Convenience Big Store: Niko Niko's, Gringo's to open new Montgomery County restaurants in 2024

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How to stay safe while holiday shopping at The Woodlands Mall.

At every township or village meeting that a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy attends, they always leave a few minutes to remind residents to lock their cars.

Unlocked cars and keeping valuables like cell phones and laptops in view entices thieves to break into vehicles, even in one of the best places to live in the United States.

"It's the holidays for the thieves too," said Sgt. David Dickenson of the Conroe Police Department.

You'll likely see horses on your holiday trip to The Woodlands Mall this year with the Alpha and Omega Mounted Patrol, which can even offer escorts to your car, Lt. Jennifer Clifton said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Conroe Police Department will also increase traffic in high-traffic shopping areas.

In addition to stashing away valuables, Dickenson said to be aware of your surroundings to protect yourself from "jugging" incidents, in which thieves follow people from shopping center's or banks to their homes. Check out other safety tips here.

Anyway, happy holiday shopping! Don't forget to check out the new Alo Yoga, Lucchese Bootmaker and upcoming Laderach Choclatier while you're there!

What have your Woodlands Mall experiences been like in the past? Have you noticed any uptick in crime during that time? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Growing Woodlands

The restaurant Chiba Hot Pot is in the works in the old Los Cucos in Conroe in front of Hobby Lobby. The hot-pot experience is a communal eating experience.

Photo by: Photo By Sondra Hernandez

New Montgomery County restaurants in 2024 include Niko Niko's, Conroe's third Chick-fil-A.

As 2023 winds down with newly opened eateries like Gringo's Mexican Kitchen in Conroe, more restaurant openings are on the horizon for 2024.

Need to Know

Family enjoy the annual Children's Festival at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Pavilion holiday concert canceled amid enhanced severe storm risk

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion's annual Holly Jolly Jingle concert set for Thursday was canceled Wednesday afternoon due to an increased severe storm warning that could affect southeast Texas.

Photo by: Gene J. Puskar, AP

2 Spring area Starbucks stores vandalized with messages about Israel-Hamas war.

Police are investigating vandalism at two north Houston-area Starbucks after messages calling to "boycott Starbucks" and "free Palestine" were painted on stores.

Openings and Closings

Pilates studio Healthy Life Unlimited is relocating from the Grogan's Mill Village Center to a new space on 25918 Oak Ridge Drive. The new site is hosting an open house with raffles for free classes from 4-7 p.m. Friday, per a release.

Shout out

Spring favorites Corkscrew BBQ and Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q were named among the best barbecue in Houston this year. Check out all 30 locations on the guide here.

One last thing …

A few months ago, The Woodlands approved the first cricket pitch in the township. The sport is having a big year across Houston, and it's becoming a hotbed for cricket-related businesses, the Chronicle's Erica Grieder writes.