Armadillo to Give Away Chevy Silverado October 9.

Truck Giveaway Highlights Grand Opening

HOUSTON -- The Armadillo Indoor Flea Market Mall is giving away a brand new 2007 Chevy Silverado truck to one lucky person on Monday, October 9, the last day of its grand-opening festivities.

Everyone age 18 and over is invited to register for a chance to win the true key to the 2007 Chevy Silverado purchased from Munday Chevrolet. On Monday, October 9, at 3 p.m. the Armadillo will start drawing names for the final 20 winners of keys. The key winners will then draw from a fishbowl containing 120 keys, one of which is a match for the Silverado. Around 5 p.m., they will start trying their keys one at a time until someone starts the truck.

"The Silverado pickup is the biggest draw," Armadillo owner Larry Gottula said. But it isn't the only one. "We'll have live remotes and live bands (The Spiffingtons on October 7 from noon to 2 p.m. and McClanahans on October 8 from noon to 2 p.m.), both are good bands," Gottula added. "Every weekend we have some type of entertainment."

The climate-controlled Armadillo features a growing smorgasbord of merchants including two new large furniture stores, as well as new shoe and clothing stores. This weekend, visitors will be treated to free candy and free balloons in an atmosphere conducive to family fun.

The Armadillo is drawing weekly crowds of 15,000-20,000, and Gottula has a good idea why. "It's because of the ability to shop hundreds of different merchants under one roof; that sets it apart, and definitely the air-conditioning is important here," he said.

Star Diamonds manager Joanna Redmond knows another reason behind the mall's successful start.

"It's a really good location," she said. "Before the Armadillo was here, my dad and I had passed by the old Garden Ridge, and he said, 'You know what, this would be a really good place for a market.' " So Star Diamonds, which specializes in custom jewelry and started as a small family business over 20 years ago, now thrives in what Redmond calls a "dream market."

New vendors are sharing Redmond's sentiments every day, for various reasons: The Armadillo is clearly visible from I-45 North and its convenient location is in the midst of an area known for dynamic growth and affluent neighborhoods. It has room for approximately 500 merchants in a 240,000 square-foot building. It offers stylish kiosks and a wide range of spaces from as small as 100 square feet up to 10,000 square feet or more. There's also wireless Internet, free admission and free parking in a 1,200-space lot.

The mix of retailers and merchants includes everything from clothing to home decor to mobile phones to gelato ice cream. "We're calling it 'Texas-style shopping, food and fun,' " Gottula noted. "Because it's big and it's grand, just like Texas. We believe Houstonians are going to love shopping at the Armadillo."

The Armadillo, located off I-45 North (Exit 63) at 431 E. Airtex Drive, is open four days a week Co Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday Co from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Beginning October 28, the Armadillo will be open until 8 p.m. Friday through Monday for the holidays.