Adios, Cafe Express

Longstanding Houston fast-casual restaurant shutters Briargrove location

Briargrove residents will miss Cafe Express.

Photo courtesy of Cafe Express

A fast-casual restaurant with Houston roots has closed its Briargrove location. Cafe Express, the restaurant founded by Cafe Annie owners chef Robert Del Grande and business partner Lonnie Schiller (also a founder of CultureMap), has closed its location at Woodway and Voss, along with outposts in Dallas and Austin.

“The closure of our Mockingbird Station location was a tough decision, but the right decision," Cafe Express COO Bobby Jaramillo said in a statement provided. "We also decided to close our North Lamar location in Austin as well as the Woodway at Voss location in Houston. Doing so allows us to focus on our performing restaurants and we have engaged a firm to help us with this restructure."

Cafe Express provides a fast casual spin on Del Grande's signature Southwestern cuisine. Its eclectic menu of burgers, salads, pastas, and more has made it a reliable Houston dining destination for years. Although it's now shuttered, the Briargrove outpost had remained popular with families in the area, but recent arrivals like Maclane's Cafe and Eatalia will help ease the sting a bit.

The chain was recently acquired by new owner in M. Terry Enterprises, who relocated the headquarters from Houston to Dallas. Six other Cafe Express locations remain open across the Houston area, including in Meyerland, River Oaks, and Greenway Plaza.

Over the years, Cafe Express has changed hands twice: Wendy's bought the concept, and it was then acquired by Houston real estate company Redstone. CEO George Hailey and COO Bobby Jaramillo joined the company in 2017; the two previously worked for Chili's and Brinker International.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

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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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