CBD coffee in the Heights

Trendy CBD coffee shop and dispensary blossoms in The Heights

Three of Houston’s hottest trends will combine at a new business that’s opening in the spring. Amsterdam Co., a coffee shop and CBD dispensary, will open in The Heights, owners Drew Bailey and Michael Migl tell CultureMap.

Bailey, a 15-year restaurant industry veteran, and Migl, a concert promoter and marketer, originally announced plans to open in the East End. When that initial deal fell through, they pivoted to a house at the corner of W. 19 St. and Durham Dr.

With permits in hand, they’re currently in the final stages before beginning construction. If all goes according to plan, Amsterdam Co. will open in March or April.

Inspired by Bailey’s trips to Amsterdam while growing up in England, the duo say they see the coffee shop as combining two popular trends in one of Houston’s best dining neighborhoods. They’ll serve a full range of coffee, tea, and cold-pressed juices alongside a carefully curated lineup of CBD products such as balms, gummies, and oils. Patrons will be able to add CBD to drinks if they want.

Customers can feel confident with the quality of the products they’re buying, Migl says, because they’re choosy about their cannabis products. “We’re doing all the vetting for you,” Migl says, noting they’ll offer products with CBD content that’s backed by lab testing.

The space itself will have a front patio and a backyard for those who want to linger. With CBD still a relatively new phenomenon, they plan to host events to raise awareness and better educate their customers.

“When it comes to music and events, that’s where Amsterdam will set itself apart,” Migl says. “We understand delivering a cup, and we understand the dispensary part. We’re also going to have events like infused dinners.”

Bailey and Migl also have an eye to a possible future when recreational marijuana will be legal in Texas. They’ve retained attorney Lisa Pittman, dubbed the first lady of Texas cannabis law, to help them navigate all of the appropriate state regulations. If products with THC become legal, they’ll have the systems in place to be among the first retailers with products available.

Although the opening is still a few months away, they’re looking for baristas and budtenders. Interested parties can get in touch via email: info@amsterdamnco.us.

Amsterdam Co. will be located at 807 W. 19th St.

Courtesy of Amsterdam Co.

Amsterdam Co. will be located at 807 W. 19th St.

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one last squeeze

Ben Berg's New York-inspired, fancy burger joint will soon shutter

Photo by Leah Wilson

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The original location of Ben Berg’s fancy burger joint will soon serve its last meal. B.B. Lemon on Washington Avenue will close after service on Sunday, June 1, the restaurant announced on social media.

In response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision, a representative provided a statement that reads in part:

“It is never an easy decision to close a restaurant,” Berg said. “The love Houston has shown B.B. Lemon-Washington over the years is what made it such a special place. Thank you for making us part of your everyday moments and life celebrations.”

The statement continues that the restaurant is “no longer part of our strategic plan,” referring to Berg’s company, Berg Hospitality Group. However, the location of B.B Lemon that opened last year in the downtown tunnels will remain open.

Open since late 2018, B.B. Lemon takes inspiration from iconic New York City restaurant JG Melon, including its signature green-and-white checked tablecloths. Thanks to a spacious patio and a lively atmosphere, B.B. Lemon soon found favor with area residents and downtown office workers, who made it a happy hour favorite.

Like its decor, B.B. Lemon’s menu also takes inspiration from the East Coast. In addition to a diner-style, wagyu cheeseburger, the restaurant serves an array of comfort food that includes fish and chips, a lobster roll, and blue crab beignets.

Berg’s decision to close B.B. Lemon follows last year’s closure of Benny Chows, its New York-inspired Chinese American restaurant. In January, the company closed NoPo Cafe to make way for a new location of Bagel Bob’s HTX.

The group also opened three new concepts in 2024: live fire steakhouse Prime 131, retro diner Buttermilk Baby, and upscale steakhouse Turner’s Cut. It will open a second location of Buttermilk Baby in Sugar Land this summer.

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