Bobby's Next Bar

Anvil owner reveals plans to take over iconic Montrose nightclub space

Etro Lounge is closing soon.

Etro Lounge may be relocating to downtown, but the space won't stay empty for long. The popular Montrose nightclub will soon become a new concept from Anvil owner Bobby Heugel.

In a lengthy post on Facebook published Thursday, June 28, Heugel announced he had leased the space and shared some of the history he's had with Etro and its owner Antonio Villalobos, which have shared the building at 1424 Westheimer Rd. since before Anvil opened.

"From the very beginning our neighbors at Etro were supportive and true hospitality pros," Heugel writes. "They even allowed us to use their bathrooms (they literally gave us keys to their bar and an alarm code) while we were building Anvil ourselves and worked with us throughout the years in ways that only two bars who split the same building can understand."

With Etro's lease up, the building's landlord approached Heugel about taking over the space. "We decided to accept both to protect our interests at Anvil and because this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up," he writes. "Following our landlord’s decision and our recent lease extension, it was the right choice for me as a business owner and someone that cares tremendously about protecting the livelihoods of all of the staff that depend on me at Anvil."

While Heugel adds that he hasn't decided on a new concept for the space, one thing is clear. Anvil will not expand into the additional space. "I love that bar just the way it is, and whatever we do will be done to make sure that Anvil’s identity and consistency is not disrupted in any manner," he writes.

Etro will close at its current location on July 28 and reopen at 114 Main St. — as part of real estate developer Dan Zimmerman's Main&Co project — on August 4. In his conclusion, Heugel encourages people to visit Etro at least one more time before it relocates.

"That bar is reflective of the good people that own and work at it, and we wouldn’t be where we are today at Anvil without them," Heugel wrties. "There will always be a little bit of Etro in Anvil."

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Hot Houston hand roll spot is first restaurant at new EaDo development

Handies Douzo Facebook

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Houstonians with a seemingly unlimited appetite for sushi hand rolls will soon have another destination to satisfy their cravings. Handies Douzo will open its next location in East Blocks, an adaptive reuse project in EaDo.

On track to open in late 2026 or early 2027 at 1107 Hutchins Street, the EaDo location will be Handies Douzo’s fifth, joining the original in the Heights as well as restaurants in Montrose, Spring Branch, and an upcoming outpost in Uptown’s new Central Park Post Oak development. Like those siblings, it will serve Handies’ familiar menu of hand rolls (temaki), crudos, and sashimi that’s overseen by founding chefs and co-owners Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham. The 2,000-square-foot space will feature Handies’ familiar U-shaped counter seating.

Handies is known for wrapping its rolls in crispy seaweed that gives each bite a distinct crunch. The well-executed dishes and affordable prices helped Handies earn a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

"We've been very intentional about where we grow, and East Blocks immediately stood out," Pham and Lee said in a statement. "There's an authenticity to EaDo and a strong sense of community that aligns with our brand. We're excited to be part of a project focused on creating an energetic, walkable destination."

1107 Hutchins rendering Handies will occupy 2,000 square feet at 1107 Hutchins.Courtesy of Pagewood

1107 Hutchins and the nearby 2202 Dallas — each of which are 15,000 square feet — represent phase one of local real estate firm Pagewood’s plans to East Blocks. First announced in 2023, plans call for renovating warehouses into a walkable district of shops, restaurants, offices, and green space. Gensler is leading architecture and design for the project, with landscape architecture by SWA.

"East Blocks reflects a long-term belief in EaDo and the kind of place it’s becoming," said Mat Volz, Managing Principal of PAGEWOOD. "As the project has evolved, our commitment to that vision has only strengthened. Breaking ground on Phase 1 is an exciting step forward, particularly as this neighborhood prepares to welcome the world. With the FIFA Fan Festival taking place just steps from East Blocks and bringing thousands of visitors daily to EaDo, we see this project playing a meaningful role in that energy and in the long-term evolution of the district."

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