A popular restaurant and live music venue in Downtown Houston is set to relocate. The Rustic will move to a new address to make room for the planned expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. According to KHOU, the move is led by Dallas-based FreeRange Concepts and co-owner Pat Green.
The Rustic, which opened in 2018 at 1836 Polk St., will leave that location by the end of the year and reopen in winter 2026 at 1718 Jackson St., close to the convention center and Toyota Center. In a press release, CEO Josh Sepkowitz said, “This is a temporary pause with a purpose,” and noted plans for live music, hospitality, more parking, and ride-share zones, as reported by Chron.
The move is tied to a street closure related to the Interstate 45 expansion, which includes shutting part of Polk Street as part of the convention center enlargement. Groups have raised concerns about transit impacts, while supporters say the project is needed for downtown development.
