blooming in the med center

Luxurious new hotel with rooftop pool and spacey design opens in Medical Center

One of Houston’s most eagerly anticipated Inner Loop inns has soft-opened in the bustling Medical Center.

Blossom Hotel Houston, a posh hotel (7118 Bertner Ave.) promises “world-class amenities,” fine dining, and events space, per press materials.

Expect a grand opening in 2022, per the ownership group. As CultureMap previously reported, the 16-story hotel’s amenities include 267 luxury guestrooms and suites, plus more than 9,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces, including a Luna Ballroom and its floor-to-ceiling windows. The new spot also boasts a rooftop pool and lounge boasting views of downtown Houston.

Guests can expect lunar-inspired design (as a nod to Space City) with minimalist styling, cool color palettes, and lunar-inspired names alluding to Houston’s aerospace history.

Other amenities include dramatic lighting fixtures, Carrera marble, tray ceilings, beach wood flooring and luxe textures. Guestrooms come furnished with complimentary Wi-Fi, Samsung Smart TVs, Dyson hairdryers, Nespresso coffeemakers, and marble bathrooms with rain showerheads.

Also in early 2022, Blossom Hotel will open two distinct dining concepts in partnership with two celebrated Michelin-starred chefs, per a press release. A lobby lounge will serve culinary and beverage menus overseen by the chefs; in-room dining for guests offering both international and American fare will also be available.

Details on the culinary programming and the chefs behind the restaurants will soon be announced, the hotel noted in a statement.

As part of the opening festivities, the hotel has partnered with the Houston Astronomical Society to host a series of stargazing events with the first set to take place on Thursday, November 11 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The thematic, “Lunar Evening” event, open to guests and the public, will take place on the rooftop pool deck of the hotel with city views and a full view of the night’s sky.

Meanwhile, the hotel is offering promotions from now through December 31.

“Following a trying time for our city and state during the last 18 months, we at Blossom Hotel Houston are thrilled to debut the property to the public,” said Albert Ramirez, hotel general manager, in a statement. “We are proud to provide employment opportunities to the community and contribute to revitalizing the local economy all while offering our guests a luxurious yet comfortable stay with superb service and amenities.”

The Blossom is a luxe new additon to The Medical Center.

Photo courtesy of Blossom Hotel Houston

The Blossom is a luxe new additon to The Medical Center.

openings hotels

hey, joe

Trader Joe's sets Cypress opening date, confirms Bellaire plans

Photo courtesy of Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page

Trader Joe's is expanding, and shoppers couldn't be happier.

Two new Houston-area communities announced that they would be opening Trader Joe's locations, bringing the total number of stores in the city to nine.

On Thursday, December 18, the Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page posted that the new Trader Joe's at 9715 Towne Lake Parkway would open at 8 am on Friday, December 19. Unsold but still-good products left over at the ribbon cutting ceremony will be donated to local nonprofits.

"Not only does Trader Joe's have great prices on food, drinks, and treats, but as a hobby florist I always find the best selections for my floral arrangements," Copperfield resident Kelsey Zuchlewski tells CultureMap. "Now, with the convenience of having a location right here in our neighborhood, I'm in heaven."

Confirmation of the Cypress opening followed an announcement on the City of Bellaire's Facebook page that a Trader Joe's would take over the former Randall's at 5130 Bellaire Blvd. The post did not specify when construction will begin or when the location will open.

"This highly anticipated addition to our community will bring a unique grocery shopping experience and further enhance the vibrant retail landscape of Bellaire," the post said. "We look forward to welcoming Trader Joe’s and will share updates as the project progresses."

The California-based chain of stores entered Houston in 2012, first in the Woodlands and then, more famously, at the old Alabama Theater space on Shepherd, where it has become a beloved local institution. Since then, the chain has expanded throughout Houston, including a Kingwood location that opened earlier this month.

Over the year, Trader Joe's has built a loyal following that rivals even H-E-B. Staff at the stores (wearing Hawaiian shirts) are trained to be extremely friendly and helpful, as well as being encouraged to purchase ownership in the company. The selection is smaller and more curated than other larger grocery stores, leading to a boutique experience that many consider to be surprisingly affordable. At least one viral TikToker claims that Trader Joe's beats H-E-B's price, although the latter undoubtedly has a larger selection of goods.

openings trader joe's