More and more, 2018 is shaping up to be the year of the food hall in Houston. Three are currently slated to open in downtown by the end of the year: Bravery Chef Hall in the Aris Market Square apartment tower, Lyric Market in the Arts District, and Finn Hall at at the Jones on Main in the JPMorgan Chase & Co. building.
Of the three, Finn Hall has been the most aggressive about recruiting tenants from some of Houston's most popular restaurant groups. The food hall has already announced that it will include concepts from Mala Sichuan, Goode Co., Dish Society, Love Buzz, and Harold's in the Heights. On April 17, the operators revealed that one of Houston's most prominent coffee purveyors has also signed on to the project.
Catalina Coffee owner Max Gonzalez will open Amaya Coffee at Finn Hall. Amaya will offer the same beverages as Catalina, including brewed coffee, espresso drinks, teas, seasonal syrups, and pastries. Those looking for something sweet have the option of an affagato made with Fat Cat Creamery’s Amaya-sourced ice cream flavor, Amaya Coffee and Cream, topped with espresso.
"Amaya customers can expect the quality they have come to know from our roasting company and sister coffee bar," Gonzalez said in a statement. "We’re excited to be the coffee offering within Finn Hall and we’re excited to work alongside some of the city’s most notable concepts and restaurant groups. Our goal with Amaya Coffee is to serve high quality coffee and highlight the years of behind the scenes work we have been doing with our roasting company, thus helping people understand where their coffee comes from."
As the name implies, Amaya will serve coffee roasted by its sister company, Amaya Roasting Company. Gonzalez sources coffee from countries all over the world, including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ethiopia.
Amaya will join a downtown coffee scene that's become slightly more competitive over the last year. In September, Blacksmith owners David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto opened Prelude Coffee & Tea in the 609 Main office tower, and Boomtown Coffee recently took full ownership of The Honeymoon near Market Square (now Boomtown Coffee Main St. Café & Bar).
Still, knowing that Finn Hall will serve expertly crafted lattes can only enhance its appeal with diners. In the year of the food hall, it's important to stand out.
Amaya Coffee is coming to Finn Hall.
The Rice Box Space Center is expected to open later this summer.Courtesy of The Rice Box