Tracking Coronavirus’s Impact on Houston’s Restaurant Industry

Restaurants are cancelling events and stepping up sanitation practices to mitigate the impact

Contributors: Amy McCarthy and Brittanie Shey

Across Houston, restaurants of all kinds are bracing for the impact that novel coronavirus, the viral illness that was recently classified at pandemic levels by the World Health Organizations, will have on their businesses.

In the coming weeks, Eater Houston will track the way that novel coronavirus and the fears surrounding its spread are affecting the city’s restaurants. Right now, we’re already seeing the cancellation of major events like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and dramatic declines in business for restaurants in Asiatown.

For the latest updates on coronavirus in Houston, Harris County Public Health offers a wealth of resources via its website.

62 Total Updates Since
Mar 11, 2020, 2:01pm CDT

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January 13, 2021
Chic French Eatery Lucienne Is Houston’s Latest Permanent Restaurant Closure

By Amy McCarthy and Brittanie Shey

A running list of establishments that have called it quits since restaurants were required to close their dining rooms
October 21, 2020
TABC Suspends Notorious Houston Bar Spire’s Liquor License

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

Three other Houston bars, including Lux Lounge and Sol Billares, won’t be able to serve booze for 30 days
October 19, 2020
Houston: Do You Feel Safe Eating Out Right Now?

By Amy McCarthy

Restaurants are open at limited capacity, but many diners are choosing to stay at home or stick to takeout. Tell Eater Houston what you’re doing.
October 8, 2020
Judge Lina Hidalgo Won’t Allow Harris County Bars to Reopen Just Yet

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

"Indoor, maskless gathering should not be taking place right now," according to Hidalgo
September 17, 2020
Houston Bars Must Stay Closed, But Restaurants Can Increase Indoor Dining Capacity

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

The new capacity rules for restaurants go into effect on Monday
September 1, 2020
Houston Restaurant Workers Will Protest Congress’s Inaction on Pandemic Relief Today

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

Among the group’s demands: an extension of federal unemployment benefits and a moratorium on evictions
July 2, 2020
These Houston Restaurants Have Closed Their Dining Rooms After Employees Tested Positive For COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

A running list of the establishments that have announced plans to close and sanitize
June 29, 2020
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Adds Three Bars to City’s ‘Wall of Shame’

By Amy McCarthy

The mayor scolded the establishments that operated over capacity in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order limiting capacity
June 29, 2020
After Gov. Abbott Ordered Bars to Close, Massive Crowds Still Packed Into Houston Nightclub Spire

By Amy McCarthy

Bar owners and hospitality professionals spoke out against Spire’s refusal to abide by social distancing guidelines and capacity limits
June 26, 2020
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Urges Houstonians to Stay at Home

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

The order isn’t mandatory, but Hidalgo insists that staying home is the only way to save lives
June 26, 2020
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Requires Houston Bars to Close Again As COVID-19 Cases Surge

By Amy McCarthy

Also, restaurants will have to reduce their capacity back to 50 percent of normal starting on Monday
June 25, 2020
Don’t Hassle Restaurant Workers. Just Wear Your Damn Mask.

By Amy McCarthy

Irate diners are yelling at servers, dropping scathing Yelp reviews, and even vowing to boycott, all over a simple health measure
June 22, 2020
Surrounded by Empty Office Buildings, Greenway Plaza’s Restaurants Are in Serious Trouble

By Amy McCarthy

The complex’s typical lunch crowd dwindled from a couple thousand patrons during the rush to "around 75 or 80"
June 22, 2020
Houston Bar Temporarily Loses Liquor License After Failing to Comply With Occupancy Limits

By Amy McCarthy

The Houston outpost of Handlebar won’t be able to serve booze for 30 days
June 18, 2020
As Coronavirus Cases Rise in Houston, a Downtown Bar Preemptively Closes

By Amy McCarthy

Dean’s in Downtown attributed the temporary closure to "an influx of cases," though none of its employees have yet tested positive for COVID-19
June 10, 2020
Multiple Houston Restaurants Close Again as Workers Contract COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

More than five eateries have been forced to close their doors temporarily after Gov. Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen
June 3, 2020
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Allows Bars and Restaurants to Increase Capacity

By Amy McCarthy

The state is officially in phase three of Abbott’s Open Texas plan
May 26, 2020
Massive Pool Party Packs Houston Club Cle on Reopening Weekend

By Amy McCarthy

It doesn’t look like a whole lot of social distancing was happening
May 20, 2020
Chris Shepherd Reopens Two Of His Houston Restaurants With Extensive Safety Protocols

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

One Fifth and Georgia James will reopen with strict social distancing guidelines and plans for physical barriers to separate diners
May 20, 2020
Even Amid the Pandemic, a 109-Year-Old Galveston Restaurant Braces for Huge Memorial Day Crowds

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant has weathered countless hurricanes, but the coronavirus pandemic presents decidedly different challenges
May 19, 2020
Billionaire Restaurateur Tilman Fertitta Didn’t Keep PPP Money Because He Was Afraid of Criticism

By Amy McCarthy

The Landry’s, Inc. owner also asked President Trump for more federal funds for large restaurant groups
May 18, 2020
Governor Abbott Allows Houston Bars to Reopen on May 22

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

Restaurants can also increase dining room capacity to 50 percent
May 6, 2020
Houston’s Food Halls Face Distinct Challenges In Welcoming Back Diners

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

A look at how spots like Finn Hall and Underground Hall are changing operations as the doors reopen
May 6, 2020
Houston Restaurants Can Now Reopen Patios At Full Capacity

By Amy McCarthy

Governor Greg Abbott’s updated guidance requires restaurants to space tables six feet apart
May 4, 2020
Judge Lina Hidalgo Asks the Public to Report Restaurants Violating Reduced Capacity Rules

By Adele Chapin

Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo launched a form that allows Houstonians to report restaurants not adhering to the 25 percent capacity order

Tracking Coronavirus’s Impact on Houston’s Restaurant Industry

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