Restaurant Closings around Town

From Ziggys to Brown Bag - Succession on corner of Capitol and Main Street Corridor (updated with new photo)

Ziggys and Brown Bag Deli signage on Main St. corner

Brown Bag Deli finds new Downtown home at former location of Ziggys Downtown on corner of Main Street and Capitol. 

Corner view of Downtown Brown Bag location on Main (early 2014 photo)

Brown Bag had to close its shop at the Houston Club Building, which is scheduled to be taken down by new owner Skanska, to make way for a new development on the block South of the JPMorgan Chase Tower.

Street closure for road work on Capitol at Main

As of February, the streets in the area are torn up in connection with the rail extension project

Closed Brown Bag Deli location at Houston Club Building with heavy equipment in front

Pistolero in old Nabi space on Lower Westheimer; cantina with curbside cacti (updated post)

Pistolero's, a Tequila-Taqueria concept, succeeds Nabi. 

Nice image of Mexican pistol man on new signage for tequila joint, but the yellow paintjob on the building when it was NABI accented its unusual shape much better than the new one. That said, the cacti and other succulents on the curb add a nice South-of-the-border touch. 

New Pistoleros cantina on Lower Westheimer with cacti lining the parking lot

(Pistoleros pics added 7/9/2013)

Remodeling work ongoing as of last week at what used to be NABI Asian fusion bistro on Lower Westheimer:

Remodeling work at restaurant property 517 Westheimer Rd Houston TX 77006

Something is cooking at the NABI restaurant location, but what? 

1517 Westheimer Rd. Restaurant property location (1/24/2013 photo)

NABI's look before make-over (Sep 2012 photo)

Samba Grille restaurant space at Bayou Place still looking for successor

The Latin restaurant has closed its doors, but the Samba Grille signage is still up. And so is the for-lease sign. 

Samba Grill restaurant space at Bayou Place as of Jan 2013

Napo? A new restaurant at Bayou Place? - Yes and No

It's the reincarnated version of Napoli Italian Pizza & Bar (previously on Main Street at street-level in the Binz Building). Looks like there is still some problem powering up the signage, or a creative re-branding perhaps to better compete with the new wine tasting venue next door. 
 

Brown Bag Deli's Moves

Feb 25, 2013 UPDATE: Brown Bag Deli has relocated to Main Street - the spot previously occupied by Ziggy's Downtown across from the Flying Saucer. Heavy equipment is already in place at Houston Club Building, which is scheduled to be demolished.

The impending demolition of the Houston Club Building also means the end of the brown bag lunches at the Deli there. 

Brown Bag Deli shop at doomed Houston Club Building - Capitol Street (Sep 2012 photo)

But it's not the only brown-bag lunch spot in town. A second brown bag deli joined the one on Westheimer and Shepherd not too far away: In the Upper Kirby district in the shopping center North of Richmond Ave in which Office Depot is the anchor tenant. The retail space was previously occupied by a Spicy Pickle sub and sandwich shop.

Brown Bag Deli shop in Upper Kirby

 

Location in NE corner of Kirby Drive and Richmond

Brown Bag store location on Westheimer East of intersection with Shepherd Drive

Brown Bag Deli signage on store location at The Houston Club Building (Panoramio pic)

  

The Original Taco Cabana struggles to keep pace with changing times

Tex-Mex Dinosaur quandry: Pinko no more, well just un poquito

With all the eater-drinker-and-gauker-oriented entrepreneurial bustle  around it (grass-fed burgers to elevate the gourmet standards on the other side of the drive-thru; a new noshing bistro tucked into the servant's quarter's of the corner bank; a live non-sushi raw food lab with spectator gallery on the bend; not to mention the  mood-lifting vistas of the scenic twins across the Algerian Way), the heirs of the Original Taco Cabana must have thunk we gotta do something  original too: Out goes the dirty off-rosy pink look....well not entirely. Can't really ditch what made the original Taco Cabana -- well -- original. At least Mama Ninfas is not around to offer her opinion on what an authentic Tex-Mex joint is supposed to look like, -- or an updated pan-Latin fusion version thereof. And look what happened to her haunt up at the corner at Richmond: Maggie Rita on the eviction docket. 

At least the lamp post provides visual appeal

Caco Cabana water fountain on patio after the "face lift"

The Original Taco Cabana after the make-over

Taco Cabana in its Upper Kirby neighborhood - picture of patio Tex-Mex before repaint job

Nosh Bistro

Nosh Grand Opening yard sign on Kirby sidewalk

Cafe Japon, Nosh Bistro, Allegiance Bank on Kirby (6/2/2013 photo)

Del Frisco's Grille - West Ave on Kirby Drive (updated 3/15/13)

Del Frisco's Grill on Kirby Drive - Photo a few days prior to opening on 3/16/2013

ORIGINAL POST BELOW:

Posters on window panels facing Kirby Drive traffic tell of the savory dishes in the not too distant future (March 2013 projected opening).

The predecssor restaurant apparently did not make it here -- profitability wise. Very nice location, though. Aesthetically appealing, with colorful flowers even deep in the Houston winter.

Lockout Notice on Kirby-Richmond Ninfa's restaurant property taken over by Maggie Rita's

 Looks like Maggie had too many Ritas, and ran out of moolah to pay the rent.

A shabby sign; some spellin' problems; and now a lock-out notice from the landlord. What would Mama Ninfas say if she were still around? 

Where have all the Ritas gone? Ex Ninfas Maggie Rita restaurant at the corne rof Richmond and Kirby now has deserted look.

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Cafe Adobe Acapulco Bar - Enjoy it before it closes

5/14/2013 UPDATE: Sunday, May 12, 2013 was the last day

Iconic, richly colored Mexican Cafe with plenty of patio seating at ground-level and on the upper decks; and a fountain at center of paved courtyard (atrium) with glass ceiling. It's been reported that the property was sold and that the structure, located near the corner of South Shepherd and Westheimer faces demolition. 

Adobe Cafe upper duck seen from Shepherd Drive across Citgo gas station on corner

Cafe Adobe  also has other locations in the greater Houston area: at the MarqE movie/entertainment complex and in Sugarland and Clear Lake.