Serving the West Since 1933… Serving the Rest
Since 1973
Esther and Jack Houston opened the House of Vintages wine and spirit store in downtown Portland in 1933. Esther and Jack had one full-time goal: excellent customer service. That was over seventy five years ago, and that same goal is still the culture at Houston's Inc. The success of House of Vintages led to Esther and Jack's next venture, Complete Catering Service and Party Rental. They furnished everything except the guests. In 1953 it became apparent to Esther and Jack that their bar and restaurant supply side of the business was expanding at an enormous rate. They soon ceased their catering business, and started the hunt for a larger warehouse.
In 1971 Esther and Jack's son, John Houston, came into the business after a distinguished career as an Air Force pilot in Vietnam that earned him a silver star and two distinguished flying crosses for going into hostile positions flying a 90-mile-an-hour, single engine Cessna.
John's new mission was to bring Houston's Inc. to the next level. John brought with him a passion for the business and the food service industry. Since that time, Houston's Inc. has continued to grow, and today services customers across the nation. In a 1971 interview with the Sunday Oregonian, John stated, "We sell only to jobbers, hotel suppliers, and bar supply companies; never in competition with the people who buy from us." That statement and commitment still holds true today.
Today, Tomorrow, and the Future
Today, Houston's Inc. has over two hundred associates whose full-time goal is a commitment to excellent customer service. We now have two state-of-the-art distribution centers, one in Wilsonville, Oregon, and our most recent facility in Riverside, Missouri. We stock over 10,000 items: everything you see in our catalogue and on our web site. If there is something we do not stock, our special order department can source it. The investment in people and technology has Houston's inc. poised to grow with our customers as well as the industry's needs. Some of the initiatives that we have launched in order to support future growth are our e-commerce web site, CD-ROM electronic catalog, and bar-coding capabilities toward which efficient foodservice response (ERR) is heading. Houston's Inc. is on the cutting edge of procurement software to enable a smooth and consistent line of supply to our customer base.
Leading the Industry in Flexible Service
Weekly Inventory Turns Or Better
- Reduce customers space requirements
- Convert inventory into cash
- Reduce customer payables
- Make new products available at no risk
- Provide fill-ins for those who buy direct
- Reduce dock time at the receiving dock
- Provide sales training
- Increase return on inventory investment
- Focus on net profit
Ordering Information
The staff at Houston's Incorporated is ready to provide you with the best service possible!
Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Shipping Information
Delivery: Houston's provides free delivery to most of our sales territories. Please call for routing information.
Common Carrier: All common carrier ground orders received by 5:00 PM (Monday through Friday) are shipped the same day.
Parcel: All parcel ground orders received by 5:00 PM (Monday through Friday) are shipped the same day. Parcel next day orders must be received by 3:00 PM (Monday through Friday).
Freight Claims: All freight claims are the responsibility of the consignee and must be filed with the carrier. Visible damage should be noted on the bill of lading and signed by the carrier.
Glass/ China: Goods packed in glass (i.e. cocktail mix) cannot be shipped Parcel. Glassware and china are especially fragile and are shipped Parcel at the customers' risk only. Houston's will repack these products, at a cost, and then ship the products Parcel. We will not issue a credit for any damaged or refused shipments unless Houston's has repacked the items
Warranty Information
Houston's stocks well-known, standard brands which are backed by their respective manufacturers. Most manufacturers will not permit a wholesaler to make any adjustment, replace any part, accept a return, or exchange any defective or unsatisfactory merchandise without written permission from them. Customers must abide by the warranty instructions provided by the manufacturer. Houston's will assist and, if possible, help expedite the occasional difficulty.
Hazardous Materials
Houston's stocks certain items that are classified as hazardous material by the Department of Labor. Any customer who would like Material Safety Data sheets on any hazardous material that we carry can receive them by asking their sales representative.
Returns
- Return requests must be for merchandise purchased from Houston's.
- Authorization must be given by Houston's before any merchandise can be returned.
- Any credit for returned merchandise is on an approval basis after receipt and review by Houston's.
- All returned merchandise must be in the original factory carton.
- All authorized returns may be subject to a 15% restocking charge.
- Consumable merchandise may not be returned after 45 days of purchase.
- Credit will not be given on unauthorized returns.
- Credit will not be issued on used merchandise.
- Credit will not be issued for common carrier damage.
- Special order merchandise is not returnable.
- If they are brought to our attention immediately, we will gladly correct any errors on our part.
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