Updates from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and beyond.
This week’s Southwest Stories introduces expanded weekend coverage and new support options while tracking a significant wave of closures across Texas and New Mexico. The headlines are dominated by the confirmed exit of San Antonio’s Cured after 13 years at the Pearl and the permanent closure of Houston’s Loft18 due to rising costs and crime, alongside a concerning “watch list” in Austin where payroll issues place Gusto, Gina’s on Congress, and Gracia Mediterranean at risk. The loss of legacy institutions is felt deeply across the region, with Beaumont’s 62-year-old Monterey House, Plano’s 20-year veteran Bread Winners, and Live Oak’s 25-year staple Biff Buzby’s all shuttering, while San Antonio’s Noodle Tree closes its doors as the owner focuses on a cancer battle. This email was originally sent out on Jan 5th, 2026.
Southwest Stories chronicles the fading restaurant landscape of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona, dedicated to documenting the closures of family-owned diners and roadside staples. Each Monday, the newsletter captures the history of these community fixtures, preserving the memories of places shaped by the region’s deep roots and long highways before they are forgotten. Read more here.
