Two Common Bond locations, Little Red Box Grocery, Kuji Kitchen, and multiple restaurants in Railway Heights Markets have closed

As Houston restaurants are in the groove of the new year, sadly, not all are keeping their doors open. The city has been hit with a wave of closures — from a neighborhood wine bar transitioning to something new to a well-received Japanese restaurant counting down the days to its last supper. Here are the Houston restaurant closures you need to know about right now.

Know of a permanent Houston restaurant closure that’s not on this list? Drop us a line at houston@eater.com.

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Common Bond’s Downtown and Energy Corridor locations

Facebook groups and Reddit threads were firing off with local diners wondering whether, and more importantly, why Common Bond might have closed two of its locations. A representative for Common Bond confirmed Wednesday, December 6, that the local coffee shop and bakery chain has closed both its Brasserie Downtown and its Energy Corridor locations. “Our lease has ended and we felt it was best to concentrate on the Bistro & Bakery and On-The-Go locations,” the representative said in an email. Its four four bistro locations in Montrose, the Heights, Spring, and the Medical Center, and its six outposts of Common Bond On-The-Go, however, remain open.

Little Red Box Grocery

Little Red Box Grocery closed following its last day on Sunday, December 3. The neighborhood grocery store, founded by owner Samuel Newman, sold groceries from both local and national brands in The Plant mixed-used development in Second Ward with the mission to address food insecurity and to offer fresh produce and goods in an area that was underserved.

Newman said in an Instagram post that despite his idea to “purpose-build a space designed for conversation + connection + creativity” starting with food, it didn’t work. But Alina McCarley, a general manager, said on Friday, December 1 that the work is not over. The Little Red Box Grocery team will “give some thought to all that did work,” Newman said, and rebuild what might be its third iteration of the grocery store, possibly with a new model, McCarley added. The store did not close without a showing from the community. Neighboring restaurants, including Street to Kitchen and pizza joint Neighbors, hosted specials in hopes of generating some last support for Little Red Box.

Kuji Kitchen

Kuji Kitchen, a Caribbean American restaurant run by chef Keisha Greggs and local farmers Jeremy Peaches and Ivy Walls, announced earlier this week that it would be permanently closing on December 17. The restaurant opened in February 2023 in Southeast Houston, near the Sunny Side neighborhood, a place where the chefs and farmers said originally lacked fresh produce. Griggs, a mastermind behind Kulture restaurant’s pop-up series Black Chef Table. The restaurant owners said in an Instagram post that closure was not due to lack of community support. “Our business partnership has come to an end. We very much still believe in our community and appreciate the love each of you has shared with our beloved Kuji Kitchen. We appreciate your support as we GROW our separate ways,” the post said.

Railway Heights Market vendors

At least four restaurants within the Houston food hall Railway Heights Market, including Mykuna, Meat & Cheese Project, the Funnel Cake House, and Meshiko closed on December 3 after being evicted by their landlord Beth Fahey of Easy Park through text message. The former tenants say that the food market had undergone several transitions over the past several months and had kicked out retail shops and other restaurants, while also promising that its downstairs bar, Junction, would help bring some change, or at least more traffic to the food hall. Sadly, chefs say many businesses suffered due to incompetent management and poor promotion of the food hall, and as a result of little traffic, were struggling to pay rent. Eventually, the landlord got fed up and evicted the remaining upstairs tenants, though the downstairs bar Junction Beer Garden remains. Fahey and Easy Park have not responded to Eater Houston’s request for comment.

September/October

Dumpling Haus

Dumpling Haus closed its brick-and-mortar shop in Sawyer Yards, 2313 Edwards Street, in September, after three years in business. Houston Chronicle reported that the mother-daughter trio, ran by Elaine Won and Ashley and Amiley Lai, would slow down and shift gears, instead offering their handmade dumplings via pop-ups and markets.

Kim Son – Stafford

Launched by Kim Su Tran La, also known as “Mama La,” and her family, this Vietnamese restaurant and dim sum dynasty will close its second location in Stafford at 12750 U.S. 59 S. on Sunday, September 24, after nearly 25 years in business. The owners announced the closure on social media, later telling the Houston Chronicle that it could not sustain the space because rent nearly doubled since its opening in 1999. Its Bellaire and Downtown area locations of Kim Son, however, will remain. “We have cherished every moment of serving you, creating memorable dining experiences, and being part of your celebrations and gatherings,” owners wrote in a Facebook post. In celebration of its legacy, dim sum will be served at the Stafford restaurant through closing, before shifting to the Bellaire location on October 4.

Pho Binh + Pho Binh By Night

The original trailer location of Pho Binh, an iconic Houston Vietnamese restaurant and noodle house, closed in late August after 40 years in business. The restaurant experienced a fire in July that caused damage, forcing it to close temporarily, but owners did list an explanation of why they decided to close permanently more recently. The Nguyen family opened the restaurant at 10928 Beamer Road in 1983, earning a reputation as one of the first and best pho restaurants in the city that served a Northern Vietnamese style pho, one made with a beefy broth.

Owners announced on Facebook on September 20 that they will also close the Pho Binh by Night location on October 1 due to hardships that the restaurant has faced, which has made “it increasingly difficult to continue our journey,” they wrote. Pho Binh by Night will then later reopen under new management, according to the post, while additional locations of Pho Binh, including outposts in Katy, the Heights, the Galleria area, Bellaire and Upper Kirby will remain.

“It is heart-wrenching to bid farewell to a place that has been our passion and purpose for so long,” owners wrote, thanking diners and staff for their support. “With all of the love and support we have found through these wonderful years, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has dined with us and made this restaurant a part of your lives. Your loyalty and support have sustained us through thick and thin, and we are eternally grateful for your patronage.”

Craft Creamery

The ice cream shop helmed by chef Steve Marques closed its Montrose location in September, but those craving its creative flavors like barbecue brisket and Bastani can still enjoy its scoops — just at a new location. Craft has merged with fellow local ice cream shop Sweet Bribery in the Heights. The new shop, Sweet Bribery in the Heights, now offers the best hits of both, including Sweet Bribery’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Tahitian vanilla, along with Craft’s scoops of miso caramel and CCC — a mixture of cinnamon, cardamom, and coffee. Adult sweet treats will also remain, with beer, wine, and boozy ice cream and milkshakes, plus champagne and beer float flights and ice cream wine dinners.

Gatsby’s Seafood

Following the quiet closing of its sister restaurant Gatsby’s Grill, Gatsby’s Seafood has also closed and has since been quickly replaced by Ocean 12. Billed both as a steakhouse and seafood restaurant, the new establishment, now owned by New Beginnings Hospitality, still has some aspects of the former restaurant, including decor, its chef Erick Anaya and general manager Patrick Smith, and various menu items. Newer offerings, however, include an emphasis on “vibe-dining,” with plans for live music and DJs, high-spirited weekend brunches, dinner parties, and hookah on select days of the week.

Gatsby’s Seafood’s former owner Gatbsy Hospitality has not responded to Eater Houston’s request for comment on the closing.

August

Indianola + Miss Carousel

Agricole Hospitality, the restaurant group behind popular Houston establishments like Coltivare, Eight Row Flint, and EZ’s Liquor Lounge, announced in a release that it closed both its East Downtown restaurants Indianola and Miss Carousel at 1201 St. Emanuel Street after five years to make way for new establishments.

Owners Morgan Weber, Ryan Pera, and Vincent Hunh released a joint statement, noting that they determined that the restaurants weren’t a right fit for the bustling neighborhood, which is known for its entertainment, nightlife, and sports fans. “We missed the mark on the concepts guests in EaDo want and need,” they wrote. “We’re committed to this neighborhood and are eager to create two new spaces – a fresh, more casual restaurant and an everyday bar and gathering space – that speak more directly to the specific desires of our guests.”

Both restaurants closed for renovations on Monday, July 31 to make way for a Tex-Mex restaurant and cantina in place of Indianola and a “laid-back” bar, in place of Miss Carousel, that’s prime for watching sports. Opening dates for each location will be announced later this year, according to the release.

Gatsby’s Grill

Drive by this once lively hangout and you’ll find that it appears to be very closed. Considered the casual alternative to its sister restaurants Gatsby’s Steakhouse and Gatsby’s Seafood, Gatsby’s Grill first opened in January at 2929 Navigation Boulevard, serving a menu of American comfort food, including chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, chicken tortilla soup, and a prime burger, but in recent weeks, the restaurant has gone radio silent, leaving many diners to wonder what happened. Eater Houston reached out for comment via email but has not received an immediate response. The restaurant’s phone number and website are also both out of service.

Andy’s Cafe

This beloved Tex-Mexican restaurant announced its last day on Sunday, July 30 after nearly 50 years in business. Andy’s, which is located in the Heights area, specifically in the historic Norhill neighborhood, called it quits after months of clashing with its neighbor Houston-based real estate developer Wolf Capital Partners, which blocked access to parking spaces for its patrons and employees, making deliveries and other tasks difficult for the restaurant, according to a Chron.com report. Eventually, the tension prompted Andy’s owner Thomas Morales to put Andy’s location up for sale. An Instagram post, however, hinted that this likely isn’t the last Houston will see of Andy’s, with owners saying “see you soon Houston” and encouraging diners to keep following them for updates.

Black Page Brewing

The brewery, which is named after a song by composer Frank Zappa, officially closed its doors on Sunday, July 30 after 10 months in service. Though owners gave little indication of why it closed in its Facebook post, a Culturemap reported that the owner stated that they originally had less competition and lower costs when they originally planned their opening. “It is our sincere hope that this brewery will live on and that someone is willing to continue what we set out to do by embracing the history of beer while peering anxiously beyond the horizon,” the owners wrote in a Facebook post.

City Cellars HTX

The restaurant and cocktail bar closed its doors on Monday, July 31, with plans to open a new, larger location in early 2024, according to a release. Founder Daniel Wolfe said in its written statement that the restaurant’s growing popularity inspired the move to make way for a more comfortable experience for its loyal customers and new ones to come. The dining room, kitchen, and bar area, which only sat seven people, also felt too constrained. With sights on a larger venue, owners foresee more opportunities for private and community events, plus an expansion of their culinary offerings.

Catbirds

The Montrose bar closed on Monday, July 31, after 28 years in business, but only temporarily. Culturemap reports that Bobby Huegel, the owner of the iconic bar Anvil located just blocks away, has purchased the bar and will reopen it later this year. Current owners state on Instagram that the bar could keep the same name to maintain “its legacy as a neighborhood bar.” The bar, which opened in 1995, has experienced different management over the years, including its previous owners, Shelly and Emily Wilburn, the mother and daughter who took over in 2018. The Wilburns told Culturemap that the decision to close had been one that it had considered for a while, following some challenging times, including the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during which it was forced to close for 11 months.

July

GJ Tavern

Underbelly Hospitality, the restaurant group most notably associated with James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, closed GJ Tavern, its Downtown bar and restaurant on June 29. A representative for Underbelly announced the closure in a release on July 6.

Nina Quincy, the president of Underbelly, said in a statement that the decision to close GJ Tavern was “incredibly difficult” but that owners found that operating the restaurant was “financially unsustainable.” “We loved building the GJ Tavern brand and are hopeful that it will someday have a place within Underbelly Hospitality,” Quincy said.

Originally named Georgia James Tavern, the 40-seat Downtown restaurant and bar, which was located on the ground level of the Market Square Tower, opened in July 2021 as a more casual offshoot of Georgia James, the steakhouse which was similarly named after Shepherd’s mother. The hospitality group later enforced a name change to GJ Tavern in May 2022, just before the announcement of Shepherd’s departure from Underbelly in July 2022.

Supreme Gumbo HTX

The restaurant known for its viral gumbo tacos and quesadillas closed its Heights location at 1040 W. Calvadcade Street in June, according to a Facebook post. “Unfortunately this location has had its own struggles and challenges. We definitely enjoyed our time there and did the best we could with that location. But we feel that it didn’t align with our brand,” the owners wrote. “So pls stay tuned as we are looking for another HOME that’ll suit us best for our customer base and our brand.”

The restaurant, which officially opened as a food trailer during the pandemic and later, within a Third Ward gas station, is now back on the move as a food truck, hosting pop-ups throughout the area, including Third Ward, Humble, and Galveston, and taking their gumbo as far as Little Rock, Arkansas. Interested diners can learn about their next move on Facebook.

CounterCommon Beerworks & Kitchen

What was billed as Bellaire’s first brewpub closed on Friday, June 30, after nearly a year in business. The brewpub’s team made the announcement in an email and Instagram post on Friday, June 23, stating that it was a “painful decision.” “It became clear that we had financially reached the point where we could not continue any further,” they wrote. “We are proud of what we accomplished as Bellaire’s first brewpub and hope to have paved the way for other innovative restaurants to come.”

Houston homebrewers Jaime Robles and Dennis Rhee opened the brewpub last summer in the Bellaire Triangle Shopping Center, where it joined other restaurants like Blood Bros. BBQ and Dandelion Cafe. The duo prided themselves on bringing something different to the Southwest Houston area with CounterCommon’s array of low-alcohol German-style beers and a food menu that fused together Korean and Mexico cuisine, with dishes like the K-So, CounterCommon’s rendition of queso that combines cheese and a sweet and spicy gochujang glaze with chorizo and roasted jalapenos.

Roberta’s

Culturemap Houston reported that the outpost of Roberta’s in Post Market food hall quietly closed in early July. The publication reported that all signage for the Brooklyn-based pizzeria has been removed from the Post and that the stall was closed during its normal business hours. Eater Houston has reached out to Roberta’s and Post Market for comment. The restaurant first opened in March 2022, bringing select items from its original menu, like its sweet and spicy Bee Sting pizza, which is topped with tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, and honey, and the “White Guy,” a cheesy and garlic-loaded white pie drizzled with olive oil and sea salt.

Frank’s Americana Revival

The River Oaks restaurant, known for its chicken-fried steak and buttermilk fried chicken, closed its original location on Westheimer on June 30 after 10 years in business, but it will make its return soon enough. Owners say they are opening a “bigger and better” location just minutes away in Alexan River Oaks, a residential complex located at 3015 Weslayan Street.

The new Frank’s Americana will boast a larger dining room with a private dining area, expanded bar service and late-night dining, an outdoor patio, valet parking, and eventually, an on-site cafe. The decision to relocate follows what Frank’s website described as an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate an extension for its current lease.

Kolache Shoppe – Kingwood

The kolache stalwart, which has locations in the Heights and the Greenway area, closed its Kingwood location on July 2. “To be successful and thrive, many factors must come together, and unfortunately, some of these factors did not align at this location,” franchisee Randy Hines said in a statement. Hines and his team, however, are working to open a Pearland location this summer.

June

Lagniappe Kitchen & Bar

The Heights restaurant that took inspiration from owner Layne Cruz’s New Orleans roots has officially closed after nearly a year in business. The restaurant’s Instagram publicly announced the closure on Thursday, June 6. “Thank you to everyone that has stopped in to spend time with family, network with their community, come to classes, or just stop by for a cup of coffee-we appreciate the opportunity to host you,” the post stated. The restaurant opened in August 2022, replacing Revival Market after its closing in July, and offered Louisiana-styled cuisine, including po’ boys, crab and pimento-cheese loaded hush puppies, red beans and rice, and a New Orleans iced mocha, an ode to one of Cruz’s most nostalgic drinks — a combination of iced coffee, milk, chocolate, and a dash of chicory. Eater Houston has reached out for comment.

Shun Japanese Kitchen

Diners can eat at Shun through the weekend for one last time. Chef and founder Naoki Yoshida announced in a release on June 6 that he will close Shun Japanese Kitchen on Shepherd Drive on June 10 after five years in business. In its time, the restaurant developed more than 200 recipes that introduced new flavors, hosted rice competitions, and curated events, including Tokyo Night Festival.

Shun Japanese Kitchen

Yoshida plans to open Houston’s first Japanese-owned omakase restaurant this fall, one which will combine modern and traditional flavors and techniques, according to a release. Until then, Yoshida will focus on his Tokyo Night Festival and his newest endeavor — Tokyo X, a two-day Japanese expo and cultural showcase slated for NRG Park on June 17 and 18. With more than 200 vendors, the event is scheduled to offer a wide range of entertainment, including 30 dining options, more than 85 car displays, a prize-winning cosplay contest, an arcade tournament, martial arts and sumo demonstrations, music performances, exhibits, and a Pokémon trading card tournament.

Fat Cat Creamery – The Heights

The beloved ice cream shop, known for its scoops of rich Mexican Vanilla and Amaya Coffee & Cream, closed its Heights location on May 29 after 10 years. Fat Cat opened its Garden Oaks location in November 2020 and has plans to open its location in Hobby Airport this summer amid the transportation hub’s renovations.

Present Company

Known for its quirky drinks and eclectic ambiance and decor, the Montrose bar as Houstonians knew it is now temporarily closed. A representative for Shawn Bermudez — the owner of the Burger Joint and the recently-opened bar, Roswell’s Saloon — said he sold the bar to Gatsby’s Hospitality Group in November 2022. The Gatsby’s restaurant group also owns Gatsby’s Prime Seafood and Gatsby’s steakhouse.

The bar’s change in ownership is already clear. Drive by and you’ll see construction on its site. Present Company’s Instagram page once noted that it’s “loading” and “coming soon,” but the Instagram page has now been deleted. A source says that a new company is revamping the bar entirely and will reveal the concept in due time.

Blake’s BBQ & Burgers

After 42 years in business, one of the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurants in the Houston area closed its doors on May 20. The restaurant announced on its Instagram. Houston Chronicle reported that the owner, Don Blake, who was known for crafting juicy burgers, was retiring with the intent to do other things.

May

The Swinging Door

This Richmond barbecue joint, known for its pecan-smoked ribs and brisket, will serve its last barbecue plate on Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 14. The restaurant owner, Steve Onstad, announced via Facebook on April 29 that he’s decided to “move on to another chapter in life” and shut the Swinging Door down (The announcement follows another post on April 15 that says the restaurant was hiring). “It has been a honor to be a part of the last 50 years of memories. We have been blessed to have been of service to this area,” Onstad wrote. The beloved Fort Bend County restaurant was known among Houstonians of all walks of life, including Houston Oilers NFL players like Dan Pastorini and Giff Nielsen, who became friends of Onstad over the years, according to the Swinging Door website. “I would close off the back of the restaurant so they could sit back there and drink beer,” he said (Pastorini even once brought in the late actress Farrah Faucet as his date).

The restaurant’s final day and Mother’s Day celebration will offer a barbecue buffet complete with tea, soda, and dessert for $26 per plate for adults, with optional beer and wine for purchase, and $13 for children 12 and under. The Swinging Door will follow up its final days with an auction on June 17 and 18.

New York Eatery

Bellaire’s New York Eatery will also close on Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 14 — after nearly two years in business, according to a release. The restaurant’s owners Micahel Saghia and Riana Sherman, who also own New York Deli & Coffee, announced the news in a release on Monday, May 8, stating that they are planning to shift their focus to their more profitable businesses, which include Bagel Shop Bakery and Houston Catering Concepts. The Eatery space will remain open for private events — including bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, and wedding receptions — for now, and some of its menu items will live on next door at its sister shop, the Bagel Shop Bakery. Owners also say they have offered positions at its other establishments to Eatery employees.

Izakaya

Midtown sushi restaurant Izakaya has temporarily closed down after eight years, as its owners Yun Cheng and Sammy Saket seek to relocate to somewhere inside Houston’s Inner Loop, according to a release. In the meantime, the space will be transformed to make way for a new restaurant, Josephine’s, which will serve up Southern cuisine and Gulf Coast favorites, like hushpuppies and country ham and okra, while also hosting an oyster bar and crawfish boils, plus boiled seafood sold by the pound.

Ouzo Bay

Ouzo Bay, the River Oaks District Mediterranean restaurant headed by Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group, closed on April 30, but its owners are already plotting on a new establishment in its place. Ouzo’s local sister restaurants, Loch Bar and Marmo, however, are still open. The Atlas group’s founder and president said in a statement that Ouzo “had a great run,” but the group is seeking to bring something fresh to the River Oaks area this winter. More details regarding the new business to come this summer, he says.

Concura Italia

This Westheimer Oaks restaurant Concura closed in May after serving up coastal Italian cuisine for nearly two years. Culturemap reported that the owners, married couple Jessica Biondi and Alessio Ricci, said in a now-deleted social media post that they have decided to return home to Italy. The restaurant’s closing has similarly made room for a new establishment. Houston restauranteur and Heights & Co. owner Brian Doke will open Dante’s River Oaks on May 16. The Italian restaurant is set to serve up Italian cuisine, including a classic spread of antipasti, pasta dishes like pappardelle bolognese and rigatoni cacio e pepe, and hearty entrees, like duck breast and tender rib-eyes.

April

Kraftsmen Baking & Cafe

After 13 years of operating on West 22nd St. in the Heights, Kraftsmen Baking & Cafe ceased its full-service menu in March and will close its doors at the end of May when its lease expires. The popular breakfast and lunch destination was a comforting go-to in the neighborhood, known for its artisan bread, popular breakfast and brunch dishes, pastries, and coffee program. At the moment, the cafe has updated its hours, operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday with a limited menu, and will continue to cater to wholesale clients, including several Houston restaurants. Fans of the concept need not fret — the restaurant is planning to reemerge in East Downtown in the near future.

How to Survive on Land & Sea

The eclectic East End wine bar and shop announced via its Instagram page, it has rebranded to Land & Sea, a cocktail bar with a menu of snacks with South and Southeast Asian flair that officially made its debut in the same space on Friday, April 7. According to the post, interesting wines will still be on offer, but it appears that the focus has shifted to interesting libations with boozy offerings like the banana daiquiri and the Tide Pod, drinks spotlighted in subsequent posts.

Louie’s

After rebranding from Cafe Louie, an all-day cafe known for its impressive pastries, to the Italian-focused restaurant, Louie’s, in December, this East End spot operated by sibling chef team Angelo and Lucianna Emiliani is undergoing its third transformation in under a year. The duo ceased operations at Louie’s on Monday, April 10 to transform the restaurant, yet again, into a pizzeria called Angie’s Pizza. With Angelo being a veteran of the famed Pizzeria Bianco in Los Angeles, the transition seems like a natural one. Angie’s Pizza will open after the current space gets a makeover.

Louie’s

Shun

After nearly five years in business, Shun announced via a post on Instagram that it will serve its final meal on Saturday, June 10. The Japanese restaurant made a splash when it opened in 2018, with chef Naoki Yoshida at its helm. The second-generation Japanese-American chef honed his chops in restaurants around the globe and at his family’s long-standing Montrose sushi restaurant, Nippon, before embarking on his own venture. Since its inception, the restaurant was praised for its inventive dishes, like dumplings stuffed with carnitas, a DIY sushi platter that allowed guests to customize their hand rolls, and Japanese shaved ice topped with sake syrup. With its official closing date two months away, Houstonians still have time to venture in and bid Shun a proper farewell.

March

Chivos

This once lively Heights hot spot quietly shuttered after the new year, discreetly wiping all Instagram posts, and replacing its page bio with a simple message: RIP. Since opening in 2021, replacing the pre-existing Calle Onze, the restaurant was among the city’s most exciting newcomers — even being named one of the best Mexican restaurants in the country, according to Thrillist. Founder of Belly of the Beast, chef Thomas Bille was at the helm until he parted ways with the restaurant last fall, and it appears its fate was sealed soon after. What is planned for the prime real estate that neighbors Eight Row Flint at the corner of Yale and E. 11th St. in the Heights, remains to be seen.

1751 Sea & Bar

This week, Sambrooks Management announced it would not renew its lease for 1751 Sea & Bar, the popular Heights seafood restaurant, which opened in 2019. The growing hospitality group is choosing to focus instead on its two upcoming concepts: the launch of Andiron, a wood-burning steakhouse, coming this spring; and a new Memorial outpost of the Pit Room coming this summer. Houstonians have until Friday, March 4 to pay 1751 for one final visit.

Hubcap Grill Heights

The beloved Houston burger chain has closed its Heights location. While Hubcap Grill boasts multiple other locations, including in Pearland, Galveston, and an outpost inside Terminal A at IAH, this is the second hit for Hubcap in the last few years, after closing its downtown kiosk in 2019.

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

Not technically a closure, news of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken canceling plans for its first Houston location is equally disappointing. The famed Nashville-based restaurant was slated to open an outpost in the Heights but has pulled out for the foreseeable future. Until further notice, Houstonians will have to resort to driving to Dallas or wait for an outpost to open in Austin later this year, for a taste of the iconic hot chicken.

Griff’s Irish Pub

After suffering a devastating fire last month, Griff’s remains closed indefinitely. The fire, which occurred in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, January 13, was put out by firefighters, but sadly the bar was severely damaged in the process. According to a Facebook post made the same day, the bar announced “it would be closed until further notice” to rebuild, and a Go Fund Me was set up to assist Griff’s employees. In the month that followed, bars like West Alabama Ice House, have been hosting trivia nights to raise money for the Employee Relief Fund. Follow Griff’s Facebook page to learn how to donate and for updates on the bar’s return.

January

Casa Nomad

A little over a year after its debut in the buzzy M-K-T Heights development, the Tulum-inspired patio restaurant announced on its social media pages that it was “closing for the winter season,” but has plans to reopen in the spring as a “new and improved concept.” Whether this implies a different iteration of Casa Nomad will return, or something new entirely, the future of the once-lively restaurant remains to be seen. Stay tuned for updates.

Cherry Block Smokehouse

The highly anticipated restaurant helmed by Felix Flores shuttered less than four months after opening in the new Stomping Yards mixed-used complex in Garden Oaks. Despite an active social media presence and announcements of a new menu and updated holiday hours, Cherry Block served its last meal on New Year’s Eve. A post made to the restaurant’s social media pages (now deleted) on December 31 revealed “an unfortunate accumulation of insurmountable losses and delays” led to the closure.

Click Virtual Food Hall

This Heights company, under the direction of chef Gabriel Medina, served as a ghost kitchen that offered free delivery of a variety of cuisines, including Japanese and Filipino eats, since 2019. It thrived in 2020 when delivery and takeout eats were in high demand, but as the restaurant’s lease ended at the end of 2022, Click announced it would officially close its doors.

Diced Poke

For nearly five years, Diced Poke served up loaded poke bowls, pokerritos, spam musubi, and more at its Midtown location, but eventually called it quits at the end of the year. The restaurant served its last bowl on December 30.

Maize

Led by Fabian Saldana, a chef who honed his chops at Hugo Ortega’s Xochi, Maize was introduced to Houstonians in October 2021 with lots of buzz surrounding its opening. As the name hinted, the menu put a spotlight on corn masa, which was ground in-house to be incorporated into the restaurant’s various Mexican dishes. In the first few days of the new year, the restaurant announced it ceased operations. Saldana offered the following statement: “I grew up watching my grandmother and mother cook in their kitchens in Mexico and that laid the foundation for where I am today,” he says. “Maize’s closure has been tough for me and my team, but we all see this as an opportunity to continue growing in our craft.” According to a press release, the chef does have plans for another venture.

Sticky’s Chicken

Sticky’s Chicken had a three-year run before announcing it would close its store at Sawyer Yards on December 21. The wildly popular concept from brother-sister team Benson and Patsy Vivares began as a food truck where guests could get their hands on — you guessed it — sticky chicken by way of rice and chicken combos, wings, and more. It opened a permanent location at the end of 2019 and reeled in celebrity guests like Bun B, DeAndre Hopkins, and PJ Tucker throughout its run.