Australo-Texan Platypus Brewing has been not-so-secretly secreting away a set of fermentation tanks in the back of the reforming nightclub complex at 1902 Washington Ave (at the corner with Silver St.). The brewpub is readying the northernmost segment of the structure; a tree-lined patio is planned at the corner of Silver and Center streets. Here’s the updated site plan from Lovett Commercial’s latest leasing flier, now with more details about other tenants filled in:
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A permit to build out a barber shop called In the Black, shown above in suite E of the compound,was issued in April; per Lovett’s plans the shop looks to be facing Silver through at least one of the new and used holes between Platypus and the first Houston outpost of Austin taco colonist Tacodeli:
The Washington-facing facade of Tacodeli is getting some work as well, and another corner patio is planned right at Washington and Silver (to the far right below:
Here’s the nextdoor space previously marked up as a ramen shop — Lovett now labels the spot as Goen Japanese Ramen, and  a restaurant buildout permit was issued to Hiroshi Abe in April. The framework for the glassy front shown in previous renderings of the site seems to be in place:
- Previously on Swamplot:Â Citywide Wave of Taco Colonization Will Continue with Occupation of Former Drake Nightclub in Sawyer Heights
Images: Christopher Andrews (photos), Lovett Commercial (rendering)
There sure seem to be a lot of microbreweries popping up all over the country, and a lot right here in Houston. Not as many as mattress stores, but a lot nonetheless. Surely they can’t all be wildly successful like St. Arnold’s…a few have to go under, right? Or is the market just that thirsty for more?
A few have disappeared, they tend to go somewhat quietly. In the last decade or so: Two Rows, Incubator/LXB, Ft Bend, Texas Big Beer (in Buna). Houston is still a little behind the curve here, and craft is still in double digits growth as it eats into the mainstream segment (which is flat-declining). In addition to the big successes, some will only be mildly successful, while a few will continue to go under, usually from a flaw such as marketing, quality, personal reasons, etc.