Home decor and furnishings consultation chain West Elm opened a store in Rice Village on June 17 at 2501 University Blvd., Houston. The Brooklyn-based global design company opened its 11,502-square-foot location in the former location of Urban Outfitters. The store offers modern and consciously made designs as well as consultation services to Houstonians. 713- 520-0009. www.westelm.com
The Lovesac Company opened its newest store and showroom inside Houston’s Inner Loop for the very first time. With its June 11 opening, Lovesac has opened its 801-square-foot store in Rice Village at 2510 University Blvd., Houston. The Rice Village location offers high-quality furniture through Lovesac’s “Designed for Life” approach. Customers are also able to experience the retailer’s Sacs and demo Sactionals. 713-999-9186. www.lovesac.com
CB2, a city-minded home brand with a boutique-like atmosphere and member of Crate and Barrel Holdings, is now open at its 10,084-square-foot space at 2414 University Blvd., Ste 130, Houston. The new space, which opened June 18 in the heart of Rice Village, allows customers to engage directly with CB2’s curated home furnishings and accessories. Customers can interact with the brand at a number of in-store events, shop online, and consult with design specialists through in-store and on-site consultations. 281-609-7500. www.cb2.com
Owners of acclaimed Israeli steak house Doris Metropolitan opened Badolina Bakery & Cafe on June 3 at 5555 Morningside Drive, Houston, in Rice Village. The bakery brings flavor profiles from around the world, including Middle Eastern and Israeli baked goods, sweet and savory pastries, along with specialty sourdoughs, croissants, babkas, and custom roasted beans for its blended coffee. 832-649-5909. www.badolinabakery.com
A pop-up version of eyewear company KREWE Tiny House opened June 11 in Rice Village at 2404½ Amherst St., Houston. The company sells eyewear that celebrates individual style with a modern, iconic frame. The company was founded by Stirling Barrett, a New Orleans artist and entrepreneur, whose vision of New Orleans as a cultural hub fueled his launching the company in 2013. 346-388-1463. www.krewe.com
July 17 marked the first day of classes for yoga studio YogaSix, which opened its West University Place location at 5170 Buffalo Speedway, Houston. The studio is locally owned and operated by a franchisee, and it offers six different core classes that target exercises ranging from hot and fast to slow and mindful. 713-309-6757. www.yogasix.com
Palace Social, a 27,000-square-foot bowling and entertainment concept, opened July 12 at 4191 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 150, Houston. The venue features eight bowling lanes, a 159-seat restaurant, and a 3,900-square-foot arcade, among other offerings. In addition, Palace Social also features a 600-square-foot esports lounge, virtual reality games, two multisport simulators, and three event rooms equipped with oversized at-screen TVs that can also be equipped with karaoke systems. 713-913-4955. www.palacesocial.com
The Toasted Yolk Cafe brought its full-service neighborhood eatery with traditional breakfast to Bellaire Town Center on July 12, opening at 5103 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 160, Bellaire. The restaurant chain, known for offering breakfast, lunch and brunch items as well as beer and wine, had originally planned a March opening but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 713-239-0607. www.thetoastedyolk.com
Citris Nail Spa opened a location in June in Bellaire Town Center, 5101 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 175, Bellaire. The spa, which specializes in manicures, pedicures, waxing, and artificial nails now has five locations in the Greater Houston area with other locations in the Bay Area, Friendswood, and Pearland. 832-203-8867. www.facebook.com/citrisnailspabellairecenter
Bellagreen opened its sixth Houston-area location in the Galleria area Aug. 2 at 5018 San Felipe St., Houston. The new carryout and delivery prototype uses a limited-footprint model and can accept orders placed directly through the website, by phone and in store. The new restaurant also delivers direct orders during peak lunch and dinner hours with its own drivers. The eatery offers scratch-made appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, pasta and desserts. 281-204-4253. www.bellagreen.com
Pokeworks, the national chain of Hawaii-inspired poke bars, opened a new location in Rice Village at 2514 Rice Blvd., Houston, on Aug. 12. Known for poke bowls that feature responsibly sourced seafood, the new opening marks the eighth Houston location for the eatery. 346-802-2933. www.pokeworks.com
A new cafe is now open at the former location of The Sugar Shop Bakery & Gifts. Cedar St. Cafe opened on Aug. 30 at 215 Fifth St., Ste. 3336, Bellaire, offering pastries, snacks, coffee and prepared meals. The Sugar Shop closed in 2020 after owner Nathan Maynor died after contracting COVID-19, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. 832-752-8146. www.facebook.com/cedarstcafe
