Movie Magic in The Woodlands

Savior of River Oaks Theatre unveils reel cool new luxury movie and dining destination in The Woodlands

What about Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Courtesy of Gensler

The Houston company that’s leading the renovation of the historic River Oaks Theatre has revealed big plans for The Woodlands. Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of Star Cinema Grill, will open a movie theater and a restaurant in the Market Street Development this July. (Update: The company has announced both concepts will open Wednesday, July 12.)

The movie theater, named Reel Luxury Cinemas, will replace a Cinemark theater that closed in 2022. Its five screens will feature amenities such as luxury recliners, privacy pods, and heated seats. Movie goers will have access to a full menu of food and drinks to dine on during the films.

Joining it will The Audrey Restaurant & Bar. Located on the second floor of Market Street, the Audrey will offer diners a view of the development’s greenspace through 20 large windows. Expect a menu of contemporary American fare that includes pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood towers. True to its namesake, legendary actress Audrey Hepburn, the restaurant will serve a Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired brunch on the weekends.

Taken together, both Reel Luxury Cinemas and the Audrey expand Culinary Khancepts’s presence in The Woodlands. The company opened an outpost of Texas comfort food restaurant State Fare in Hughes Landing last year.

“We really wanted to find a location that fit our vision of premium experiences and feel that there was no better fit than Market Street,” Culinary Khancepts president and CEO Omar Khan said in a statement. “It’s a first-class development that aligns with our long-term vision. We are excited to be a part of the Woodlands community and can’t wait for our guests to experience our passion for what we do.”

The area in and around Market Street has seen a number of new additions in the past couple years, including luxurious steak and seafood restaurant Mastro’s Ocean Club and whiskey-obsessed comfort food restaurant Bosscat Kitchen & Libations. Other recent openings in the area include Kirby Ice House and In-N-Out Burger.

"We are thrilled that Culinary Khancepts chose Market Street to debut the Reel Luxury Cinemas and The Audrey Restaurant & Bar concepts," Market Street marketing director Noemi Gonzalez added. "Through the years Market Street has welcomed many first-to-market tenants, and we know our guests will love these elevated cinema and dining experiences."

Woodlands movies openings news-you-can-eat

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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