Beavers Shutters

Influential Houston comfort food and cocktail restaurant suddenly shutters

Beaver's has closed.

Beaver's West/Facebook

The end of the year always seems to bring an unexpected restaurant closing or two. This year, it's Beaver's; the comfort food restaurant announced it has served its last meal.

Owners Jon Deal and Todd Johnson released the following statement about the decision.

Beaver’s played an integral part in building farm-to-table food culture and inspiring a progressive cocktail movement in Houston. It has been our pleasure to serve some of Houston’s best food and drinks for the past twelve years. Our group is extremely proud to have had a small hand in helping launch the careers of Bobby Heugel, Kevin Floyd, Claire Sprouse, Jonathan Jones and the newest rising star in Houston, chef Arash Kharat.

These former Beavers continue to change the way Houstonians eat and drink. Monica Pope is a legend, and the community of creative food and beverage stars that she helped foster through opening Beaver’s will live on for years to come.

As the statement notes, the original location of Beaver's served as an important training ground for a number of culinary talents. Bobby Heugel worked there prior to opening Anvil; his replacement, bartender Ryan Rouse, would go on to open Grand Prize and several other bars across Houston.

On the culinary side, the restaurant opened under the direction of Monica Pope, and she applied the same farm-to-table ethos that guided her cuisine at t'afia to the restaurant's take on comfort food. Chefs such as Jonathan Jones and Arash Kharat expanded the brand's reputation.

The original location spawned a spin off that opened in 2017 with an expanded patio, an adults-only bar called the "Beaver Den," and plenty of space for private events. Powered by Kharat's barbecue chops, the new location earned significant acclaim.

Unfortunately, the brand has suffered a series of setbacks prior to today's announcement. An attempt to relaunch the original location as a keto-friendly spot only lasted a few months before it closed and reopened as the short-lived Decatur Bar and Pop-Up Factory. Earlier this year, Kharat departed to lead the kitchen at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company.

Through a representative, Deal and Johnson declined to comment on the specific reasons for the decision, but it's apparent that Beaver's lacked the same appeal it had in 2008. Still, many will be disappointed they didn't get one last order of chicken fried steak, Knocked Up Queso, or Beaver Balls.

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Texas restaurant Twin Peaks rises out of bankruptcy with new owners

Twin Peaks Houston Facebook

Twin Peaks is climbing its way back.

Six months after filing for bankruptcy, the Addison-based Twin Peaks restaurant chain is getting a second chance at success.

In a Monday, June 15 press release, Twin Peaks said it has separated from its parent company, FAT Brands, and now operates as a standalone private company called Summit Twin Hospitality I LLC.

Summit Acquisitions LLC, a group of the brand’s bondholders — high-priority bankruptcy creditors including Twin Peaks franchisees 3BMgmnt Inc., JEB Food Group, and Operadora 2 Montes — has assumed management of the brand and is poised to eventually buy the chain.

“This transition gives our team the foundation we’ve needed to execute on the vision we’ve always had for this brand,” says Roger Gondek, president and chief operating officer of Twin Peaks, in the release. “We have a strong system, exceptional operators, and enviable guest loyalty, and now we have the financial footing to match. The best days for Twin Peaks are ahead.”

In May, a business known as TWNPKS Bid Co. — backed by bondholders — acquired Twin Peaks in a $359 million debt-to-equity deal approved by a bankruptcy judge in Houston.

Five years ago, FAT Brands bought Twin Peaks from New York City investment firm Garnett Station Partners for $300 million. Last year, Twin Peaks became a publicly traded company after its spinoff from FAT Brands, which remains the chain’s biggest stockholder.

Twin Peaks enters its new era with more than 115 restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico, including five restaurants in Houston and a total of 31 statewide. More restaurants are on the way, including franchised locations in Brownsville, Laredo, and South Padre Island.

Twin Peaks, founded in Lewisville in 2005, competes with Bombshells, Hooters, Twisted Kilt, and other “breastaurant” chains.

According to the press release, Twin Peaks’ executive team remains intact, and no layoffs are planned. In fact, the company plans to add employees as its store count grows.

In conjunction with FAT Brands’ bankruptcy case, a business called FBG Bid Co. said Tuesday, June 16 that it purchased 13 restaurant brands owned by FAT Brands for about $595 million. The acquisition includes chains like Fatburger, Fazoli’s, Great American Cookies, Johnny Rockets, Marble Slab Creamery, and Ponderosa and Bonanza steakhouses, but excludes Twin Peaks.

FAT Brands and Twin Peaks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January with plans to reorganize the businesses. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, FAT Brands owed about $1.4 billion in debt that it was unable to cover.

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