cup of jo

Favorite Austin coffee shop brews up first Houston location in the Heights

One of Austin’s favorite coffee shops is opening in the Heights on Friday, February 14. Jo’s Coffee will open its first Houston location at 1023 Studewood Street.

Founded in 1999 by Texas hotel legend Liz Lambert and her brother Lou, the original Jo’s is located next to Austin’s Hotel San Jose. Even those who’ve never had a cup of coffee there will recognize Jo’s often-imititated “I Love You So Much” mural. Bunkhouse Hotels, the hospitality group Lambert founded that’s now part of Hyatt, still operates Jo’s and decided the time was right to bring it to Houston.

“Everyone here at Bunkhouse has absolutely fallen in love with Houston; and considering our growing presence with the opening of Hotel Saint Augustine and then Hotel Daphne later this year, opening up a Jo’s here felt like a natural progression,” Bunkhouse Hotels president Lisa Bonifacio tells CultureMap in an email. “We believe Jo’s will really resonate with Houstonians, especially in Houston Heights, and we are so excited to bring another little taste of Bunkhouse to the city.”

To ensure the Houston location of Jo’s offers the proper Austin vibes, Bunkhouse worked with Austin’s Hip.Hop.Design Studio on the interior design and purchased custom furniture from Austin’s RAD Furniture, which is located near the original Jo’s on South Congress.

Jo’s is best known for its House Blend, a medium roast coffee, and signature drinks such as the draft Iced Turbo, made with coffee, espresso, hazelnut, chocolate, and cream. It also offers wine, craft beer, and frose. Food options include breakfast tacos and locally-baked pastries.

Bunkhouse also wanted to ensure that Houston has an offering that’s unique to its location. Named for a style of house that’s seen through the Heights, the Bungalow is a vanilla latte kicked up with cinnamon and a little cayenne.

“Celebrating the locals that make a city great is a huge part of how we approach everything at Bunkhouse,” Bonifacio explains. “We want this Jo’s Coffee to feel singular to Houston Heights for everyone who comes in.”

To celebrate the opening, Jo’s will offer customers free drip coffee all day on Friday. In addition, it will give away a limited number of Jo’s Coffee posters, as seen on the shop’s Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jo's Coffee (@joscoffee)

Bunkhouse has made a splash in Houston in the past few months. As Bonifcaio notes, the company opened the Hotel Saint Augustine, its first Houston property, in December. Later this year, it will add the Hotel Daphne, a new property on 20th St, in the Heights. Could another Jo’s location be far behind?

“We’re always looking at growth and to the future, but right now, we’re focusing on getting it right with this first Houston location,” Bonifcaio writes.

Photo by Chad Wadsworth

Jo's Coffee has arrived in Houston.

news-you-can-eat openings coffee the-heights jo's coffee

Adios, Sito's #1

Houston Tex-Mex institution's original location to close after 43 years

Courtesy of Pappasitos

The original location of Pappasitos will close on September 13.

The original location of a pioneering Houston Tex-Mex restaurant will soon serve its last order of fajitas. Pappasitos Cantina is closing its location at Richmond and Hillcroft (6445 Richmond Ave.) on Sunday, September 13.

“After careful consideration, we made this difficult decision based on the long-term outlook for this location. We look forward to inviting our Sito’s #1 guests to our nearby locations at Little Pappasitos on Kirby and Pappasitos Cantina at Memorial City,” the company said in a statement.

“We hope our guests will visit during these final weeks and help us give Sito’s #1 the sendoff it deserves. If you have a favorite memory of Sito’s #1, we would love for you to share it with us through the Pappasitos website,” the statement continues.

Between now and September 13, diners have time to make one final visit to the restaurant. It is participating in Pappas Restaurant Weeks by serving a three-course, $40 menu through this Sunday, September 6. It also offers half-price fajitas on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Opened by brothers Chris, Harris, and Greg Pappas in 1983, the “Sito’s #1,” as its known to both diners and employees, has fed countless Houstonians. Its template of efficient service, generous portions, and tangy margaritas has powered Pappasitos to grow to more than 20 locations in Texas and Georgia.

All of the restaurant’s employees are being offered positions at other Pappas restaurants. The company has not made a decision about what it will do with the property, the statement notes.

“This goodbye is especially meaningful because of what the restaurant represents to our family and our company. We are deeply grateful to the generations of team members who have worked here and to the guests who have made Pappasitos part of their celebrations, traditions, and everyday lives,” the company adds.

closings news-you-can-eat