{{Short description|Road in Houston, Texas}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} thumb|Harwin Drive (好运大道 ''Hǎoyùn Dàdào'') '''Harwin Drive''' is a road in Houston, Texas. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau identifies the section between Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway) and Beltway 8 as being a shopping district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bargain Shopping on Harwin Drive: Harwin Central Market |url=https://www.visithoustontexas.com/things-to-do/shopping/insiders-guide-to-harwin-drive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314115007/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/things-to-do/shopping/insiders-guide-to-harwin-drive/ |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Visit Houston |language=en-us}}</ref>
Harwin has many strip malls with discount shops and wholesale warehouses.<ref name="Wollamupsc1">Wollam, Allison. "Upscale retail centers charge into Harwin shopping arena." ''Houston Business Journal''. Sunday October 17, 2004. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.</ref><ref name="HPress">"[http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2005/award/best-mall-alternative-42084/ Best Mall Alternative - 2005 Harwin Drive]." ''Houston Press''. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.</ref> Allison Wollam said that the street has a "bargain mile" image among Houstonians (Houston citizens).<ref name="Wollamupsc1"/> The ''Houston Press'' stated that Harwin was "Houston's shadiest and quirkiest shopping hot spot."<ref name="HPress"/>
Jenalia Moreno of the ''Houston Chronicle'' said that Harwin was "a strip known by local fashionistas as ground zero for affordable purses, clothing, shoes and jewelry"<ref>Moreno, Jenalia. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2005_4023791/small-business-fashion-retailing-a-stylish-busines.html SMALL BUSINESS / FASHION RETAILING / A stylish business plan / Charming Charlie's family members search world markets to find affordable accessories]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Sunday December 11, 2005. Business 5. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.</ref> but cautioned that the "dirt cheap prices" might indicate the branded items were fakes.<ref name="MorenoCoach">Moreno, Jenalia. "[http://www.chron.com/business/article/Purse-maker-cracks-down-on-cheap-imitations-1587688.php Purse maker cracks down on cheap imitations]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Saturday February 13, 2010. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.</ref>
==History== In 2005 the ''Houston Press'' ranked Harwin Drive as the "Best Mall Alternative" in its 2005 Best of Houston awards.<ref name="HPress"/> In 2010 Coach, Inc. filed lawsuits against six businesses on Harwin, accusing them of selling fake merchandise.<ref name="MorenoCoach"/>
==Stores and merchandise== thumb|Businesses on Harwin Drive Most of the stores on Harwin Drive are clustered together. The ''Houston Chronicle'' stated "There are no places to relax on Harwin -- no food courts, dressing rooms or restrooms. Just a string of shops owned by people from all around the world who don't mind a bit of haggling."<ref name="Gloss">"[http://www.chron.com/life/gloss/article/HARWIN-DRIVE-1657574.php HARWIN DRIVE]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.</ref> The ''Houston Press'' stated that most of the stores are operated by "often-cranky" Chinese women.<ref name="HPress"/>
As of 2005 stores on Harwin sell fake purses that typically retailed for $30. They also sold genuine perfume for half of the prices found in department stores. As of that year stores that sell East or South Asian clothing typically are closed on Tuesdays. The ''Chronicle'' said "Locals know the Harwin fake situation for bags and luggage, but ask a store employee, and they may act clueless. Designers don't appreciate the copying of their high-price items. Stores selling these bags know this and will gauge your interest before showing the goods."<ref name="Gloss"/>
As of 2010 a Coach Inc. handbag, which may or may not be fake, would sell for $35 on Harwin, while it would sell for $150 in a department store. A fake Harwin keychain would cost $5 while a conventional keychain would cost $35.<ref name="MorenoCoach"/>
==See also== *{{Portal-inline|Texas}} *{{portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *"[http://www.visithoustontexas.com/listing-details?id=28285 Harwin Drive Shopping District]." Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. {{Southwest Management District}} {{Coord|29.71760|-95.5397|display=title}}
Category:Roads in Houston