Pearland - South Houston City Guide

A shining southern city

Pearland is a city south of Downtown Houston between Fresno and Friendswood, part of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area.

History

Established in 1894, Pearland was originally called Mark Belt until Witold von Zychlinski, a Polish noble, saw the multiple pear trees around the area and decided Pearland was a good name. It was an agricultural powerhouse until two hurricanes and a bad freeze stalled agricultural growth for decades.

Entertainment

Located on Pearland’s western edge, Pearland Town Center is a retail center of the Houston area. The 1.1 million square foot facility has a Barnes & Noble, Dillard’s, Macy’s and Sports Authority, in addition to several smaller stores and restaurants. But it isn’t a typical mall — it’s an open-air complex. You can get a splash of sunshine walking between all the stores or to a restaurant. And why not make it a girl’s day out? A limo ride is easier on everyone and it’s the most stylish way to travel.

But a drive north of Pearland is the big city — Houston. Downtown Houston is home to some of the best clubs, bars, restaurants and concert venues in the country. A night on the town with friends and a personal driver is wonderful and everyone should experience it at some point.

Dining

Pearland’s population exploded in the last twenty or so years, which brought a wealth of new restaurants to the area. A great example is Killen’s Steakhouse, located on South Main Street. It’s the only restaurant in Pearland that serves Allen Brothers USDA beef, and it’s got some of the best steaks around, courtesy of chef Ronnie Killen.

But if you’re looking for a home-cooked meal, check out Santa Barbara Italian Café. The chef, a Croatian native, cooks homemade Italian food with Croatian and French influences. That special blend of cultures makes the food taste scrumptious. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for something delicious and wholesome.

Pearland stretches to cover a lot of southern Houston and is only a 30 minute drive from downtown. It has one of two major malls in the Houston area and many great restaurants. If you’re ever in the area, Pearland should be on your list of places to visit.