When it opened downtown in April 2016, Conservatory was Houston’s first food hall. After numerous issues with the space, it closed in December 2019, but Anh Mai, who co-owns the business with Lian Nguyen, said it would reopen elsewhere. The nature of that return has changed. Originally, Conservatory was to be relocated to where Chapman & Kirby is east of downtown. That deal fell through, but the food hall now has a forthcoming permanent home in The Crossing at Midtown development at 610 Dennis between Smith and Louisiana. Houston-based Oxberry Group is leading the development project.

Shepard Ross, a partner in Mai and Nguyen’s other food businesses — Bravery Chef Hall and the forthcoming Railway Heights Market — is also involved with the new Conservatory location.

According to principal architect Pejman “PJ” Jamea, who cofounded Oxberry Group with his brother, Sean Jamea, Conservatory’s owners have already submitted drawings of the new space to the City of Houston. With that in mind, Jamea is estimating an opening date sometime in May.

Conservatory also has a next-door neighbor on the way: Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Nashville-style hot chicken company with 11 locations in California and one in Canada. It appears that the Houston location is the first in Texas.

Expect in the coming weeks to hear about the individual food and drink purveyors that are leasing space inside of the new Conservatory.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.