Smokey Mo’s, the Cedar Park born fast-casual barbecue chain, is gearing up for a major move into the Houston suburbs, with plans to open roughly 30 to 40 restaurants across Greater Houston over the next few years. That would mark the brand’s biggest push into the region beyond its lone existing spot in Conroe.
The expansion target surfaced in a March 30, 2026 report from the Houston Business Journal, which framed the Houston play as part of Smokey Mo’s broader Texas growth strategy. The outlet detailed the multi-year rollout the company is eyeing across the metro area.
Homegrown brand ready to scale
Smokey Mo’s opened its first location in Cedar Park in 2000 and marked its 25th anniversary last year. The company says it is “entering 2026 ready to expand with qualified franchise partners,” according to the brand’s franchise blog. The Smokey Mo’s blog highlights recent openings and an emphasis on catering, delivery and streamlined operations that the chain says are designed to support faster unit growth. On its site, the company currently lists just one Greater Houston location in Conroe, a foothold it intends to build from as new restaurants come online.
What this could mean for Houston
If Smokey Mo’s follows through on a 30 to 40 unit buildout, it would plant a sizable franchised barbecue presence in suburbs and inner ring neighborhoods and ratchet up competition for retail pads and workers in those areas. Trade coverage has pointed to the brand’s recent lease signings and rising unit sales as signals of statewide ambitions, and QSR Magazine has been tracking its openings and development deals. New locations typically bring construction work, local hiring and additional catering choices for nearby communities.
Timeline and what to watch
The Houston Business Journal reports that Smokey Mo’s expects the rollout to unfold “over the next few years,” citing company leadership on the timetable. The Smokey Mo’s blog also points to investments in finance and operations, along with catering and multi-daypart service, as key pieces the company believes will help new franchisees grow. Early signs of the Houston push are likely to show up in lease filings, building permits and franchise announcements across the metro.
Where to learn more
Smokey Mo’s recent Central Texas openings, including a Bastrop debut covered last December, offer a look at how the chain approaches new markets. Coverage of that Bastrop debut and trade reporting from outlets such as QSR Magazine offer a snapshot of how Smokey Mo’s stages its entries. Next up, all eyes are on Houston permit logs and leasing records to see which suburbs land the first wave of restaurants.
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