visitors now, but Houston’s definitely losing something unique that speaks to its no zoning ways. Even if it only garnered a two stars average from a pittling nine total reviews since 2007 (folks just don’t want to admit to visiting a sex shop on Yelp), with some referring to it as “the ole pink porn building.”

It looks like Houston is becoming a little less erotic — and a little more taco and family-friendly. So long, Zone d’Erotica. It’s been real.