Every city needs social spaces, and Montrose Live is stepping up its game in 2025 to expand its offerings at 1001 Westheimer — a lot that was formerly the site of a strip mall that included Half Price Books. Organized and managed by Jessica Ivins since 2021, it has been going strong every Saturday and Sunday with food trucks, live music, classes and plenty of small retailers to peruse. In a statement, Ivins explains that her goal is to curate the corner of Montrose and Westheimer into “a place where local entrepreneurs, artists and creatives can thrive”, and the space is now welcoming new permanent installations to turn it into an everyday stop for Houstonians.

Montrose Live was known for its tented pop-ups for local talent, and now includes Container Galleries, which are modified shipping containers turned into small, cozy, air-conditioned shops. The first two arrivals are Sunbi Studios and Trusted Kicks. Sunbi Studios is an extension of the local online store Bloom Gardenias and is a well-curated shop of handmade gifts, floral arrangements and craft classes. Trusted Kicks, a place to buy, trade and resell luxury streetwear and stylish vintage clothing, is moving up the road to join Montrose Live. .

Besides the new, permanent installations, Montrose Live is bringing on a greater variety of retailers and local artists as well as a small fleet of regular food trucks including HoustatlantaVegan, Yummy’s Hot Chicken and Just Smash.

HoustalantaVegan serves tasty fried crunchy comfort food that anyone can eat, including the Hotlanta Chicken Sandwich, a crispy fried vegan chicken breast on brioche with hot oil and slaw, or the Thicc & Yella Mac.

Yummy’s Hot Chicken focuses on Nashville-style hot chicken with a Mediterranean twist. Its food is halal and signature dishes include the Frywarma — Syrian chicken topped with garlic sauce and pickled turnips wrapped in pita bread, and the Maple Buffalo Chicken Sandwich topped with homemade ranch and kosher pickles.

Just Smash has one focus and does it well — the American smash burger. They have the Patty Smelt, which is two smash patties served on Texas toast with grilled onion, American cheese, pickles and smash sauce. Lunch is completed with dressed smash fries and a salted caramel or Biscoff milkshake.

The weekend pop-ups and classes are still available, and local business owners and artists are welcome and encouraged to apply to join the space. Those who are are interested in taking up residence in one of the Container Galleries, or have a tent should send an email to Montrose Live directly.

Jo Cook

Jo Cook is an illustrator who has somehow taken up a keyboard and pen to begin writing. They are a person of many talents who uses their abilities to make creative content outside of their day job, and they have a special relationship to the Houston food scene.