Downtown Bar Drama

Downtown cocktail bar locked out of its space by another bar: It's a speakeasy drama

Something has clearly gone wrong with the relationship between Clutch City Squire and Barringer Bar. When Barringer opened in March, it brought an upscale atmosphere to what had been Clutch City's second floor. Owners Robby and Cheiko Cook redecorated to help distinguish Barringer from Clutch City, which is slightly dive-ier and has emerged as a popular place for restaurant industry employees who work in the various bars and restaurants that have opened during the latest wave of downtown revitalization in and around the 300 block of Main.

It's a perfect symbiotic relationship — Clutch for when someone just wants a beer and a shot; Barringer for those who want a cocktail in a more low-key atmosphere than its more crowded neighbors. Which is why Barringer's announcement that it has closed in the wake of a contract dispute with Clutch City is so surprising.

Post by Barringer.

Clutch City's only comment came via Twitter.

@cameracait @elissarphoto With all due respect, you have no idea what is going on.

— Clutch City Squire (@ClutchCityHTX) August 23, 2014

Meanwhile, no one's talking about the circumstances surrounding the dispute or the prospects for resolution. The Cooks said they needed to consult with their attorney before making a statement. Clutch City owner Steve Hannigan referred a request for comment to his attorney. The attorney also declined to comment but suggested the matter could be resolved this week.

Eater notes that some social media sympathy has come Barringer's way. Liquid Ninjas, an account for local bartenders, has been promulgating a #NoToClutchCitySquire hashtag, but the account has only gotten three retweets from its 473 followers so far.

An amicable solution could result in the continuation of both bars' peaceful coexistence, but, given the involvement of attorneys on both sides, that seems unlikely. If nothing else, a swift resolution could result in Barringer flying high again in a new location.

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a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar