Retail

As those living on shoe-string budgets during college can attest, instant ramen is a common staple in every dorm room mini-refrigerator. Easy to cook with boiling water or a microwave, mass production makes ramen even cheaper to buy. With his restaurant Ramen Jin, restaurateur and chef Brian Chen is changing how we think about ramen noodles. Ramen Jin isn’t serving your coed’s noodles. Chen’s ramen is notched up, Japanese style made with hand-pulled wheat noodles…..Read More

The road to national expansion for a Portland-based coffee company runs through Westchase District. Black Rock Coffee Bar opened in mid-November at 2620 W Sam Houston Pkwy S. Black Rock Coffee’s foray into the Southwest area began in Tony Lujan’s hometown of Phoenix. “We boomed out there and are now at 17 stores,” said Lujan, Black Rock’s co-regional manager of Texas. “Success in Arizona made Texas a natural next step, giving us a huge impetus…..Read More

A major new gas station and convenience store has emerged from the site of the former Kaleidoscope Center on Westheimer Road at Blue Willow Drive. And, it’s far from what you’d expect from a c-store. Officially opened on December 9, OnCue, a leading c-store operator in Oklahoma, arrived in Houston with a prominent presence for motorists driving through Westchase District or exiting the West Sam Houston Tollway. Located at 10612 Westheimer near Phillips 66’s corporate…..Read More

A great empanada starts with hands. Hands to make it and eat it. Wherever you’ve had an empanada in the world – South America, Mexico, Europe or Asia – you can appreciate that what you’re about to eat is a masterfully-crafted creation. The pastry’s dough is cut into 6-inch diameter circles. Next comes the filling: pork, chicken, beef, cheese, veggies or a combination thereof. Once loaded, it’s folded and the dough’s edge is pressed into…..Read More

Tina MacInnes was operating two of the highest volume restaurants in Salata’s growing restaurant chain system. Then, out of nowhere, COVID-19 strikes. Between the excitement of seeing her customers relish build-your-own salads and a dynamic transformation of her restaurant, a pandemic crashed the economy, putting her business in survival mode. New Year, new look, new challenge MacInnes unveiled a new look for her 10898 Westheimer Road location in January after using the Christmas holiday to…..Read More

Two years ago, the Houston area experienced a self-storage boom where new construction saw 6.7 million square feet added to the market. The city’s strong job and population growth contributed to this healthy industry climate. However, before the pandemic struck, construction began slowing. Developers added 1.3 million square feet of storage in 2019 compared to 3.8 million in 2018. “The three main reasons people use self-storage are death, divorce and displacement, all related to life…..Read More

Broth known as pho is one essence of Vietnamese cuisine. Bánh mì, the Vietnamese word for bread, is the other. Not just any type of bread but a baguette which is split lengthwise. It’s a signature menu item that is stuffed to please at newly opened Bánh Mì Bon AT 10555 Westheimer Road. Specializing in baguettes and traditional Vietnamese dishes, Bánh Mì Bon owner Hien Huynh makes sandwiches filled with savory ingredients like grilled chicken,…..Read More

For three months people stayed at home while their exercise routines went idle. Because how we work-out involves customized and individually-designed programs, gym closures made it difficult to continue well-established routines. Many at-home spaces lack nautilus machines, treadmills, free weights and indoor studios for cardio and pilates. In Westchase District there is no shortage of fitness centers. As restrictions on gym use were recently lifted, many in the District have reopened. Blink Fitness was the…..Read More

Westchase District continues to find helpful information to share with small business during the COVID-19 crisis. As the Small Business Administration offers guidance, economic development organizations are diligently getting the word out. The Houston Region Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) and Greater Houston Partnership have held weekly meetings focused on SBA resources as thousands of Paycheck Protection Program applications for loans are being processed. While lending institutions like Frost Bank are only serving existing clients, other…..Read More

You’ll find ALDI in cities, suburbs and rural areas. And, now you’ll also find it in Westchase District. One of the newest ALDI stores in Houston opened at 9525 Westheimer Road in October. ALDI’s entry increases grocery options in Westchase District. Randalls and Kroger are within a mile of the store on Westheimer. Whole Foods Market is 2.4 miles away. At 18,900 square-feet of space in Tanglewilde Center, the ALDI Westchase location is one of…..Read More