Foodie News

Are shipping containers the new food trucks? Stationary food park planned forHeights

Take a food truck, subtract the wheels and what do you have? If you said Sparkle's Hamburger Spot or Moon Tower Inn, you're probably pretty close. So is there a market for stationary food purveyors serving quick, casual fare without a drive-thru?

There is according to Dennis Leviage and Steve Schwartz. They are behind "Kitchens on 14th," a proposed project that will turn a 25,000-square-foot tract on the corner of N. Shepherd Drive and 14th Street in the Heights into a collection of eateries inside refurbished shipping containers.

According to the Houston Chronicle's Nancy Sarnoff, construction on Kitchens at 14th is set to begin next month with completion expected in January. Architect Issac Preminger, who is behind upscale restaurants around Houston including Tiny Boxwood's, Up Restaurant and the former La Strada, has been tapped to design the project with "communal eating areas, trees and water features."

In addition to the shipping containers, there will also be a more traditionally structured pizzeria on site called 14th Coal Fired Pizza. Former La Strada owner Aldo Catania will operate the pizza parlor and manage the container operations. Laviage tells Sarnoff that the project will start with four or five vendors with room to grow, and will have ping-pong, horseshoes and live entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings as well as Sunday brunch.

Will this replace the potential food truck food court on Washington Avenue? Would you seek out food served in a chic shipping container?

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eight covered courts

Houston nightlife veterans serve up a new pickleball bar in Spring Branch

Photo by Hasan Yousef

An onsite pro shop sells gear and swag.

Two Houston nightlife veterans are serving up a new pickleball venue in Spring Branch. Long Point Social Club is the latest project from The Kirby Group, the local company behind bars such as Heights Bier Garten, Pitch 25, and Bayou Heights Bier Garten.

Located on the former site of tasting menu restaurant Degust and upscale cocktail bar Diversion (7202 Long Point Rd.), Long Point Social Club is a two-acre venue with 12 pickleball courts (eight of which are covered), four padel courts, a dog park, and an indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant with a full menu of food and drinks. It opens to the public on Wednesday, August 26.

Patrons will have a variety of ways to use the facility, including four membership tiers as well as being open to the general public. In addition, diners will be able to get coffee and pastries beginning at 8 am at the LP Café or more traditional bar fare — think burgers, bowls, and shareable items — from the Long Point Social Club kitchen beginning at 3 pm and 11 am for weekend brunch.

Both experienced and new players are welcome. Coaches will offer clinics, private lessons, and group instruction in both pickleball and padel. Enthusiasts will be able to join five-week leagues to play a range of styles, including set partner and round robin play, King of the Court, cumulative leaderboards, padel Americano, and more. In time, Long Point will add Major League Pickleball-style team leagues.

In between matches, patrons can watch sports on nine TVs or a LED video wall, let their pups play in the dog park, or join a running club.

The property will also be home to The Bixby, an upscale cocktail lounge with its own entrance. Details on that concept will be shared in the coming weeks.

“We wanted to create more than a place to play,” Kirby Group co-owner Any Aweida said in a statement. “Long Point Social Club is designed to bring people together, whether they are joining a league, learning a new sport, meeting friends for open play or simply spending time in the space. Our goal is to build a community where everyone can find a way to participate and feel welcome.”

Photo by Hasan Yousef

An onsite pro shop sells gear and swag.

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