hey mr. dj

Downtown’s new record shop spins vinyl vibes, speakeasy-style cocktail bar, and listening lounge

A new bar has opened in downtown Houston that caters to music lovers. Off the Record is now open daily.

Photo by Michael Ma

Reserve a booth and enjoy the sounds.

Located in the former Bovine and Barley space at 416 Main St., Off the Record unites bar veterans Jason Lowery (Proof, Tikila’s) and Steve Rogers (Bar 5015, Prospect Park) with talent agent David Anderson III (The Heist Agency) and social media marketing pro Mikos Adams. Together, they’ve created a bar that will feature themed vinyl nights and resident DJs who will spin tunes covering a range of eras and styles.

Patrons access the bar through a speakeasy-style entrance. Initially, the bar looks like a record store — pass through a couple of curtains to find the 3,600-square-foot bar that’s adorned with racks of vinyl and vintage speakers. This video from local influencer Dom McGhee shows what to expect.

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The record store component is inspired by Anderson’s uncle George Daniels, who owned Chicago record store George’s Music Room. Touted in a press release as the largest independently owned record store in the Midwest, Daniels helped promote artists’ careers.

Off the Record’s interior features five booths and five couches that groups can reserve as well as 30 gold records from artists such as Nirvana, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd. An upstairs lounge features photos of Daniels with celebrities such as Beyonce, Erykah Badu, and Scarface.

General Manager Jorge Parris has created a cocktail menu inspired by famous songs, albums, and artists. They include the Rolling Stone (Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass Vodka, St-Germain, lemon and mint), the Smooth Criminal (Thai chili-infused gin, pickled okra, and vermouth), and the Wu-Tang Forever (Suntory Toki Japanese whisky, Evan Williams Black Label bourbon, etc.). Beer, wine, seltzers, and classic cocktails such as the margarita and Old Fashioned are also available.

“Off the Record is a listening lounge, and it’s also a record store with a story behind it,” Lowery said in a statement. “We wanted to bring a spot to Houston with culture, good music — a place that makes you want to pull out your Shazam and figure out what song is playing. If you’re bar hopping, hopefully you’re not going to hear the same thing here as anywhere else.”

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bye, bye, bellaire

Eclectic Houston neighborhood restaurant will shutter Bellaire store

Courtesy of KP's Kitchen

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A Houston neighborhood restaurant is saying goodbye to Bellaire after two years. KP’s Kitchen will close its location at 5427 Bissonnet on Sunday, May 31.

Closing Bellaire allows owner Kerry Pauly to focus on his Spring Valley location (8412 Katy Fwy), which has shown steady growth, he said in a statement.

“Our business there has continued to grow. The reason I opened a restaurant was to connect with people and the community, and it’s in my best interest to strictly focus on what’s working,” Pauly said. “We’ve been proud to be part of the Bellaire community, and there is certainly the possibility of opening a second KP’s Kitchen again in the future.”

Pauly opened KP’s Kitchen’s Bellaire location in April 2024. It built on the success of his original location, which started in Town & Country Village and moved to its current home in 2022. The restaurant has been a devoted following for its classic American fare and warm service, led by Pauly’s relentlessly cheerful demeanor.

Last year, chef Richard Knight (Feast, Hunky Dory) joined KP’s Kitchen as its culinary director. He’s introduced a number of improvements to the menu, including adding his signature fish and chips.

Diners who visit the Bellaire location during May can take advantage of daily specials such as kids eat free on Tuesday, all-day happy hour on Wednesday, and fried chicken family dinners on Sunday. In addition, Bellaire will offer select cocktails and spirits for $5 on Sunday.

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