Luby's saved

Just-announced $28.7 million sale keeps Luby's in Houston and Texas

Celebrate, Houston. Luby's is staying put.

Luby's/Facebook

A new deal will keep Houstonians eating square fish and mac and cheese for the foreseeable future. Luby's announced that it has sold its cafeteria restaurant business to a new corporation founded by entrepreneur Calvin Gin.

Selling its cafeteria business is the latest step in the process of liquidation and dissolution that the company's board of directors adopted last year. Valued at approximately $28.7 million, the deal includes 32 locations of Luby's in Texas and the Luby's brand, according to a release. Last week, the company announced it had sold the Fuddruckers brand to a franchisee for $18.5 million.

The new entity, called Luby's Restaurants Corporation, plans to offer positions to the roughly 1,000 people currently employed at those locations, which includes 10 restaurants in Houston as well as locations in Conroe, Kingwood, Stafford, and Webster.

"We are so pleased to be able to acquire the operation of these Luby's Cafeteria stores, one of the iconic brands in the Texas restaurant market," Gin said in a statement. "This transaction will allow us to continue serving the many loyal Luby's customers at these locations and to provide long-term employment opportunities for the many associates currently at these locations."

Critically, the transaction does not include any of the real estate Luby's currently owns. The company plans to sell its holdings for 25 locations; the new Luby's Restaurants Corporation would then negotiate leases with the property's new owners.

Calvin Gin is a member of the Gin family, best known for founding The Flying Food Group, a Chicago-based firm that's the third largest airline catering company in North America. He brings over two decades of experience to his role, including work at The Flying Food Group and as a co-founder and partner in businesses such as Helios Visions, WorkPlate, and Charming Studios.

"I could not be more pleased than to see Calvin Gin, along with many of the existing management team, able to carry on the fine tradition of Luby's brand of food and service in Texas that dates back to 1947," Luby's chairman of the board Gerald Bodzy added.

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Coming Attractions

Halal BBQ and family-friendly eatery slated for Sugar Land development

Levant BBQ

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Halal barbecue and and a family-friendly restaurant are coming to Sugar Land Town Square. Commercial real estate firm Rebees announced it has signed leases with the following two restaurants, along with a couple of retail tenants.

Levant BBQ will open its second Houston-area location in late 2026 or early 2027 in the former Ruggles Green at 15903 City Walk. Known for its halal meats, including lamb chops, leg of lamb, and lamb neck, Levant BBQ opened its first location in the Galleria area in 2024. A Dallas location followed this year.

“I did enjoy the flavor of the lamb along with the rub heavy on cardamom and Aleppo paprika with a hint of ginger,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor wrote in a 2025 review. “The chops get a kiss of post oak smoke and are mild in flavor, with much of the fat rendered out in the long cooking process. The lamb neck was bolder — just the right amount of gaminess — and the meat shred similar to pork shoulder. I especially liked it after a dip in the house barbecue sauce made sweet and tangy with pomegranate molasses.”

Joining Levant will be Majestic Kitchen. Located in the former Mahesh’s Kitchen space, it’s described in press materials as a “family-driven culinary concept” from Majestic Developers founders Santosh and Supraja Cividi. The couple signed a lease in May and will provide more information about when the restaurant will open in the coming weeks.

In addition to Levant BBQ and Majestic Kitchen, Escapology Escape Rooms is now open at 2248 Texas Dr. Nishat Mills, an online fashion retailer that specializes in contemporary South Asian-inspired apparel for men and women, will open its first brick-and-mortar location at 16160 City Walk.

Located next to First Colony Mall, Sugar Land Town Square is anchored by Sugar Land City Hall and the Houston Marriott Sugar Land. It’s home to a number of restaurants and bars, including Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Japaneiro's Sushi Bar and Latin Grill, and B.B. Italia, an Italian-American restaurant from Berg Hospitality. Among the more recent openings is Insomnia Cookies, a cookie bakery that stays open until 3 am on the weekends.

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