new at hou

Growing Houston cafe takes off with new Hobby Airport location

Common Bond is now open at Hobby Airport

Photo by Andrew Hemingway

Travelers passing through Hobby Airport have a new option to grab a quick snack or meal before their departures. Common Bond Bar, Bistro and Bakery is now open at the airport.

Located in West Concourse Level 2, Gate 1, the new Common Bond opens daily at 5 am for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. With 88 seats, the counter service restaurant offers plenty of room for travelers to grab a quick meal before continuing their journeys.

"We're incredibly excited to bring our artisan baked goods and menu to travelers at Hobby Airport," COO Andrew Miller COO said in a statement. "There's something special about being part of the moments before a journey, and we can't wait to share the scratch-made croissants, breads, and sweets our guests love with people passing through Houston.”

Indeed, diners will find all of their Common Bond favorites at the Hobby Airport location. That starts with the bakery’s signature croissants and viennoiserie, including butter, almond, chocolate, pistachio, Kouign-Amann, and morning buns. Of course, Common Bond will also offer cakes, cookies, brownies, fruit tarts, and macarons.

At breakfast, the menu includes shrimp and grits, breakfast tacos, an avocado smash, and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch and dinner, choose from options such as the fan favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich, club sandwich, tarragon chicken salad sandwich (served on a croissant), steak frites, salmon power bowl, and more.

Throughout the day, travelers can pair their meals with coffee, craft cocktails, wine, and other beverages.

Common Bond is the latest restaurant to arrive at Hobby via the City of Houston’s concessions contract with Houston-based LaTrelle’s Management. Other restaurants include local favorites such as Dish Society, Fat Cat Creamery, and Killen’s Barbecue.

“We're equally thrilled to partner with LaTrelle's Management Group to open this location,” Miller added. “Their expertise in airport hospitality makes them the perfect partner to help us deliver the Common Bond experience to a whole new audience."

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Restaurant business

Comfort food chain Cotton Patch Cafe acquired by Dallas restaurant group

Chicken fried steak, CFS, Cotton Patch Cafe

Facebook/Cotton Patch Cafe

Chicken fried steak at Cotton Patch Cafe.

The Southlake-based Cotton Patch Cafe restaurant chain, known for its Texas-style comfort food, is finding comfort in the form of a new owner from Dallas.

According to a release, Dallas-based Local Favorite Restaurants group purchased Cotton Patch Cafe from Altamont Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Local Favorite's growing restaurant portfolio includes 99 restaurants spanning 10 brands, including well-known names like El Fenix Mexican Restaurant, Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar, Meso Maya, Taqueria La Ventana, Wok Star Chinese, Twisted Root Burger Company, Campuzano Mexican Food, and Village Burger Bar.

The Cotton Patch acquisition “is an important step for Local Favorite Restaurants and a natural fit for the kind of brands we want under our roof,” Local Favorite founder Mike Karns says in the release. “Cotton Patch Cafe has loyal guests, a proven track record, and a Texas identity that gives it meaningful room to grow.”

Founded in 1989 in Nacogdoches, Cotton Patch operates 46 restaurants in Texas and New Mexico. The only Houston-area location is in Spring.

The deal also brings changes to the leadership team.

Karns will remain with the company in the role of founder and "Free-Range Creative," overseeing its creative direction and growth strategy. Cotton Patch Cafe CEO Brandon Coleman III will become CEO of Local Favorite Restaurants.

Local Favorite also owns and operates Sunrise Mexican Foods, which produces chips, tortillas, and other Mexican food products for retail and foodservice operators.

Cotton Patch Cafe is known for scratch-made, comfort classics like hand-breaded chicken fried steak, along with $9.99 Texas Value Meals.

Coleman says the acquisition won’t result in changes to the “heart” of Cotton Patch.

“We will continue to bring the small-town spirit, big Texas value, and quality scratch-made food guests count on, with the same focus on hospitality and community that has always made Cotton Patch feel like home,” says Coleman.

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