There was a negative aspect to the early years of River Oak's story, in that a "gentleman's agreement" excluded blacks, Jews, and other minorities from being able to buy into the community. Such an agreement was common during the era of River Oak's birth, and while a sad reminder of racism in Houston's past, it also had the effect of inspiring wealthy minorities to establish their own upscale communities. In the case of Houston's Jewish population, they notably developed Riverside Terrace, "The Jewish River Oaks," as a rival to the posh neighborhood that they weren't allowed to live in.
In 1927, the River Oaks Shopping Center was opened nearby, and was one of the first shopping centers in the United States that catered to a population discovering their love of the automobile. An example of Art Deco design that straddles both sides of West Gray Avenue, the River Oaks Shopping Center opened to great acclaim, and was featured in national publications, because it was considered a model for future retail centers in America.
One of the most obvious features of the shopping center is the River Oaks Theater, which to this day is a beautiful example of an Art Deco theater, and is also notable for being one of Houston's only theaters playing independent and art house movies. It is also Houston's oldest movie theater that is still used as it was originally intended. There is something very special about attending a movie showing there, as it is a real step back in time.
Extremely wealthy neighborhoods tend to retain their appeal over the passing of decades, and aren't usually as likely to experience a long term period of decline, and River Oaks is no exception in that regard. The neighborhood never saw a major flight of its residents to new suburbs, and wasn't blighted as a result in the same ways that The Heights and other inner loop neighborhoods once were. River Oaks was always an exclusive community, and probably the most often associated with wealth in Houston, so it has always retained its image as an expensive and luxurious neighborhood to live in. Fortunately, the early institutional prejudices that kept minorities out of River Oaks have disappeared, and anyone with enough money to buy into the community is welcome to do so. The neighborhood is or has been home to some of the most famous people in Houston, including Joel Osteen, Jeffrey Skilling (of the Enron scandal), Clyde Drexler, and Tilman Fertitta, and it's likely that it will continue to be a magnet for the rich and famous who live in Houston.
