light my fire
New outdoor bar lights up West Houston with volleyball and a dog park
A massive new patio bar has exploded onto West Houston’s scene. The Powder Keg, an outdoor bar with volleyball courts and a dog park, recently opened as part of PUMA Development’s The Founders District property on Brittmore Rd.
The area also includes The Cannon, a coworking space co-owned by Lawson Gow — son of David Gow, owner of CultureMap's parent company Gow Media — which is where the bar’s name originated. Essentially, the Powder Keg offers a preview of how the area will transform for a warehouse district into a multi-phase project with restaurants, retail, office space, a hotel, and more.
“We’re a development group that’s developing 30 acres over there,” director of hospitality Kyle Struble tells CultureMap. “The Cannon is the centerpiece, and the powder keg provides the ‘bang.’”
More than just a happy hour option for area office workers, the Powder Keg provides a flexible outdoor space for people in the community to enjoy themselves. Whether they’re watching a game on one of the 16 TVs or playing volleyball on one of the four courts, the bar offers lots of options. Struble sees the dog park as a real draw.
“You can have your dog off leash, pick him up after work and hang out instead of going to a regular dog park without booze,” he says. “It makes mingling a little easier.”
Speaking of booze, the bar has an extensive selection of beer, both craft and macro, as well as wine and original cocktails. Prices on wine and spirits are at a lower markup than other establishes, Struble says, which makes it easier to indulge in an extra glass. For a food option, the bar partnered with a food truck that serves tacos, tortas, and quesadillas.
“It’s going really well, Struble says. “I’m getting great feedback from the office next door and the neighborhood. I think people wanted a place they could take their kids, their dogs . . . I think it hits right where it’s supposed to hit.”