After nearly two decades in Montrose, neighborhood staple The Phoenix is packing up its Westheimer digs and shifting a short hop south to Richmond Avenue. The owners say renewing the current lease no longer made financial sense, so they are planning a phased move that keeps a bar open throughout the transition.
Owner explains the move
Owner Vu Truong told CultureMap he could not agree to terms on a lease renewal and that "stability would only come from purchasing a property rather than leasing." He said the Richmond building "made sense" for The Phoenix's next chapter and that the team hopes to have the bar portion open before the World Cup in June. If that timeline holds, both locations would operate at the same time until the Westheimer lease ends at the close of August.
New home on Richmond
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the new spot will occupy a refurbished 1930s-era building at 1643 Richmond Ave., just a short walk from the current Montrose pub. The Chronicle notes Harris County Appraisal District records show the structure was converted to commercial use in 2011 and came under the ownership of Richmond Realty Ltd. around that time. The address puts The Phoenix on a busy stretch of Richmond that already draws steady foot traffic to longtime neighborhood restaurants.
A bit of history
The Phoenix opened in 2006 as Firkin and Phoenix and, according to the pub's website, added an on-site brewery in 2015. Over the years, it has built a reputation as a soccer-friendly hangout and community hub, known for classic pub fare and an extensive beer list that keeps regulars lingering long after the final whistle.
Lease pressure is a wider trend
The Chronicle frames The Phoenix's move as part of a broader wave of expiring leases and landlord disputes hitting Houston restaurants and bars this season. The paper points to recent examples in both Montrose and Dallas where operators have cited untenable lease terms when deciding whether to close or pick up stakes and move.
What patrons can expect
CultureMap reports the new Richmond space will have a slightly smaller interior but a larger patio, a trade many Montrose regulars are likely to welcome once patio weather cooperates. Truong told the outlet the team intends to keep the menu largely intact while phasing in kitchen and brewery operations as funds allow. "We’re taking a baby steps approach," Truong said, explaining that easing into the new setup should help hang on to the existing crowd while the business finds its financial footing.
Regulars can expect the same pub-forward vibe, just a short walk down Richmond. The owners say staying in Montrose was a nonnegotiable part of the plan, and they are betting that proximity will keep longtime customers and game-day crowds filing through the doors, whether they are cheering from Westheimer or Richmond.
