The owners of Skip’s Farm faced many challenges in building and opening their restaurant in rural Cypress, but they said their determination and big dreams have kept them motivated.
“I’ve always loved to cook for my friends and family, so being able to open up a place where my neighbors can come, socialize and enjoy good food is very special to me,” said Sheila Galloway, who co-owns the restaurant with Don Skipton.
Skip’s Farm was fashioned out of several buildings that once served as the home and business of William Jackson, who operated a tool shed and built covered wagons and antique furniture on-site in the early 1900s.
“When I heard that the home was going to be torn down for new development, I knew I couldn’t let that happen,” Galloway said. “We kept most of the structures but repurposed them for the restaurant. You can still see what parts were once [Jackson’s] kitchen [and] dining room.”
Skip’s opened in November, but Galloway has been upgrading and improving things ever since. In August, Galloway and her team finished refurbishing Jackson’s tool shed into an icehouse in time for football season. The ongoing process of converting a bedroom into a game room also reached a milestone in August when Galloway brought in several arcade games, as well as a pool table, dart board, video golf game and a pinball machine.
The restaurant started out serving food from a food truck from a limited menu. The owners have since upgraded to a larger food trailer, but Galloway said she is still in the process of obtaining a commercial kitchen license, which would allow her to expand the menu even more.
The Farm House Cheeseburger ($9.95) pairs well with craft beers, Galloway said.[/caption]
The current menu remains popular with her customer base, Galloway said, particularly the sweet potato fries, Farm House Cheeseburger and chicken-fried steak sandwich.
“All of us who live in Bridgeland have been waiting for a restaurant like this to open up nearby,” customer Susie Coe said. “We’ve never had a bad experience.”
16702 House Hahl Road, Cypress
713-269-8732
Hours: Wed.-Thu. and Sun. noon-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. noon-10 p.m.