Punch Bowl Social, a concept that originated in Denver seven years ago, touts its unfussy, laidback vibe as a “dirty modern mash up of chandeliers, food for foodies, PBR tallboys, and craft beverages” with bowling, games and karaoke, to boot. All this is coming to Houston in 2020, according to Punch Bowl’s website.
A flyer for Lovett Commercial shows 20,000 square feet on two floors for the food and beverage concept. Punch Bowl will join Sola Salon and Ford Fry’s new restaurant, The Optimist, in the development.
Restaurant Business Online reported this summer that Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel had invested up to $140 million in Punch Bowl. The publication said the deal would give Cracker Barrel a non-controlling stake in Punch Bowl but would give the company an option to buy the chain outright.
Although a Punch Bowl location closed recently in Fort Worth, there are a number of new ones scheduled to open, including in Florida, Arizona and Washington, D.C.
New Orleans’ Hemline coming to Market at Houston Heights
The specialty retailer Hemline will have a 1,000 square foot street front space, located adjacent to Flower Child restaurant at 1533 N. Shepherd Dr. A news release description of Hemline noted its mix of Bohemian-infused contemporary women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
Founded in 1993 with a store that is still open on Chartres Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the brand has 28 locations across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. There already are locations at River Oaks Shopping Center, CITYCENTRE, Rice Village and Market Street in The Woodlands.
Slated for a December unveiling, Market at Houston Heights is a 30,000 square foot, mixed-use lifestyle destination designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. In addition to Hemline and Flower Child, half a city block between W. 15th and W. 16th streets will feature tenants including CycleBar, Salon Lofts, M+L Dental, Vanguard Spine & Sport and Kin Dee, a new Thai restaurant concept.
Ulta, Total Wine first to open in Lower Heights District
Total Wine and Ulta Beauty finalized leases in May for the mixed-use development in the Heights, named the Lower Heights District on a 24-acre spot near I-10 and Studemont Street. Now, according to store signage, they will open this month.
Total Wine & More is the country‘s largest independent retailer of fine wine, operating 204 superstores across 24 states. Ulta Beauty Inc., formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc., is an American chain of beauty stores, headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Carmalita’s Cuisine will not reopen
Owners Carmalita and John Batiste announced on their restaurant’s Facebook page that Carmalita’s Cuisine, located at 1141 E. 11th St., would not be reopening after a truck smashed through its wall six months ago. The Batistes opened their restaurant in January.
“Thank you to everybody who supported us,” Carmalita Batiste said.
Batiste introduced Brodrick Renfro, a baker at Carmalita’s who stated that he was opening Pasteles Bakery — an online bakery with both pick-up and delivery options. Renfro said the cakes and pastries from Pasteles would be the same ones offered at Carmalita’s. The pick-up location is A 2nd Cup, located at 1111 E. 11th St. The bakery’s website is www.pastelesbakery.com.
As for the Carmalita’s location, Batiste said that the building is still under construction.
“The dream continues, it is just going to be something different,” she said.
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