Houston craft beer drinkers

There is an old tile store on the south side of I-10 and Campbell area that I have thought could work for this very purpose. Of course, I'm being selfish since I work nearby and there is nothing out this way with a decent draft list.

 

There are ZERO locations in the Clear Lake/Gulf Freeway area. As a SE BA, I would open a location up in this area. Complete with growler fills. Those areas you mentioned are good locations. People discredit the SE Side of town. There are some deep pockets, not mine, but the area is ripe for a "boutique" style beer shop.

 

I agree with icetrauma, but I'm a little bias because I live in the Clear Lake/Gulf Freeway area. It would be great to have an awesome bottle shop with taps and growler fills. The Clear Lake area has really exploded and is growing more and more every day. Also, as icetrauma has already stated, there is a ton of money in this place.

But it would be hard to beat the Midtown/Heights area. That is the heart of Houston and you would have a better opportunity to get people in from all over Houston.

 

This. Clear Lake is a nice area that could use a place like you guys are planning.

 

Also real estate would be cheaper down here in clear lake than up in the middle of downtown.

 

That's the main reason H&M moved into Baybrook over the galleria.

 

As someone who thinks(more like daydreams) of opening a beer related business and much thought on this...I do think centralized is good. Not sure about Montrose/Heights, as it is the most saturated market. On the other hand, this area brings in a good crowd already, which would certainly help, and if you are offering something that others do not...then that speaks for itself.

Honestly, I wouldn't settle on one area in particular until you secure your real estate. I would first research available spots that have what you need. Saves a lot of start-up overhead to find a place that suits your business rather than spending a fortune converting a place because it is all that is available in a particular location.. Possibly all things you have thought of, but it can't hurt to share.

There is a big market in any direction these days, but I think the most populated with craft beer peoples seem to be Clear Lake, Spring/Woodlands, Cypress/Jersey Village, Katy, Sugarland, areas all outlying Houston, and all populated enough to draw out a crowd. Suburbia and its disposable income at its finest.If you want to be in town..the Heights/Montrose is definitely where it's at.

Nobody said anything about the middle of downtown!

 

Anything inside 610 is downtown to me! I'm from Texas City, lol.

 

The OP would do well in south Houston or clear lake, lots of refinery and offshore workers like me with disposable income.

 

They'd do well in the Spring/Woodlands area too.
We host the corporate end of the petroleum business.

I truly feel though, that the best chance of being successful is being centralized. Being in Clear Lake( or up here) keeps the customers more local.

 

No. The only thing I hate more about being in my car in Houston is being in my car more than I should have to be.

 

I travel 40 minutes to go to D&Q....BUT...I generally do more while in Houston to make the trip worth it...visit Smith St. Have lunch somewhere special, visit one or two other craft beer bars. This is a big part of why I feel centralized is more beneficial. People are ,more likely to drive into the city, than out of the city. Plus...you are accessible to all sides of town.

Have you thought of hosting bottle shares? You could easily charge a reasonable bottle entry fee..Before anyone complains...this fee is in place of a tip and food/drink purchased in a bar who does bottle shares. We all travel from all over the place for our bottle shares/tastings. As long as you do not sell/serve liquor, I think you would be able to under TX law.

 

About the farthest I travel for beer is from Clear Lake to Houston and that is maybe 20-30min to go to the Spec's on Smith Street because they have a large selection. Now, I do have to drive to the North Belt sometimes for work and my folks live in Conroe, so it wouldn't be really out of my way to stop at a shop if one was located in North Houston. Honestly, being centralized is going to net you the largest amount of customers but, as LadyOfMuchBeer as said that area is already highly saturated with beer shops, so you will definitely have to do something that sets you apart from the rest.

 

My big thing with opening a beer store in TX is the lack of distribution. What specs gets you can get, there is no chance for unique/out of state bottles. I still would love for a beer store/bar to start a membership club where they as business owners travel, bring back cases of out of state specials, and do tastings which are free for members who buy into the club. Not sure the legality (I am sure something can be worked out here) or the cost-benefit but I am sure something could be made from it especially if someone travels a lot on southwest or such.

 

I will not travel unless it's for a limited release or growler fill. I live in Pasadena and work in Med Center. Specs Midtown,Holcombe and D&Q are 10 min or less from work.

 

I think the hardest part is going to be with the TABC. I don't believe they will be able to sell bottles that they bring back from another location unless it has a TABC approved label. This is what is keeping other breweries from distibuting to Texas. They have to jump through hoops for the TABC. At least that is my understanding but I could be completely wrong on this.