A reader notes a notice of an application to sell alcohol posted on the door of the former Dealer Sales building at 1919 N. Shepherd Dr. The HBJ reported last August that Atlanta-based pizza-and-recently-burger chain Mellow Mushroom leased the space at the corner with 20th St. from serial redeveloper Braun Enterprises. The chain, which dropped its first Houston-area spore up in Spring, appears to be sprouting its second location within the somewhat ambiguous boundaries of the Houston Heights’ nominally dry zone.
The pizza place may provide more savory counterbalance to the sugar-laced shopping strip just to the south on the same block — where Fat Cat Creamery, Hugs & Donuts, and Smoothie King all nestle in with Finch Properties and hair salon Black Sheep Parlor along 19th St., sheltered by N. Shepherd-facing Ka Sushi. Renderings released last year for the redeveloping building show the Mushroom popping open in line with some additional retail space; the strip could also get lawyered up:
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Meanwhile, the existing building appears to be getting skinned in preparation for the changeover:
Here’s a peek around the corner on 20th, where the TABC notice is hanging out:
- Exclusive: More pizza headed to the Heights [HBJ]
- Previously on Swamplot: More Sugar Headed for the Sweetest Strip Center on North Shepherd
Images: Swamplot inbox (photos), Braun Enterprises (renderings)
So happy to see the used car dealerships giving way to better development on N. Shepherd.
Have recently tried a Mellow Mushroom pizza in Knoxville, TN ….. bravo!
+1
ate at one in mobile, al a couple months back and i was quite good. could use on the montrose area.
I believe the dry zone only extends as far west as Lawrence Street, so Shepherd is well outside it.
The dry zone extends to Herkimer St. below 16th Street and then juts out further west to include Shepherd/Durham above 16th. That’s why Ka, Bernadines, Hunky Dory, etc. all follow the private-club model to serve alcohol.
They still need a private club license to serve… Just ask Downhouse, Hunky Dory, Bernadine’s, Southern Goods and KA Sushi.
Any word on if this is still happening?