classic montrose vibes

Vibrant Houston street market steps up with live music and more vendors

The open-air market at Westheimer and Montrose is getting some upgrades

Jessica Ivins (center) and partners ready Montrose Live for 2025

Photo coutersy of Montrose Live

The intersection of Westheimer and Montrose has long been one of Houston's most dynamic corners. Thanks to Montrose Live and property owner Skanska, the 3-acre space on the southwest side is expanding its open-air market with new shipping container pop-ups, live music, and more.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to utilize this land as a place where local entrepreneurs, artists, and creatives can thrive, while cultivating an experience that will be carried forward into future projects at other advantageous sites leading up to the start of construction,” says creator and operator Jessica Ivins.

The shopping center on the corner was razed on 2021, ending the long tenancy of staples like Spec's and Half Price Books. Although Skanska has long term plans to build a mixed-use development on the site, it is currently home to various food trucks, sellers, and events thanks to Montrose Live. In 2025, they plan some major improvements.

First on the list is the expansion of their Container Galleries. These are pop-up spaces for local artists and vendors set up in shipping containers. Montrose Live started the program in November with floral design studio Sunbi Studio and Trusted Kicks, a resale shop that had previously operated on another block of Westheimer. Plans for new tenants include a coffee shop, record store, bookstore, farm stand, artist spaces, and a information booth where visitors can learn about upcoming plans and opportunities.

Weekends at the intersection feature the Montrose Live House Band, as well as other local acts. The open-air market continues to feature a variety of excellent food trucks, including HoustatlantaVegan, Yummy’s Hot Chicken, and Just Smash, with plans to add more as the year continues. It remains one of the best places in the city to find a new food truck to sample on a weekly basis.

From noon to 6 pm every Saturday and Sunday, Montrose Live has a a four-tent shop collective offering eco-friendly upcycled goods, art, food, and other products based around the idea of environmental sustainability. Tent collective companies Real Good Real Goods, The Landfill, Authenticated, and No Passport Needed form the backbone of Montrose Live with their wide and extremely Houstoncentric selection.

“The collectives at Montrose Live were created to support businesses and creators who are passionate about delivering authentic and intentionally crafted offerings to their customers. By providing a platform where they can grow and connect with the community, we’re helping them thrive while offering visitors something truly unique," Ivins says.

Over the past decade, the area around Montrose and Westheimer has undergone significant redevelopment, with high-rises and luxurious eateries popping up. Last year, developer Radom Capital announced a new plan for the property that includes the historic Tower Theater and adjacent buildings at 1111 Westheimer. Montrose Live taps into the old school vibe of the Westheimer Street Festival days, albeit with a millennial twist. The new year looks very strong for the open-air market.

shopping montrose

gas price news

This is how much Texas gas prices have fallen since May 2026

Close-Up of Woman Paying For Gas With Credit Card

Getty Images

Millions of Americans will be traveling for the Fourth of July weekend.

Houstonians planning to travel over the holiday weekend will be relieved to know Texas is among the top 10 states with the biggest dips in gas prices since May.

A new SmartAsset study analyzed the changes in average gas prices across all 50 states between May 21 and June 28, 2026, and used the data to determine each state's "gas-price burden" — meaning the cost of filling a 15-gallon tank represented as the share of the estimated median weekly household income.

Texas had the fifth highest surge in gas prices in April, and prices across the U.S. continued soaring until reaching an annual peak in late May. On May 21, regular gas prices peaked at $4.09 in Texas, and the latest data has revealed statewide gas prices have dipped nearly 24 percent since then.

Now as of June 29, Texas gas prices have eased by 79 cents and now stand at $3.30 per gallon. Unfortunately, prices have not dwindled as much in Harris County. Many Houston residents will be seeing gas prices at around $3.38 on average.

Based on a Texas household's median weekly income of $1,617, the cost of filling up a 15-gallon tank of gas eats up 3.1 percent those earnings, the report added. That means Texas' gas-price burden is the 9th lowest in the U.S.

Texas has the second-cheapest price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. (behind Indiana) and it ranks 6th in the national comparison of states with the biggest gas price declines since May.

Colorado led the nation with the biggest dip in the price of gas since May, with prices declining by 29.2 percent. Gas now costs $3.89 per gallon, down from $4.77.

Declining gas prices are a welcome relief for commuters and for Texas residents hitting the road for the Fourth of July weekend. But that isn't the case for residents in other states like Hawaii, Alaska, or Washington, where gas prices have not seen as much relief.

"Lower prices and higher household incomes make a fill-up relatively affordable in some states, while gas costs consume a larger share of household income in others," the report said. "Three Pacific states continue to have the nation’s highest pump prices. A gallon of regular gasoline averages $5.52 in Hawaii, $5.46 in California and $5.20 in Washington."

The top 10 states with the biggest gas price drops since May 21 are:

No. 1 – Colorado
No. 2 – Kentucky
No. 3 – Indiana
No. 4 – Tennessee
No. 5 – Ohio
No. 6 – Texas
No. 7 – Iowa
No. 8 – Wisconsin
No. 9 – Oklahoma
No. 10 – Illinois

gas prices texas smartasset reports fourth of july