Houston's, an established fixture in East Memphis' dining scene, has shut down its location at 5000 Poplar Avenue. The closure marks an end to the restaurant's operations in the city, with the company citing staffing woes and escalating public safety concerns as principal reasons for the decision. In a message on its website, the restaurant expressed regret over the closure, stating, "Regretfully, the operating environment in the vicinity has become increasingly difficult over the years, both with respect to staffing and public safety." This message was echoed by WREG, which reported the announcement.
Statistical information from the Memphis crime map reveals a troubling picture, with 55 incidents, including over 30 thefts, documented at the restaurant's address since the beginning of the year. However, the Memphis Data Hub Public Safety map provides a more comprehensive view, reporting 310 incidents within a quarter mile of Houston's Poplar Avenue location in the past year. Theft, vehicle theft, assaults, and aggravated assault are among the issues reported in this densely commercialized area, as per a FOX13 Memphis article.
With Houston's exit from Memphis, the company continues to operate approximately 10 other locations nationwide, including New Orleans, Atlanta, Florida, and California. Despite the closure of its solo Memphis outpost, the establishment has extended gratitude to its patrons, hoping for future opportunities to serve them at their remaining sites. "We would like to thank our guests for their support and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you at another one of our locations," said the company in its statement, as per WREG.
The East Memphis restaurant has not only faced logistical challenges but has also wrestled with accusations of discrimination. In May 2023, a couple from Mississippi filed a lawsuit against Houston's, alleging racial profiling when they were purportedly asked to leave the restaurant after an employee claimed they smelled like marijuana. "There is not a single solitary shred of evidence that my clients were ever around weed that day or any other day," the couple's attorney told FOX13 Memphis. Another incident in August 2022 involved a couple, including a police officer and a high school principal, who experienced a similar confrontation, though they were eventually seated. Houston's has commented on these events in the past, stating after the 2022 incident, "We made a mistake in attributing the odor to Mr. Mosby's party and apologized. We were happy to welcome him in and take care of his experience on us on Saturday."
