Convenience Big Store: 🔴 Hyped restaurant shutters

Things are starting to look a little less glum this week versus last (but only just less). Much of the brighter news has been happening in Houston's suburbs.

Monkey's Tail, the critically-acclaimed bar in Near Northside, is opening another location in Conroe. Bar nuts may remember in 2021 two-thirds of the brain trust behind Monkey's Tail left, and one co-founded another hospitality company—Night Moves. That group has since opened Trash Panda nearby and Space Cowboy in the Heights.

Southwest from Conroe, Aaron and Victoria Pappas Bludorn are opening a third concept in their old Memorial-Spring Branch stomping grounds. Bar Bludorn promises to be an upscale tavern experience in Hedwig Village, satisfying a craving from fans west of the Loop.

- John-Henry Perera, food editor

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For Starters

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: Cole Hauser attends the premiere party for Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' Season 2 at Lombardi House on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Yellowstone star's Texas coffee brand sued by boss

'Yellowstone' star Cole Hauser and his showrunner have some things in common.

Bar bites like tacos, nachos, and pizza get a fresh twist at Monkey's Tail.

Popular Houston bar to open new suburban spot

The trendy Mexican-American bar will host a grand opening in Conroe.

McDonald's is launching a new small-format beverage stand called CosMc's. The concept appears to be a direct competitor to Dutch Bros.

McDonald's bringing new beverage concept to Texas

CosMc's looks awfully familiar to the three coffee stands that popped up near my house.

Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque will run its last race on New Year's Eve.

Former dog track slowly developing, eats planned

La Marque dog track construction is for fast-food joints.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 9, 2018: A Rainforest Cafe restaurant in downtown San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

Grandma says child ate battery at Rainforest Cafe

The incident allegedly resulted in emergency surgery for her 3-year-old grandchild.

Pluckers Wing Bar: The company that touts itself as having the

Whataburger's new chicken wings: doomed to fail?

If McDonald's and Taco Bell couldn't make them happen, what chance do Whatawings have?

Popular New Orleans restaurant Acme Oyster House opened last year in the former Tower Theater.

Tower Theatre's lights go out again as Acme Oyster House closes its doors

The seafood spot opened in Montrose to much fanfare in 2021, bringing comforting fried fish and oysters to the masses. A little more than two years later, the celebrated seafood chain has quietly shut down.

Last Bite

There were a few more interesting happenings around town. Here are some things you might have missed:

A couple of Houston farmers won a $200,000 grand prize after appearing on the reality TV program Bet on Black. Jeremy Peaches and Ivy Walls of Ivy Leaf Farms impressed Bun B, Ray J and a panel of other judges with their pitch: a box loaded with goodies sourced from local Black farmers catered specifically to those in underserved communities.

The fellas behind The Burger Joint and The Taco Stand are opening a third, groundbreaking concept: The Pizza Place. The new restaurant is set to open in the Heights in early 2024, and promises a similar casual setting like their other two spots. Except with pizzas.

Makiin, the new Royal Thai restaurant in Upper Kirby, is now open for lunch. The new daytime menu includes a $14 curry sampler featuring Panang, Turmeric and Massaman. Lunch hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There's a new Shake Shack opening in Webster on Dec. 21. This will be the ninth location in the Houston area, and the first in the southeast.