EastMidtowner Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Anyone know what's going in on McGowen and Travis where the noodle shop used to be? The sign says The Roof.... is that whole corner going to be one huge club? That's a prime location if the Camden SuperBlock gets developed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 The Roof has been open for some time now, 2600 Travis. it takes up the upper floors, i'm not sure what's going on in the ground floor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Anyone know what's going in on McGowen and Travis where the noodle shop used to be? The sign says The Roof.... is that whole corner going to be one huge club? That's a prime location if the Camden SuperBlock gets developed.From what I've read it's going to be a seafood restaurant on the first floor. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/busine...ff/4578633.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastMidtowner Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 Oh ok... I thought the sign said "Roof" but maybe it said "Reef." Seafood restaurant in Midtown? Hmm....will be interesting to see how that does. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
what Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 The Roof has been open for some time now, 2600 Travis. it takes up the upper floors, i'm not sure what's going on in the ground floor.Yes, I believe that is correct. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim1126 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Oh ok... I thought the sign said "Roof" but maybe it said "Reef." Seafood restaurant in Midtown? Hmm....will be interesting to see how that does.It does indeed say "Reef." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzerain Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 My wife and I walked by there on our way to the train station before the construction started quite a bit. It looks like they are updating the building. Looked pretty fancy. If I go by again soon I will try and get a pic of the sign. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 I drove by that new "Reef" restaurant last night, and it's now open. It looked very nice inside, and very crowded. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToolMan Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 It's always crowded. Pretty decent dood as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 https://m.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Montrose-Tex-Mex-mainstay-El-Real-closes-14567849.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com   I am so sorry this happened. in 2011 after the video rental store closed- I was so afraid this property would be torn down.  at the beginning of Montrose Monday’s it was sooooo crowded. somehow tho it all faded. I’m sure his house catching fire and the messy divorce didn’t help things. I will miss Bryan Caswell in Montrose. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) Wowsa! I gotta say though the last few times I was there it was really slow...and i mean REALLY slow...and the food wasn't great...including just THIS past Saturday!!! A group of friends and I went there to eat during the Montrose Monster Pub Crawl... we were one of maybe 5 tables in the place at a time that should have been busier and at the end of the dinner, my friend Liz said: wow how is this place even in business...it's dead in here and this was the worst food ever...  i had to immediately call her just now and ask her for lottery numbers  ps...i will add that moving Little Bigs was another horrible decision he made...that place was booming in the old location at Montrose and Westheimer and then he moved it further down to a less convenient spot on Montrose (guess they wanted a bigger space to fit their success but they were successful mainly because of their location in my opinion) and the service and food quality also suffered for some reason. Long live The Burger Joint though...love that place, so I am not complaining. Edited October 28, 2019 by gene 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 18 minutes ago, trymahjong said: https://m.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Montrose-Tex-Mex-mainstay-El-Real-closes-14567849.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com   I am so sorry this happened. in 2011 after the video rental store closed- I was so afraid this property would be torn down.  at the beginning of Montrose Monday’s it was sooooo crowded. somehow tho it all faded. I’m sure his house catching fire and the messy divorce didn’t help things. I will miss Bryan Caswell in Montrose.  I really hope this can now be turned back into a theater or concert venue like they did with the Heights Theater. Westheimer in Montrose is breathing new life, and this would be an excellent opportunity. Plus there really isn't a big time venue in the area. I'm sad to see El Real go. I liked going there as a nice place to get some decent Tex-Mex in an unique environment, but I rarely saw it full. I think someone can really bring new life into this place. With a lot of the latest revitalization efforts to old venues like this around town happening I'm looking forward to what happens next here. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 I thought this was maybe where they were going to move Rich's when all the news broke out...it is two story and it HAS been a club before.................................... 🤪 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyt36 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, gene said: I thought this was maybe where they were going to move Rich's when all the news broke out...it is two story and it HAS been a club before.................................... 🤪  What club was it? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Decadance!!! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Not a Robot Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 I guess it was clearly Bill Floyd who had the magic touch in their partnership.  It's sad to see this because Reef was once one of my favorite restaurants.  Like others have said, hopefully this is turned into an event space of sorts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Former El Real employees protesting in front of Reef, demanding paychecks: Â https://abc13.com/food/el-real-restaurant-in-montrose-suddenly-closes-/5653315/ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 El Real did have the best cheese enchiladas in the city. It will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, HoustonMidtown said: Former El Real employees protesting in front of Reef, demanding paychecks:  https://abc13.com/food/el-real-restaurant-in-montrose-suddenly-closes-/5653315/  wow that is sad indeed... i hope brian is able to stand by his word. I guess he really is going through a tough time and hope things look up for him soon... as for the servers and workers, there are so many amazing restaurants opening that surely they will have new jobs asap! prayers for sure! more details here too: https://houston.eater.com/2019/10/28/20930556/el-real-montrose-closing-unpaid-servers Edited October 28, 2019 by gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 So how many will just miss the neon sign if it goes? Me and the GF use to have Rita’s on the patio when the weather was nice but never really for anything else. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said: So how many will just miss the neon sign if it goes? Me and the GF use to have Rita’s on the patio when the weather was nice but never really for anything else.  The one good thing is that sign or some form of it has been there the whole time so they will probably keep the Marquee style sign and just change it to whatever the new place turns into...but keep that style etc as its iconic to the Montrose area!  5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 5 minutes ago, gene said:  The one good thing is that sign or some form of it has been there the whole time so they will probably keep the Marquee style sign and just change it to whatever the new place turns into...but keep that style etc as its iconic to the Montrose area!  Good! I shared this story with a buddy and his first comment was about the neon sign. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErickEdgar Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) . Edited October 28, 2019 by ErickEdgar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 His empire has been slowly crumbling for the last few years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 10 hours ago, Luminare said:  I really hope this can now be turned back into a theater or concert venue like they did with the Heights Theater. Westheimer in Montrose is breathing new life, and this would be an excellent opportunity. Plus there really isn't a big time venue in the area.  That would indeed be fantastic. I'm not sure what kinds of changes have been made to the building to repurpose it from a performing arts venue since it was the Tower, but hopefully they're not as irreversible as the ones Trader Joe's made when they took over the former Bookstop/Alabama. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 i LOVED the Alabama Bookstop and was SO sad to see that close... Â 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 I didn't think the restaurant was particularly good, but I hope the building can be re-purposed. Unfortunately old theaters are hard to remodel to other uses. Bookstop was certainly one of the best theater remodelings.  2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 On 10/28/2019 at 10:30 AM, gene said: I thought this was maybe where they were going to move Rich's when all the news broke out...it is two story and it HAS been a club before.................................... 🤪 Yes, I remember Decadance (and thank you for supplying the name - that was buried deep in my mind's Montrose files). IIRC it also briefly served as a live-theater space (as did the former Boobie Rock across the street). I like the idea of it being a multifunctional event space but wonder if the revenue stream would cover expenses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Just like the Alabama, the Tower's old floor was leveled with a new slab so it's basically just a big 2story space. You could put anything in there, though it would be difficult to return it to use as a movie theater because of the new floor.  Montrose doesn't have a food hall yet... 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 (edited) Yeah great ideas! I would be happy with a food hall, a theater or a club...and happily support them... but yes please keep the facade/sign and just change El Real/Tex Mex to whatever the new name is! LOVE it so much... (*image taken from El Real facebook)  Edited October 29, 2019 by gene 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Dangerous Disco on Sunday nights at the old Tower! Â I actually liked El Real. Puffy tacos, cheese enchiladas, and good queso. Old school tex-mex. Sad to see it close. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn173 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Off topic but close. Â The Reef restaurant building has some interesting construction going on overhead. (Pix) There used to be an outdoor music venue up there and this sort of looks like they are considerably expanding on it. The iron work went up last weekend. Anyone knows anything about this? As a "down noise" neighbor, I am not particularly excited about it. Â 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 They could be enclosing it, which would make it quieter for you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Perhaps it was only a matter of time.... Reef closed  Hope Bryan Caswell can rebound 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 Yeah i saw that yesterday...wow...his world is falling apart. Sad to see... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 (edited) With his elevated recognition on Iron Chef and Top Chef not to mention here in Houston,  you’d think one of them ( Chefs) might put out feelers to help him out. Edited November 27, 2019 by trymahjong 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcal Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Was traveling this past week and spent some time in Bratislava and came upon a cool coffee shop called Urban House http://www.urbanhouse.sk/  I think that you could convert El Real to a similar concept. Coffee shops in Montrose tend to do pretty well and you could do alcohol/food.  Urban House was a former small department store, but was still able to make it feel cosy.  Keeping old theater theme would of course be required.  Urban House   6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Anyone know what the addition to the top of the building is? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 36 minutes ago, hindesky said: Anyone know what the addition to the top of the building is? Â I saw them working on that a month or so ago. Couldn't determine if that was the original Proof structure or something new. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn173 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I posted this back in November (albeit, well off topic for that discussion) Â I don't know if Reef owns the building. but if so, their recent closing and business setbacks would seem to end any continuation of this construction. The area used to be an open air concert venue for Proof. The adjacent 'interior' walls are open to the air now, so I have no idea if this would have been a closed in space. There were 3-4 guys banging on the metal beams on Saturday (January 4) but they didn't seem to be be doing any real impact. Â A mystery to me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 43 minutes ago, Brooklyn173 said: I don't know if Reef owns the building According to county tax records, it's owned by Central Houston Auto Properties LLC, which also owns 2520 and 2521 Main St.(Central Houston Cadillac). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn173 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Whatever it is, it'll have a translucent roof. Â 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Brooklyn173 said: Whatever it is, it'll have a translucent roof.  The way the structure is designed, it looks like it could be a retractable roof. That is an interesting twist to this development. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 The retractable roof is now fully installed. I'm wondering if this is going to be another club/concert venue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Tiny baseball stadium 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn173 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 It was an outdoor concert site before so I expect it will be again - with a retractable roof. I'm interested in what the walls will be. Enclosed or screened or mostly open or what. It will be loud, I am almost positive about that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 From today. Â Â 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Are there any other retractable roof spaces in Houston like this? (Besides Minute Maid & NRG's ragtop) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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