We can rebuild it

Ken Hoffman checks in with the man who tore down Meyerland's wildly successful Chick-fil-A

A new Chick-fil-A will rise where the old one stood.

Photo courtesy of Chick-fil-A

Since its opening in 1999, the Chick-fil-A at 5001 Beechnut in Meyerland Plaza has been a top-performing Chick-fil-A in the Houston area.

That’s no small waffle-cut potatoes. Houston is the No. 1 market in the entire Chick-fil-A chain with 119 restaurants. Take that No. 2 Atlanta, No. 3 San Antonio and No. 4 Dallas.

So what did Chick-fil-A owner Jesse Chaluh do bright and early Friday morning to his ultra-successful restaurant on Beechnut? He climbed aboard a bulldozer like Bob the Builder and took the first swipe at demolishing the fast-food landmark. Within one hour, with professional workers taking over, the entire building and drive-through lane were reduced to rubble down to the ground.

Franchisee Jesse Chaluh tore down his Meyerland location this week.Photo by Ken Hoffman

“I have mixed feelings about tearing down this restaurant,” said Chaluh. “This was my first free-standing Chick-fil-A in Houston. I have a strong emotional attachment to it. But I realize that it’s necessary to scrape and rebuild this location.”

Chaluh also owns the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Kirby and the 59 feeder and the one on S. Post Oak in the Meyer Park Center. All the workers at the Beechnut stores were invited to work at one of Chaluh’s other Chick-fil-A locations.

Chaluh said the Beechnut restaurant simply wasn’t big enough to meet the demands of its overwhelming success.

“When I built this restaurant back in 1999 I thought it would be large enough. No one ever dreamed that Chick-fil-A would be as popular as it is. We thought we had the right size restaurant. But it didn’t take long before we were bursting at our seams. It’s been difficult meeting the expectations of our customers.

“We made renovations and improvements six times over the years but it was never enough. Our staff was constantly leaning on each other in the small kitchen. We had space for only one drive-through. Since 60 or 70-percent of our business is from the drive-through, that was a problem,” Chaluh said.

Construction on a new, much bigger and more modern Chick-fil-A will begin almost immediately on the site. The new restaurant will be nearly twice as large. The parking area will be expanded to accommodate about 100 cars.

“The new restaurant will have a playground. Some new Chick-fil-A locations don’t have a dining room or a playground. But this one will have both. The dining room furnishings and artwork will be completely new. This restaurant will have three drive-through lanes, one of them for mobile orders through the app. That lane will be super fast,” Chaluh said.

The new Chick-fil-A on Beechnut is expected to open in early October and will employ up to 100 people.

Where to eat on New Year's Eve

16 Houston restaurants serving fantastic feasts on New Year's Eve

Photo by Shane Dante, courtesy of Artisans

The French restaurant offers a six-course dinner to ring in 2025.

Those looking for New Year’s Eve revelry in Houston don’t have to look too far. Restaurants throughout the city are offering a variety of dine-in options to help Houstonians ring in the new year. Whether it’s a fancy feast or an intimate date night for two, here are some of our recommendations.

Amrina
The chic Woodlands spot offers a six-course New Year’s Eve’s dinner, with seatings at 4 pm and 8:45 pm. Entertainment begins at 7 pm and a midnight champagne toast will be included for the later seating. The early seating is $125 per person; the later seating is $150. Optional add-ons include wine pairings, caviar, and wagyu. Reserve online.

Artisans
Ring in the New Year with an elegant, six-course pre-fixe dinner, available from 5-10 pm. Select from gourmet creations like Le Foie Gras au Torchon et Pot de Crème, lobster and salmon with chantilly sauce, and a tender filet de boeuf rôti Rossini. Dinner also includes dessert and a celebratory champagne toast. The cost is $189 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made online and require a credit card.

Aya Sushi
The restaurant offers 50 percent off select bottles of wine and sake to celebrate the new year. While the restaurant’s regular menu will be available, patrons can also opt for the winter omakase menu, which is $159 per person. Make reservations online.

Little's Oyster Bar
In addition to its a modified version of its regular menu, the upscale seafood restaurant will offer a six-course, $175 per person menu. The progression starts with raw oysters, Red Royal shirmp, and lobster bisque. Continue with white truffle pappardelle before choosing either yellow edge grouper with black eyed peas or beef filet with mashed potatoes. Finish with chocolate cremeux.

The Lymbar
Chef David Cordúa has created a shared dinner for two to ring in 2025. For $240, a couple can share caviar "oreos," squid ink blinis with DR Delicacy osetra gold mascarpone, and chives; plantain chips with chimichurri sauce; spaghetti carbonara; lobster roll "Twinkies" accompanied by a lobster bisque shooter; a rib roast served family style with horseradish cream, leek fondue potatoes, pesto green beans, and wedge fries; tres leches; and sticky toffee pudding. The meal also includes a Champagne toast. Two seatings are available, one at 6:30 pm and one at 8:30. Call 713-485-6230 to reserve or book online.

Marmo
The Italian chophouse in Montrose has a special four-course prefix dinner for New Year’s Eve. Select from items such as wagyu carpaccio, lobster salad, squid ink campanelle, lasagna, branzino roulade, New York strip, roast duck, and more. The early seating, 5:30-8 pm, is $129 per person; the late seating, 8:30-11 pm, is $159. An optional wine pairing add-on is available for $35. Those who book a patio table receive a complimentary bottle of bubbles. See the full menu and reserve online.

Milton's
Head to Rice Village for a five-course, $135 menu of Italian fare. The menu includes heart of palm salad with shaved fennel; Sicilian "tar tar" with tuna, salmon, and scallops; oyster duo; lobster risotto; grilled branzino; and porchetta. Finish with dessert. Add caviar and vodka for $99 and wine pairings for $75.

Perry’s
All locations of the swanky steakhouse will be open on New Year’s Eve beginning at 4 pm. The Standard Prixe Fixe Menu has three courses, including choice of starter, entree, and dessert, for $89 per person. The Rare and Well Done Prix Fixe Menu includes a choice of starter, salad, entree, and dessert and is $149 per person. Choose items such as lobster bisque, wedge salad, an eight-ounce filet, Perry’s famous pork chop, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate crunch tower, and other selections. See the full menu and reserve online.

Postino
The chic wine bar offers its Boujee Board & Bottle on New Year’s Eve from 5 pm to midnight. The cost is $50, for the board of bruschetta and bottle of Millesimato Pas Dosé Brut premium bubbles. Festive dress encouraged. Reservations suggested.

Roka Akor
The Upper Kirby steakhouse and sushi establishment has a special New Year’s Eve five-course menu for $135 per person. Enjoy options such as yellowtail sashimi with poached ponzu garlic and serrano, lobster tempura, and prime filet served with truffle miso butter, grilled fingerling potatoes, and shiso chimichurri. Reservations available online.

State of Grace
Ring in the new year with a special four-course, prix fixe menu for $195 per person. Menu highlights include yellowfin tuna crudo, Crescent Valley duck, diver scallops, and delicious desserts. Wine pairings are available for $65 or $115. See the full menu here. Reserve a spot online.

Street to Kitchen
Join James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter for a five-course menu with pairings by Meticulous Spirits Vodka and Texas-based winemaker Adega Vinho. It's priced at $120 per person.

Tavola
The Italian restaurant's four-course prix fixe menu features dishes like Cinderella Scallops, uovo en raviolo, and Beef Wellington with porcini mushrooms. The cost is $105 per person. At midnight, there will be complimentary champagne, grapes symbolizing prosperity, and a live pasta cooking demonstration on the patio serving freshly-made cacio e pepe to all guests. The restaurant is open from 4 to 11:30 pm, with limited food service after 10. Reservations are available via OpenTable or by phone.

Traveler’s Table
Dine around the world without leaving Houston with a three-course prix fixe menu consisting of a small plate, entree, and dessert. The cost is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. A complimentary champagne toast will be served at midnight, and a DJ spins tunes into 2025. Reservations can be made via Resy.

Turner’s Cut
An opulent New Year’s Eve four-course, pre-fixe menu is available for $295 per person. Choose a starter such as foie terrine, king crab, or wild mushroom tart, followed by lobster ravioli, pan-seared scallops, or agnolotti. Entree selections include American Wagyu tenderloin, halibut, lamb chops, or white wine truffle risotto, and dessert choices are gateau Marjolaine, crème fraiche cheesecake, or cran-apple tarte-tatin. Reserve via OpenTable.

Uchiko Houston
Enjoy an omakase dinner to close out 2024 and welcome in 2025. Dinner begins with seasonal fruit and includes selections like caviar service, a two-piece nigiri course, Ora King salmon, New York strip, and a cheese course. The cost is $400 for two. Reserve online.

Photo by Shane Dante

Artisans offers a six-course dinner to ring in 2025.

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