January: Fat Cat Creamery
Sarah Johnston, the owner of Fat Cat Creamery, an ice cream shop that specializes in using locally sourced ingredients, was the first to open an ice cream store in the Heights.
She started selling her ice cream in 2011 and opened the storefront in 2013. During Halloween weekend in 2020, she opened her second store, which also hosts the production of the ice cream.
Fat Cat Creamery
1901 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston
713-869-1080
1225 W. 34th St., Houston
832-409-6568
www.fatcatcreamery.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. noon-10 p.m., Fri. noon-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
February:
Frame Dance
To Lydia Hance, founder of the dance company Frame Dance, every body is a moving body. Since founding her company in 2010, she said she has striven to build a philosophy based on that idea.
Hance founded Frame Dance originally as a professional dance company that would perform in unconventional spaces, such as the downtown Houston tunnels. In 2014, she started the youth ensemble and multigenerational ensemble before moving into the physical space in September 2021.
Frame Dance
2426 Bartlett St., Ste. D, Houston
346-708-1555
www.framedance.org
Hours: Mon. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Tue.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-noon
Houston Children’s Charity
In the 25 years since its founding, the Houston Children’s Charity has regularly adapted to the city’s changing landscape, finding ways to meet the needs of children that were otherwise going unmet.
For Laura Ward, president and CEO of the nonprofit and one of its seven founders, the story is one of collaboration. The group partners with more than 300 local agencies to find the children who are falling through the cracks, she said.
Houston Children’s Charity
1600 West Loop S., Ste. 610, Houston
713-524-2878
www.houstonchildrenscharity.org
April: Asch Building
At age 28, native Houstonian Destiny Ellis’ stepdad asked her, “If you could do anything with your life, what would it be?” She told him she wanted to open her own shop.
With a background of working with small businesses, help from her family and inspiration from her time in South Africa, Ellis brought her dream to life in April 2021 with the opening of Asch Building.
Asch Building
825 Studewood St., Houston
713-505-1447
www.aschbuilding.com
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Thu.-Fri. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
May: Republic Boot Co.
Over the years Chris Conrad spent living internationally—from southeast Asia to Russia to Italy—the people he met all showed pride in the cultures and traditions of the area.
For Conrad, the experience made him think about Texas culture and what it means to people around the world. When the Houston native moved back home in 2010, he sold everything he had to open a handcrafted boot shop in Katy, diving head first into a journey that involved blending art, history and the rugged individualism for which Texas is known.
Over the years, Republic Boot Co. moved from Katy to River Oaks to its newest spot on 11th Street in the Heights, the grand opening for which took place April 8.
Republic Boot Co.
1133 E. 11th St., Houston
832-767-6586
www.republicbootcompany.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Sun.
July: Doug’s Barber Shop
Doug Dreher may have died in 2020, but his legacy lives on in his namesake barbershop on East 11th Street in the Heights, where the walls are adorned with pieces of his life.
The building that houses Doug’s Barber Shop has been in operation in some capacity since around 1929, said current owner Jeff Armstrong, who took over from Dreher in 2014. Of the six barbers who work there now, the longest-tenured has been on staff for more than 25 years, while the shortest has been around for seven years, Armstrong said.
Doug’s Barber Shop
219 E. 11th St., Houston
713-862-0670
www.dougsbarbershop.com
Hours: Mon. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Tue.-Fri. 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
August: Dirt Bag
Jessica Cohen has her roots in plants. Combining her knowledge of tropical vegetation from her mother’s Colombian heritage with her knowledge of desert vegetation from her father’s Mexican roots, she said she can confidently pair plants with people.
Cohen owns and runs Dirt Bag, a Montrose-based plant shop selling plants, pots and dirt while partnering with local artists to sell their products in the shop. It offers resources for every step of plant care: purchasing, potting, pruning and protecting from disease.
Dirt Bag
701 Gray St., Ste. 1, Houston
713-485-0380
www.dirtbagsfromtx.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
September: The Path of Tea
Tea has always been second to coffee in the U.S., a trend The Path of Tea owner Chris McKann said is tied to our fast-paced lifestyles.
However, as interest in mental and physical well-being has become more mainstream, McKann said more interest has also been directed at his shop, founded in 2006 in River Oaks as a place for people to stop by, enjoy some tea and take a social break from daily stressors.
The Path of Tea
2340 W. Alabama St., Houston
713-252-4473
www.thepathoftea.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
December: Bliss on 19th
Prior to opening the gifts and decor shop Bliss on 19th in May 2005, owner Dan Long said he and his business partner went to a big market in Dallas to buy goods to stock up.
With both partners new to the world of retail, they also asked other vendors for tips on how to run the store. After spending five days at the market, the duo made their return trip to Houston with 1,200 glass fish, Long said.
Bliss on 19th
235 W. 19th St., Houston
832-673-0099
www.blisson19th.com
Hours: Mon. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tue.-Sat.10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.
