New Orleans-born Evolve Coffee + Matcha plans a Mandeville café this spring — its first North Shore location and fourth shop overall.

J. Alexander’s opened in Plano Monday, bringing wood‑fired steaks, sushi and two Plano‑only dishes. A Prosper outpost is planned for late summer 2026.

Lankford’s opens in The Woodlands this weekend with a self‑serve beer wall, milkshake bar and the Grim and Firehouse burgers that made the Midtown spot famous.

Chipotle opened its first Schertz restaurant Monday at 5498 Cibolo Valley Drive, featuring a drive‑thru pickup lane and digital ordering. The store joins the new Schertz Station retail hub.

After a late‑2025 fire, Dixie Queen says it has gutted and painted its Overton Crossing storefront and is awaiting permits; owner Joe Raffanti expects a one‑month buildout once work begins.

Passion Flour will close its Maven District bakery on Feb. 1 as owner Jessica Davies relocates. She plans to resume baking for mail‑order once she settles into a new commercial kitchen.

Playa Bowls plans a new downtown San Marcos outpost at Vie Lofts, with construction slated mid‑February to mid‑May.

Charlie Palmer and Appellation have reimagined Wine & Roses as Appellation Lodi, adding two chef-led venues and a bakery that lean on Lodi farms and wineries.

Permit filings show Popeyes plans a new outlet at 21467 FM 1314 in Porter, with construction expected to begin in May 2026 and finish by early 2027.

Joe Harvey of Ruby’s is launching Harvey’s New York Style Bagels in Nashville, starting with a Berry Hill site and plans for more across the suburbs.

Columbia Heights' Golden Nuts is opening a third location at Mall of America, bringing its knafeh and viral Dubai chocolate from the neighborhood to the mega-mall.

A husband-and-wife pop-up from Clay and Kimberly Jasper opened inside A Health and Wellness Shop in Steiner Ranch, serving seasonal lattes, matcha and breakfast tacos.

Chef Mike Graffeo's Umarell will open at 4413 Guadalupe in Hyde Park, serving fried-forward Italian comfort dishes like end-piece lasagna and an Italian hot dog. The team is targeting a Feb. 3 opening.