We’ll sure miss that fried chicken and shrimp.
July was a tough goodbye. An 80-year-old fried chicken institution, a 50-year-old Tex-Mex landmark, and a beloved Montrose restaurant whose closure carries the weight of an unspeakable tragedy—this month’s losses hit harder than most. Here’s what closed.
Barbecue Inn
Generations of diners lined up at this Independence Heights institution after the owners announced it would close on Saturday, August 1, after 80 years in business. David Skrehot told local outlets that his family decided to close due to rising costs and his father’s personal decision. While Barbecue Inn billed itself as a “legendary retro BBQ spot,” many locals knew the restaurant best for its fried shrimp, fried chicken, and chicken-fried steak ideally served with loaded baked potatoes. Lines wrapped around the building in the final days, with citizens arriving in droves to express support and say their final goodbyes.
Rocambolesc
This Uptown Park gelato shop—the only U.S. location and extension of the Roca brothers’ world-famous El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain—closed in late July after more than four years in business. Rocambolesc announced on social media that its lease and partnership with the Roca brothers had concluded. “The financial challenges were never a reflection of inclusion or the extraordinary people behind Rocambolesc,” the post stated.
Traveler’s Cart
Roughly two months after the death of its owners, Montrose restaurant Traveler’s Cart will officially close to the public on Friday, July 31. The restaurant announced the closure on Instagram, encouraging diners to make one last visit, and in the days leading up to it, Traveler’s Cart was indeed busy. Employees have either been hired at sister restaurant Traveler’s Table (also in Montrose) or at other restaurants in the city.
The closing is a gut-wrenching reminder of the loss of Traveler’s Cart co-owner Thy Mitchell, particularly as new details emerge in the tragic case of the murder-suicide that took her life. Police investigations showed that co-owner Matthew Mitchell killed his wife, Thy, and their two children. Thy’s parents have filed a lawsuit citing video evidence that Matthew had been contemplating killing his family in the weeks leading up to the murders.
Istanbul Grill
Rice Village’s Turkish restaurant Istanbul Grill closed on July 19, after nearly 30 years in business. The website explains that the owners will be unable to continue operating “due to lease circumstances beyond [their] control.”
Killen’s
We saw this one coming. Killen’s, the Southern comfort food restaurant on Heights Boulevard, served its last meal on Sunday, July 19. Owner Ronnie Killen told the Chronicle that a strong offer on the property—which will become a gas station—along with rising costs, nearby crime, and personal health challenges factored into the decision. The restaurant opened in 2020, earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024, and built its menu on family recipes, including his Aunt Margie’s German chocolate cake and barbecue skills learned from his German grandfather Wilfred. Killen’s Burgers, Steakhouse, and Barbecue will remain open.
Don Jose Mexican Restaurant
Originally opened in 1974, this storied Tex-Mex restaurant closed on July 13. Owners cited rising costs and rent as making it impossible to continue operating. The announcement resulted in diners flocking to Don Jose until the kitchen ran out of food.
Luis Hermosillo, who started at Don Jose as a busboy, bought the restaurant in 2003 and operated the Tex-Mex institution with his nephew, Carlos Garcia, for years before both died in 2020 from complications related to COVID-19. Family members revived the restaurant, serving a loaded menu of Tex-Mex and Mexican staples, including enchiladas, tamales, chimichangas, tacos, and seafood dishes, but rising costs proved insurmountable.
The Dogwood
This Midtown rooftop bar went out “with a bang” in early July after roughly 13 years. Owner Jason Carrier told Chron that nightlife traffic has slowed in Midtown and that sales have been “drastically lower.” He chose not to renew the lease at the end of the year and to allow the next tenant to “help with the rejuvenation and next cycle of Midtown.”
Tavola
The Bastion Collection closed this Post Oak Blvd Italian restaurant in early July as a part of a long-term strategy, according to a Culturemap Houston report. Tavola originally opened in 2023 as a partnership with Berg Hospitality (The Annie, B&B Butchers) before Bastion took full ownership a year later. Bastion also owns Michelin-starred Le Jardinier and Cafe Leonelli, which are located at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Bar Moon, which opened in the Uptown area in October.
