It seems every day that I get hit with polls and surveys ranking the best this or that — the best pizza, the best shoe repair shop, the best bowling alley. Many of them are advertising in disguise.
But I got a poll this week that is different. This one hits home.
A website called MoveBuddah.com, which tracks the moving van industry, named the “Top Place Everyone Wants to Move To” in every state.
In Texas in 2024, the hot destination, or “Zoomtown,” is Conroe, lying about 40 miles straight up I-45 from Houston.
I spend a lot of time by Lake Conroe in the Greater Conroe area. I know every inch of that place — as long as that inch is on State Highway 105 in Montgomery. Take the “Conroe” exit on I-45 and go west.
State Highway 105 is my favorite street in the Conroe area or anywhere in Texas. It’s like they came to me, believing I was an urban planner, and put me in charge of picking which stores go where. I can spend every weekend all summer up there and never use my blinker to veer off SH 105.
Yes, I can see why people would want to move to Conroe and environs. In 2015-16, Conroe (population 103,035) was the fastest-growing large city in the U.S. It’s still zooming. Montgomery County (population 620,443) saw its population grow by 55-percent between 2000 and 2010
I totally get it. Along the 14-mile stretch of SH 105 between I-45 and downtown Montgomery, you will find businesses and services that fulfill your every need. As soon as you pull off I-45, boom, there’s a Home Depot, Target, and Nothing Bundt Cakes. There’s a song by Jimmy Buffett … “I Have Found Me a Home.”
Conroe’s Best Restaurant
There are more than 50 restaurants, from drive-throughs to fine dining, on this magical street. The undeniable king of the road is Tony’s Italian Deli, a small, bare-bones joint that was voted No. 1 restaurant in America – that’s all of America from Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters – on Yelp in 2017.
Here’s what I love about Tony’s Italian Deli. It’s a small place – you order at the counter and they call your name. They don’t sell pizza. They don’t sell breakfast. They don’t sell spaghetti dinners. There’s no bar in there. They sell sandwiches, that’s it, and they’ll have you thinking you’ve been transported to Little Italy in New York. It’s like what Curly said in City Slickers, the secret to life is one thing.” At Tony’s Italian Deli, the one thing is sandwiches, and they knock it out of the park.
The enormous sandwiches (called “Carnegies,” a new one on me) are named for Italian celebrities, including Sylvester Stallone (capicola, ham, salami, and provolone), Frank Sinatra (soppressata and Genoa salami), Al Pacino (mortadella and bacon) and a dozen more Hollywood stars.
Ken orders the Joe Pesci.Photo by Ken Hoffman
My go-to is the Joe Pesci, a toasted, crusty Italian sub roll jammed with roast beef, provolone, spring mix, red onion, deli mustard, and sub oil. The only thing that could make this sandwich more authentic would be for a couple of thugs to drag you outside and whack you.
Tip: order your sandwich toasted. They dip the hoagie roll in Italian seasoning and the sandwich comes out crunchy and melty and hot. You won’t finish it — take the rest home for later.
Other favorites along SH 105: the Shrimp BLT at Monty’s Lighthouse, burgers and onion rings at Phil’s Roadhouse & Grill, brisket sandwiches at Bar-A-BBQ, the stuffed baked potato at Spuds Potato Bar, and, on special occasions, the chicken parm at Amore.
I haven’t found a pizza place that knocks me out, but every time I drive past the Pizza Shack the parking lot is full.
