Cigar Smoke in River Oaks

Private club aims to bring cigars back to River Oaks with throwback to colorful past

The Oakwood Social Club will open in River Oaks later this year.

Oakwood Social Club/Facebook

Since popular cigar bar Downing Street switched to non-smoking (and closed shortly thereafter), the inner loop has lacked an indoor space where people could enjoy a drink and smoke a cigar, but that's going to change by the end of the year

DMRJ Holdings, LLC announced on Wednesday that it intends to open the members-only Oakwood Social Club on the Corner Table property in the upstairs space formerly occupied by the Red Room bar.

"Oakwood Social Club’s mission is to provide a private retreat setting where you can unwind, disconnect from the common everyday activities and plug in to a private members-only experience elevated by cigars, libations, ambiance, entertainment, and more," the company said in a statement.

Similar in concept to The Marque, the private club in CityCentre that closed in March, Oakwood will offer its members a comfortable place to sip cocktails, smoke cigars, and socialize. The Corner Table kitchen will serve a menu of food that's exclusive to the space. As membership grows, Oakwood plans to add non-smoking meeting facilities, semi-private office spaces, and a game room.

Oakwood's name harkens back to an oak mill that existed on the property in 1919. The club claims the space also served as an illegal speakeasy during Prohibition. Decor and historical artifacts will pay homage to this legacy.

Want to get a sneak peek? The club will host pre-renovation previews on September 27 and 28. Interested parties should email rsvp@oakwoodsocialclub.com for more information.

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Mi Cocina shutters

Dallas Tex-Mex staple shutters only Houston location after less than 2 years

Courtesy of Mi Cocina

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A Dallas-based Tex-Mex restaurant has quietly closed its only Houston location. Mi Cocina shuttered on Thursday, March 20.

A note on the restaurant’s website addressed to “Dear Valued Guests” reads as follows:

Thank you for your support of Mi Cocina in Houston. As we wrap up operations at this location, we want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who dined with us and to our incredible team who brought the Mi Cocina experience to life.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Effective Thursday, March 20th, this location is closed. Please visit any of our 23 locations in DFW or Tulsa, OK. We hope to serve you again in the future.

Mi Cocina opened the Houston location in November 2023 near River Oaks District (4410 Westheimer Rd.). It was the company’s third attempt at establishing a foothold in Houston, following a Memorial location that opened in 2004 and a Woodlands outpost that opened in 2011. Prior to the opening, Edgar Guevara, president and CEO of Mi Cocina parent company M Crowd Restaurant Group, told CultureMap that the company felt confident that the third time would be a charm.

“I don’t know what happened with the past openings we had in Houston. I think when you’re going into a market you want to pick someplace that’s similar to where you operate,” Guevara said at the time. “I happen to like the location we’re in. That’s why we landed there. It was data driven and then there were similarities to what we do in Dallas.”

A Dallas staple for more than 30 years, Mi Cocina is known for its upscale Tex-Mex fare and the Mambo Taxi, a frozen margarita with a swirl of sangria. Signature items include the brisket tacos, Mama’s tacos, and the Rico salad that’s topped with sliced chicken fajitas.

CultureMap has contacted Mi Cocina’s representatives for more information about the company’s decision to close the restaurant. We will update this article when they reply.

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