Construction is underway on a new downtown Houston location for The Rustic as a major entertainment district grows near the GRB Convention Center.
HOUSTON — Construction is now underway on a new downtown Houston location for The Rustic, marking the return of one of the city’s best-known restaurant and live music venues as a major entertainment district takes shape near the George R. Brown Convention Center.
FreeRange Concepts and Houston First announced Wednesday that the new location will open at the southwest corner of Jackson and Pease streets. The project is expected to be completed in March 2027.
The Rustic originally opened downtown in 2018 south of the George R. Brown Convention Center. That location closed late last year as construction began on the new GRB South expansion project.
Houston First Corporation is building the new venue and will lease the space to FreeRange Concepts.
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The new location will span 18,300 square feet across a full city block bordered by Jackson, Pease, Jefferson and Crawford streets. Plans call for large indoor and outdoor gathering spaces designed for everything from casual dining to private events and venue buyouts.
The Rustic is known for its live music, Texas-inspired food and drinks, daily happy hour and family-style brunches. The venue also regularly hosts free live music performances throughout the week.
“Houston has always embraced The Rustic in a big way, and we’re incredibly excited to begin this next chapter downtown” said Kyle Noonan, co-owner of FreeRange Concepts. “This new location allows us to create an even bigger gathering place for great food, great music, and remarkable memories while continuing to be part of the energy and growth of Houston’s future.”
The project is also part of a much larger redevelopment effort underway around downtown’s convention district.
The new location sits about two blocks south of Toyota Center and the future GRB South building, which is part of Houston First’s Convention District Transformation Project.
That first phase includes:
- A new 700,000-square-foot GRB South building
- A 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza
Houston First says the expansion will allow the convention center to host larger and multiple events simultaneously. The pedestrian plaza is expected to host festivals and major public events.
The first phase of the district transformation is scheduled to be completed by May 2028. Future phases are expected to add more dining, nightlife and entertainment venues across several downtown blocks.
“Houston First is proud to continue our relationship with FreeRange Concepts and The Rustic by bringing the venue to the heart of what will be a new entertainment district downtown,” said Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First. “This new location will energize the area by creating a vibrant gathering place for visitors and Houstonians alike, while strengthening the connectivity between the convention center, area hotels and other venues. The Rustic is exactly the kind of experience-driven concept that continues to elevate Houston as a premier destination.”
The project team includes architect Fusion AE, development manager Griffin Partners and general contractor Harvey Cleary.