3 Houston Restaurant Closures to Know Right Now, October 2024

Summer was tough on Houston area restaurants. Aside from the city’s hottest season typically being slower than the rest of the year, many food and drink establishments are still reeling from the effects of the derecho and Hurricane Beryl, which left more than 2 million residents without power. Recent closures include three Agricole Hospitality restaurants due to a new transportation project, a Ben Berg restaurant, and a sushi favorite. Here are several closures in the Houston area to know about.

The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to [email protected]

Nippon

Houston’s oldest Japanese restaurant and sushi bar will close on November 17. The Instagram page for the now-closed restaurant Shun Japanese Kitchen shared the news on Monday, October 21, stating that the Yoshida family, which owns Nippon, “expresses gratitude for the enduring support and affection from the community.” “It’s undeniable that without your support, there would be no stories, cherished memories, and enduring friendships,” they wrote.

The Houston Chronicle reported that married couple Naomitsu and Emi Yoshida, who opened the trailblazing restaurant in Montrose in 1986, plan to retire following the closing. The restaurant was known for its menu of sushi and bento boxes, as well as its noodle soups.

Se7en

This Latin and Mediterranean restaurant in the Upper Kirby area closed abruptly earlier this month, leaving several employees without pay, according to a KPRC report. Multiple employees, including bartenders, servers, and hosts told the TV news channel that they were only given a day’s notice before the restaurant’s closing. Some haven’t been paid in weeks, while others say their checks have bounced, according to the report. Owner Tarik Hassan told KPRC that the restaurant was closing because it had been slow and blamed Se7en’s employees for losing $1 million.

PS-21

This Upper Kirby French restaurant closed on September 23, according to its chef-partner Philippe Schmit. “It was a difficult decision, but it was time to move on,” Schmit said in a text message to Eater Houston. “I want to thank all the customers who supported us, and especially thank my staff for their loyalty and efforts up to the very end.”

As of Wednesday, October 9, the restaurant boarded up with a notice, dated September 26, 2024, tacked onto it demanding the tenants vacate for “non-payment of rent.” Landlord P. Kamal stated that “the rights of occupancy and possession are hereby terminated” and that the tenants must vacate the premises by Thursday, October 10.

Schmit, also known as “the French Cowboy,” and Houston hospitality veteran Sebastien Laval opened PS-21 in March 2023, which seemed to be a part of a trend of French restaurant openings in Houston. Cocody in River Oaks, Annabelle Brasserie in Autry Park, and the now-shuttered Eau Tour in Rice Village opened last year as well.

According to Schmit’s social media posts, PS-21 was open and held events through September leading up to the closing. In early September, Schmitt posted that the restaurant hosted the vice president of the French National Assembly and Houston’s French Consulate General Valerie Baraban. Another post shows the restaurant held a private dinner in mid-September.

Marcy de Luna

September

Benny Chows

Ben Berg’s New York-style Chinese American restaurant on Washington Avenue closes after service on Monday, September 30, according to a report by Culturemap. A representative said in a statement that it would reimagine the restaurant’s space and “explore new creative possibilities” but included little about the reason for its closing. “We look forward to welcoming diners back in the future with fresh experiences and flavors,” the representative said. In the weeks leading up to the announcement, diners speculated about the closing on social media, with some stating that they tried making reservations in advance but were told by restaurant staff that they couldn’t because the restaurant would soon be closing.

Benny Chows, which served Cantonese American dishes like Beijing duck, cold sesame noodles, and brisket egg rolls, opened with some criticism. Some Houston diners took issue with the Chinese American restaurant’s faux-Asian name and found the concept of “elevated” Chinese food problematic in a metropolitan region known for its rich and diverse Asian diasporic cuisines.

Berg has been on a marathon of restaurant openings this year, including edgy steakhouse Prime 131 in April, Buttermilk Baby in September, and luxe steakhouse Turner’s Cut and all-day cafe Sylvie in June. He also plans to open a New England-style seafood restaurant, Dune Road, in the next few months.

HiWay Cantina, Lightnin’s Good Times, and Vinny’s

A triple whammy. All three of Agricole Hospitality’s restaurants in East Downtown closed on Saturday, September 28. Agricole partners and owners, including culinary director Vincent Huynh, chef Ryan Pera, and beverage director Morgan Weber, announced on social media that they decided to close the restaurant after learning about the expansion of US Interstate 45, which will require eminent domain acquisitions. “We are incredibly proud of our talented and dedicated team, whose hard work and passion brought good times and great food to all of our guests,” they noted. The team is now working to connect staff with resources and assistance following the closures.

Vinny’s Pizza opened in 2018 and has been Agricole’s longest-enduring restaurant in that area. Agricole’s cocktail bar, Miss Carousel, and restaurant Indianola, which also opened in 2018, both closed last year to become live music bar Lightnin’s Good Times and Tex-Mex restaurant HiWay Cantina, respectively.

The hospitality group still operates Italian restaurant Coltivare and bar EZ’s Liquor Lounge in the Heights, as well as Eight Row Flint’s locations in the Heights and East End.

King’s Bierhaus and Egghaus

Heights German fusion restaurant and beer hall King’s Bierhaus and its sister restaurant Egghaus closed in September after seven years in service. Owners hinted in July at difficulties following weather disasters and power outages in the Houston area, noting that it was “making it impossible” for them to operate sustainably. After experiencing over a week without power, beerhouse owners said in a social media post that they had modified their restaurant to be more of a traditional beer house with counter service. Ultimately, King’s closed, as did its next-door restaurant, Egghaus, which served kolaches and egg sandwiches. A person who identified himself as one of the partners says the closures of the Heights establishments are permanent. However, he says the owners of King’s and Egghaus are working on an agreement with their landlord. He would not disclose any further details.