Texas ranks third in the nation for women-owned businesses, boasting nearly 1 million total—a number that has grown 146% in the past 20 years, according to state Comptroller Glenn Hegar's office.

Here are 15 women-owned businesses to check out in the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University areas. This list is noncomprehensive. To have a business considered for addition to the list, please email [email protected].

1. Premium Goods HTX is a Black woman-owned sneaker shop, one of few in the industry, according to owner Jennifer Ford, in a commercial for her sneaker collaboration with Nike.2. Beauty Shop Bellaire offers eco-friendly and conscious-driven beauty products. Owner Ashley Nadon brings fresh beauty brands and ideas to Bellaire, curating eco-friendly and ingredient-driven beauty brands that make conscious decisions about what products to use.

5202 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire. 281-624-8045. www.beautyshopbellaire.com

3. Isidora Flowers welcomes visitors to a flower shop with good vibes. For owner Thalia Jaguande, an MBA grad from the University of Houston, treating every day as a gift is a message she hopes everyone in her store feels—customers and staff alike. Jaguande incorporates her background in art and design into every flower arrangement available at her Rice Village flower shop.


2509 Rice Blvd., Houston. 713-393-7108. www.isidoraflowers.com

4. McHugh Tea Room & Gifts provides a place to meet neighbors and explore teas from around the world. The story behind the shop did not start when owner Kim McHugh—a certified tea specialist—opened the first brick-and-mortar tea room in Bellaire specializing in organic teas from around the world. The family-owned business began in 2010 as an online tea store.

5305 Bissonnet St., Ste. D, Bellaire. 713-218-6300. www.mchughtea.com

5. Dandelion Cafe offers fresh, local food dishes in a vibrant environment. Owner Sarah Lieberman followed her dreams and opened Dandelion Cafe in 2016. She grew up working at her family restaurant in Delaware and left her hometown in 2001 to pursue bigger goals.


5405 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire. 832-988-9210. www.dandelionhouston.com

6. Kriti Kitchen's owner showcases her Greek heritage and international culinary experience. Mary Cuclis began her culinary career at a three-Michelin-star Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong. After returning to Houston years later, she was one of the opening team members at Pondicheri, where she explored her culinary skills. Cuclis draws from her Greek heritage and knowledge with every dish at Kriti Kitchen.

4010 Bissonnet St., Houston. www.kritikitchen.com

7. Yoga Tres Houston brings purpose, goals and values to a diverse yoga community. The owners and instructors at the studio share their love of yoga and fitness with their community to create a space where students feel safe and comfortable.


5427 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire. 832-804-6354. www.yogatres.com

8. The Rice Village location of Three Dog Bakery is run by co-owners Carin Giga and Sara Saber. The shop specializes in creatively designed cookies, cakes and other treats for dog owners to give to their pets, made with all-natural, dog-friendly ingredients.

2402 Rice Blvd., Houston. 713-533-9933. www.threedog.com

9. Most of the toys and books on the shelves of Tomfoolery Toys & Books in Meyerland are hand-picked by owner Carol Staley. Toys at the shop are arranged by age range and span from puzzles to craft kits to robotics and construction toys.


4854 Beechnut St., Houston. 832-879-2461. www.tomfoolerytoys.com

10. Murder By The Book is run by McKenna Jordan, who began working at the bookstore part-time in 2003 before ascending the ranks to manager and eventually buying the shop. Today, she runs it with her mother Brenda Jordan and a team of bibliophiles. The store specializes in fiction and nonfiction stories associated with murder, espionage, mystery and fantasy genres.

2342 Bissonnet St., Houston. 713-524-8597. www.murderbooks.com

11. The family-owned Village Shoe Shop in Rice Village dates back to 1947, when it was founded by Ariel Almogabar. Today, it remains in the family under Ariel's daughter-in-law Edie Almogabar. The shop offers shoe and boot repair, orthotics and prosthetics services, as well as luggage and custom shoes.

2507 Rice Blvd., Houston. 713-528-8424. www.villageshoeshop.com

12. Lemongrass Cafe is owned by Thailand native Srifah Vorarittinapa, known to her customers as "Chef Fah." Vorarittinapa launched the Bellaire eatery in 2004 with the goal of creating a family restaurant that also allows her to share her cooking style with Houston.

5107 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 120, Bellaire. 713-664-6698. www.lemongrass-cafe.com

13. Momma's Tamales was founded by Ana Soria in 2015 in honor of her mother Leonor Arenas, who always wanted to open her own tamale shop but never got the chance. Today, the shop offers a variety of tamale options, all made fresh by hand. In addition to their Bellaire shop, the business' tamales are also sold at farmers markets around Houston.

5214 Cedar St., Bellaire. 832-752-8146. www.eattamales.com

14. Women's clothing store Abejas Boutique is run by owner Christina Mitchell and is named after the Spanish word for bee. The shop offers a wide selection of clothing, shoes, accessories, hats and jewelry personally chosen by Mitchell.

2517 South Blvd., Houston. 713-522-3025. www.abejasboutique.com

15. Specializing in Cuban food, the Bellaire eatery Cafe Piquet is run by the mother-daughter duo of Nelly Piquet and Cristina Benitez. The restaurant focuses on serving traditional Cuban cuisine with a few added twists and flavorings.

5757 Bissonnet St., Bellaire. 713-664-1031. www.cafepiquet.net