Houston's mole master

Pioneering Houston Mexican restaurant will shutter after 44 years

Chef Arnaldo Richards is closing Picos.

Courtesy of Picos

One of Houston’s most enduring Mexican restaurants will serve its last meals in September. Picos will close at some point in the next two months, chef-owner Arnaldo Richards announced.

In a statement, the restaurant cites the “ongoing economic pressures and shifting consumer behaviors that have significantly impacted the restaurant industry” as the reasons behind the decision. Richards told the Houston Chronicle that Picos sales declined 18-percent in 2025 compared to 2024.

The Richards family shared a message to the restaurant’s customers on social media that reads in part:

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished and so thankful for the relationships we’ve built. We will truly miss our daily interactions, the laughter, and all the memories we’ve shared.

Thank you for your loyalty and support throughout the years. It is what allowed me to live out my dream. I’ll always be grateful for that and for the family we’ve built together.

Richards opened the first location of Picos in Southwest Houston in 1984. At a time when Tex-Mex dominated the city, Picos quickly drew an enthusiastic following for serving dishes inspired by Mexico’s seven regions. In particular, fans hailed the restaurant’s different moles, enchiladas, and other flavorful fare. It also served its signature shaker margaritas — made with freshly squeezed lime juice and good tequila — at a time when many restaurants still used sweet and sour mix.

In 2014, Picos reininvented itself from hidden gem to destination restaurant by moving to its current location at 3601 Kirby Drive. The expansive location featured an all-new interior with design elements imported from Mexico, a dedicated bar area, and a private dining room stocked with spirit lockers which the restaurant’s most loyal customers could stock with the favorite bottles (for an annual rental fee, of course).

Over the past 10-plus years, Picos on Kirby has been known for its over-the-top, parking lot Cinco de Mayo party, its seasonal tamale trailer, and epic Sunday brunch buffet.

Thankfully, Houstonians will have plenty of time to say goodbye. Between now and the end of September, Picos will host a series of farewell dinners to celebrate its legacy. An exact closing date will be shared in the weeks to come.

“This was not a decision made lightly,” Richards said in a statement. “We’ve weathered many seasons over the past 44 years, but the current economic climate and changes in how people dine have made it impossible for us to continue operating in the way our guests have come to know and love.”

While the impending closure is sad, Richards will not be exiting the food scene. FajitasDelivery.com — his recently-launched website to deliver fajitas and more to homes, offices, and private events — will continue to operate, a representative tells CultureMap.

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sudden cupcake shutter

Cupcake pioneer Sprinkles shutters all locations, including one in Houston

Photo courtesy of Sprinkles

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A nationwide cupcake bakery has shuttered all of its locations, including in Houston. Sprinkles Cupcakes closed all of its locations on December 31, according to multiple media reports.

The company provided a brief statement about the closures to TV station KTLA: “After thoughtful consideration, we’ve made the very difficult decision to transition away from operating company-owned Sprinkles bakeries.”

Founder Candace Nelson shared her own thoughts about the news via a post on Instagram. After noting that she sold the business to private equity in 2012, Nelson stated she was disappointed by the decision.

“Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it, and this isn’t how I thought the story would go. I thought Sprinkles would keep growing and be around forever,” she says in the clip.

The bakery had 20 locations in six states. In Houston, Sprinkles had one location in Rice Village that opened in 2021 (2563 Amherst St.). A Highland Village location that opened in 2010 had already closed.

It also operated stores in Austin (3120 Palm Way), Dallas (4020 Villanova), and Plano (7500 Windrose Avenue) and cupcake ATMs at other spots statewide, including one in The Woodlands Market Street district.

Sprinkles was widely credited for creating the cupcake craze of the late aughts and early 2010s. Founded by Nelson in 2005, the shop's treats elevated the form with high quality ingredients, a wide range of flavors, and the sort of eye-catching designs that would be now be described as Instagram-worthy — but Sprinkles predates the app’s creation. It introduced a number of innovations, including a cupcake ATM to satisfy cravings 24-hours-a-day.

As for Nelson, she pivoted to Pizzana, an Italian-style pizzeria she co-founded with her husband Charles, actor Chris O’Donnell and his wife Caroline, and chef Daniele Uditi. The restaurant, which holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide for its original outpost in Los Angeles, has a Dallas location that opened in 2022 and a Houston store that opened in 2024.

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