Downtown Houston’s salad faithful are getting their old standby back. Salata, the Houston-born fast-casual salad chain, is reopening its original tunnel location at 919 Milam on Monday, Jan. 12, returning to the city’s core after the spot closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relaunch lines up with the brand's 20th anniversary, and the company says the flagship will be back with a refreshed dining experience and special giveaways to mark the milestone.
In a company announcement, Director of Field Operations Sahrina Hammond called the moment a full-circle homecoming. "This year marks Salata’s 20th anniversary, making it especially meaningful to return to our roots and celebrate two decades of serving our guests," she said, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Chronicle notes that the 919 Milam outpost, long familiar to tunnel commuters, closed during the pandemic and is now returning as a full-service build-your-own-salad and wrap location.
What to expect
Per Salata's website, the menu still revolves around customizable salads and wraps, with fresh greens, proteins, house-made dressings, soups, teas and lemonades. The company highlights more than 50 toppings and its lineup of signature dressings, keeping the familiar build-your-own format that downtown workers and visitors banked on for a fast lunch that did not come out of a fryer.
From deli counter to national chain
The chain’s origin story is strictly downtown. Founder Berge Simonian launched the concept after noticing long salad lines at his downtown deli, then spun that demand into a standalone brand in 2005 that has since expanded beyond Houston. Nation's Restaurant News traces how Salata moved into franchising and adjusted its operations over the years to support growth across multiple markets.
Market context
Salata’s return to the tunnels arrives as the quick-salad landscape is getting a shakeup. MySA reports that Salad and Go is pulling out of Texas and Oklahoma and closing dozens of locations, trimming back options for Texans who want something green and fast at lunchtime. Against that backdrop, Salata’s move back into the Downtown Tunnels, along with its anniversary giveaways and refreshed space, puts the brand squarely back in front of office commuters, according to the Houston Chronicle.
