A number of new businesses have either recently opened or are coming soon to the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose area, including a new miniature golf course, the second location of a popular neighborhood bar and a new food hall.
1. A two-story miniature golf and entertainment venue called Puttery is slated to come to Sawyer Yards in Houston's Old Sixth Ward area at 1818 Washington Ave., Houston.
Although few details have been released on the Houston location, an Aug. 9 press release indicates that it will feature an "adults-only scene with four nine-hole putting courses, multiple bars and rotating DJs."
A food menu will provide guests with an upscale menu and craft cocktails. The golf courses will be themed and equipped with state-of-the-art scoring technology, according to the release.
Puttery will be a project of Drive Shack Inc., whose portfolio also consists of other "competitive socializing" venues such as American Golf and Drive Shack. In addition to Houston, the company's newest concept is being launched in Dallas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Miami.
An opening timeline is still being determined, a company spokesperson said.
https://puttery.com
2. The food hall Railway Heights celebrated its soft opening earlier this month at 8200 Washington Ave., Houston, near Hempstead Road. The two-story building houses a number of dining options and local vendors, and future plans also involve hosting weekly farmers markets. A 13,000-square-foot beer garden is also being planned at the site, along with a dog park, stage and outdoor seating. As of mid-August, the following stalls were in operation:
• Peaky Grinders, freshly ground burgers
• Ms. Moss Potter, rare plants, terrariums and moss art
• Samosa Haus, hand-rolled halal samosas
• Drunken Pho, Vietnamese pho noodle soup
• Puncheon, a wine bar
• Churrazon, aguas frescas and other drinks
• Mac & Twist, mac and cheese and fresh pasta
• The Greedy Chicken, chicken wings and sides
• Heads & Tails, seafood
• Sandos, Japanese sandwiches
Several stalls are coming soon, including:
• Mykuna, Latin cuisine
• Boh Slice, pizza
3. Owners of the neighborhood bar NettBar in Houston's historic West End neighborhood are planning to open a second, larger location in Shady Acres at 1717 W. 22nd St., Houston, near Ella Boulevard. Layout plans include seating for 250-300 patrons, a covered outdoor space and a fenced-in children's play area. The venue will include a full kitchen and food menu headed by chef Matt Mui of Muiishi Makirrito's food truck. Once open, weekly events will include Geeks Who Drink trivia, steak nights, dart tournaments, bocce ball tournaments, musical bingo and goat yoga as well as monthly artisan markets. NettBar is expected to open in July 2022, and a Nextseed campaign has been launched to attract investors.
4. Wellness branch The Now Massage will open this fall in the Heights at 373 W. 19th St., Houston. The luxury neighborhood spa will specialize in therapeutic massages in spaces separated by canvas draping. Services include Swedish-style massages, stress-reducing massages, sports recovery massages and The Now, a signature relaxation massage. Custom enhancements include heat therapy; deep-tissue; and gua sha, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses smooth rose quartz tools to target specific areas of the body. www.thenowmassage.com
5. New York-based lifestyle brand Frances Valentine will open its fi rst Texas location in the first week of September in the River Oaks area at 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. H-105, Houston. The shop offers women’s apparel, handbags, shoes and accessories with an aesthetic that makes use of brightly colored patterns and designs. Frances Valentine was launched in 2016 by fashion designers Elyce Arons and Andy and Kate Spade. www.francesvalentine.com
6. Modern wood-burning steakhouse Andiron is coming to Allen Parkway in early 2022 after officials with Sambrooks Management Co. leased space there in late July. Sambrooks—the company behind other Houston-area restaurants such as The Pit Room, 1751 Sea and Bar, and Candente—has plans to deliver a concept that will include a dining room and bar-lounge area that seats 110 as well as a covered patio with an outdoor bar and lounge that seats an additional 75 people. The eatery will be located in a historic building at 3201 Allen Parkway, Ste. E110, Houston. The menu will feature items diners would expect from a traditional steakhouse, prepared with live-fire techniques, while also offering a modern, small-plate options.
