In-N-Out in Katy

In-N-Out Burger reveals highly anticipated second Houston location

Double doubles are coming to Katy in 2019.

Photo courtesy of In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger's long-delayed entry into the Houston market is building momentum quickly. With one location of the California-based restaurant already announced for Stafford's The Grid mixed-use development, now comes word that a second Houston-area location will be coming to Katy.

Local real estate developer BPI Realty Services has revealed that In-N-Out is part of the site plan for its Y Shops at Park West shopping center. Located at 806 Katy Fort Bend Rd., the restaurant will be one component of the plaza that will also include 30,000 square feet of additional retail space. BPI tells KHOU that the restaurant secured the space "a couple of months ago."

For inner loopers contemplating how far a drive that will be to score a Double-Double Animal style, that's a little past the Grand Parkway near the Katy Mills outlet mall. In other words, Stafford's probably closer, but Memorial-area folks will have a straight shot down I-10.

Rumors of In-N-Out's entry into the Houston market have swirled for years, but Houstonians have had to watch as the restaurant came to Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio before the Bayou City. The burger chain made a splash last year when it purchased property at 8373 Westheimer Rd., but a tenant's long-term lease on the space has prevented the company from moving forward with building a restaurant there.

At least Houstonians will have the opportunity to weigh in on the In-N-Out versus Whataburger debate. The rest of the country won't be so lucky, as the company has no plans to expand further east.

"I don’t see us stretched across the whole U.S. I don’t see us in every state. Take Texas — draw a line up and just stick to the left. That’s in my lifetime,” CEO Lynsi Snyder told Forbes. “I like that we’re sought after when someone’s coming into town. I like that we’re unique. That we’re not on every corner. You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster.”

That should be just fine for most Houstonians — as long as the company opens at least a couple locations inside the Beltway.

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sudden cupcake shutter

Cupcake pioneer Sprinkles shutters all locations, including one in Houston

Photo courtesy of Sprinkles

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A nationwide cupcake bakery has shuttered all of its locations, including in Houston. Sprinkles Cupcakes closed all of its locations on December 31, according to multiple media reports.

The company provided a brief statement about the closures to TV station KTLA: “After thoughtful consideration, we’ve made the very difficult decision to transition away from operating company-owned Sprinkles bakeries.”

Founder Candace Nelson shared her own thoughts about the news via a post on Instagram. After noting that she sold the business to private equity in 2012, Nelson stated she was disappointed by the decision.

“Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it, and this isn’t how I thought the story would go. I thought Sprinkles would keep growing and be around forever,” she says in the clip.

The bakery had 20 locations in six states. In Houston, Sprinkles had one location in Rice Village that opened in 2021 (2563 Amherst St.). A Highland Village location that opened in 2010 had already closed.

It also operated stores in Austin (3120 Palm Way), Dallas (4020 Villanova), and Plano (7500 Windrose Avenue) and cupcake ATMs at other spots statewide, including one in The Woodlands Market Street district.

Sprinkles was widely credited for creating the cupcake craze of the late aughts and early 2010s. Founded by Nelson in 2005, the shop's treats elevated the form with high quality ingredients, a wide range of flavors, and the sort of eye-catching designs that would be now be described as Instagram-worthy — but Sprinkles predates the app’s creation. It introduced a number of innovations, including a cupcake ATM to satisfy cravings 24-hours-a-day.

As for Nelson, she pivoted to Pizzana, an Italian-style pizzeria she co-founded with her husband Charles, actor Chris O’Donnell and his wife Caroline, and chef Daniele Uditi. The restaurant, which holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide for its original outpost in Los Angeles, has a Dallas location that opened in 2022 and a Houston store that opened in 2024.

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