Convenience Big Store: The high-stakes business of feeding 2.7M rodeo visitors

March 7, 2026

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Good afternoon, Houston!

Spring break is here, and keeping kids entertained all week can get expensive fast. The good news: there are plenty of free events happening across Houston that make it easy to fill the days without spending a dime.

Whether you're looking for hands-on activities, outdoor adventures or something creative to do with the kids, these free spring break events offer plenty of ways to make the most of the week.

We'll have live updates and analysis from the girls basketball state championship game between Barbers Hill and Argyle.

Here's the rest of the news.

Alexandria Alejandro, Audience Producer

alexandria.alejandro@houstonchronicle.com

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The high-stakes business of feeding the Houston Rodeo's 2.7 million patrons

The rodeo's 75 food vendors face a risky business model: it takes high up-front costs, punishing hours and lots of temporary workers to launch a pop-up restaurant capable of serving thousands of customers a day. But for restaurateurs who can crack the code, it's a lucrative opportunity.

PLUS: Why Creed fandom is inspiring 'divorced dad' dress-up at the Houston Rodeo.

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