After over 66 years of serving up finger-licking-good food to Houstonians, including Destiny’s Child members, This Is It Soul Food closed its Third Ward location for good on Sunday, October 12.

“As we close this chapter, we carry with us the memories of shared meals, celebrations, and the enduring spirit of family,” an Instagram post from the restaurant says. “From the heart of Fourth Ward to the historic 3rd Ward, we now say goodbye and we look forward to focusing on growth, re-branding, and innovation at our Humble location.”

Just last year, Kelly Rowland returned to the restaurant to use it as a launchpad for her campaign for the Local Eats Better with Pepsi Program. For a limited time, This Is It served a $15 Kelly Rowland special, which came with gravy-covered peppered steak, rice, green beans, peach cobbler, and a Pepsi. (An autographed photo of Destiny’s Child members, including Beyoncé, was displayed in the former space, too.) Fans of the restaurant, worry not—you can still get your fix at the Humble location.  

The dreaded I-45 expansion project has officially taken the Downtown location of Kim Son Restaurant with it. The iconic building that housed the restaurant is set to be demolished to make way for more highway lanes—yay, more concrete jungle.

Kim Son Restaurant first opened on Pease Street in 1982, before moving to Jefferson Street about a decade later—an area known as Houston’s OG Chinatown. While the restaurant will no longer serve Houstonians daily, the location’s catering and wedding services will continue until the end of 2025. The good news? It isn’t entirely gone. Fans of the restaurant can still enjoy Kim Son’s outpost in Asiatown.

“Our restaurant has been a place for families, celebrations, and countless shared meals.

From cheering on the Rockets, Astros, and Texans to gathering for holidays and special occasions, every moment with you has meant so much,” a Facebook post from the restaurant reads. “We’re deeply grateful to our loyal guests, staff, and neighbors who made every visit feel like home. Your support and love have meant the world to us. Though our doors may close, the memories and flavors will live on in our hearts.”

Montrose is set to lose yet another mainstay. After 27 years, Italian American restaurant Paulie’s and its accompanying wine bar Camerata, which opened in 2013, will close on December 31. In an Instagram post, owner Paul Petronella says he decided to close the businesses after failing to reach a “fair agreement” with the restaurant’s landlord. “While this chapter is closing, the memories we created together will last a lifetime. We encourage everyone to continue supporting local businesses in the Houston community, as they are the heartbeat of our town,” the post says. “Thank you for the years of loyalty and love.”

Paulie’s gained the hearts of Houstonians with its affordable menu of salads, sandwiches, paninis, pizzas, and homemade pasta options with durum wheat grown and processed in Italy. Diners who want to keep the restaurant’s legacy alive can order its cookbook, which showcases a variety of Petronella’s experiences in the restaurant industry, as well as several appetizing, yet simple recipes.

The restaurant closures are hitting Galveston Island hard, too. PattyCakes Bakery announced its October closure in a social media post. While the specifics of why the bakery closed its doors were not disclosed, the news comes just months after its owners also shut down their other restaurant, Mosquito Café, which was across the street.

“This has been a truly difficult decision, but it comes with deep gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received from all of you,” the post says. “PattyCakes has always been more than a bakery—it’s been a gathering place, a part of family traditions, and a home for sweet memories. That has only been possible because of you, our loyal customers, and friends.”