Video Sneak Peek

Midtown's highly anticipated new bars serve up opening dates and stunning downtown view

Quite a view from the top of 77 Degrees.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Get a sneak peek of two of this fall's most eagerly anticipated bars: Jack & Ginger's, an updated take on an Irish pub, and 77 Degrees, a rooftop bar with an expansive view of the downtown skyline. The two new establishments from Austin's Union Venture Group replace Stoked Tequila & Tacos and Red Door at 2416 Brazos St.

In our exclusive video, co-owner Darren Van Delden and director of operations Eric Dunahoe guide us through both spaces as construction draws to a close. Jack & Ginger's will open October 25, with 77 Degrees following a couple of weeks after.

As Van Delden told CultureMap in August, Jack and Ginger’s will offer a slightly elevated take on a classic Irish pub with 82 beers on tap, a menu of classic pub grub, and a commitment to soccer. Fans of the game will be able to watch matches at all hours of the day from TVs hung strategically throughout the bar.

On Sundays, the bar will feature an Irish brunch buffet complete with an Irish coffee bar and a Bloody Mary bar. Weekday happy hours (3 pm to 7 pm) will feature $7 beer flights and $5 select appetizers. Dinner entrees will include pub classics like fish and chips, shepherd's pie, and and a cheeseburger topping with Irish cheddar.

If Jack & Ginger's is an everyday destination, 77 Degrees will likely serve as a slightly fancier alternative for a proper night out. Patrons who climb the 50 or so stairs to the main floor will find a good view of the skyline as well as a variety of seating options, including a few cabanas available for groups.

At night, a DJ on an elevated platform will help set the mood. Three additional levels offer more room for revelers or can serve as the venue for a private party. In addition to wine, beer, and cocktails, a limited menu of tapas-style shareable plates will be available for the happy hour crowd.

As the crowds packing places like Holman Draft Hall, Truckyard, and Present Company demonstrate, the patio bar trend shows no signs of slowing down. Expect 77 Degrees to find a similar audience — it really is all about the view.

nightlife openings

an offer he couldn't refuse

Exclusive: Killen's Barbecue will soon shutter in The Woodlands

Killen's barbecue meat platter with sides

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

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Fans of Killen’s Barbecue’s location in The Woodlands have a days to make one last visit. The restaurant will close this Sunday, December 7, chef-owner Ronnie Killen tells CultureMap.

Open since 2021, Killen says that he’s in final negotiations to sell the location at 8800 Six Pines Dr. to Whataburger for a new location of the iconic Texas fast food restaurant. Neither the original location of Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland nor its Cypress location are affected by the closure of The Woodlands and will remain open.

“Whataburger made me a deal I couldn’t pass up. It would take 10 years to do that kind of revenue,” Killen writes in a text, adding that the company recently made a significant payment to keep the deal’s window open through the end of the year.

He added that the costs to operate the restaurant have gone up significantly. As one example, a cord of wood cost $175 when he opened the first Killen’s Barbecue in 2013. It costs $475 now, he writes.

If the deal falls through, Killen states that he could look for a new buyer or convert the restaurant into a second location of Killen’s Burger, the retro-styled burger joint he operates in Pearland.

The restaurant’s closure had been expected since February, when Killen sold The Woodlands’ location of Killen's Steakhouse. At the time, Killen said he also planned to find a buyer for his barbecue joint in the bustling suburb. He cited the driving distance from Pearland to The Woodlands as one reason he chose to divest both locations. He still operates Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland, comfort food restaurant Killen's near the Heights, Killen's Burger, and three other locations of Killen's Barbecue.

As it approaches its 13th anniversary in the spring, Killen’s Barbecue remains a vital part of Houston’s barbecue scene. The restaurant recently earned an honorable mention from Texas Monthly and holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. In July, it opened a new location at Hobby Airport.

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