Creek Group owner Gary Mosley operates the four location mini-empire of bars and restaurants with a simple philosophy. "When I started Onion Creek, I had a vision of bringing relaxation to Houston," he says.
Now that the Heights is well-supplied with relaxing concepts that feature expansive patios and solid craft beer selections, Mosley's turning his attention south.
First up, Mosley is taking over Montrose bar/restaurant Lowbrow from Free Press Summer Fest co-owner Omar Afra. Then, he confirmed Eater's report that he plans to renovate the former Daily Review Cafe into a new concept called Piggy's Tavern.
Montrose is poised to go from zero Creeks to two in a brief time. If the timetable isn't fast enough, try to relax.
His customers have long requested that he expand across the bayou, but the timing hadn't been right until now. "I was focused on the neighborhood I was living in," Mosley says. "This popped up . . . . I visited it. I thought it was a cute, quaint place. Omar did a great job. The food is amazing."
Mosley anticipates making a few changes, but he'll mostly leave Lowbrow as is. "Montrose gets their Creek. Won't be 100-percent a Creek, but it will have the feel of a Creek," he promises.
As for his acquisition of The Daily Review, Mosley explains that he purchased the property because he heard it might be torn down. "Claire (Smith, owner of Shade and Canopy) did a great job of turning it into a landmark . . . . It's a great location. I think it will be a great location to work with. We're excited. The community is excited."
Work to renovate the space won't begin until after he has Lowbrow dialed in. Without knowing more about how long permitting and construction will take, Mosley declined to offer a timeline of when he expects to open Piggy's.
Still, Montrose is poised to go from zero Creeks to two in a brief time. If the timetable isn't fast enough, try to relax. It will all happen in due time.
Mosley has acquired Lowbrow from Omar Afra, but the restaurant's decor will remain.
