Houston’s Greater Heights area is bustling with great restaurants and businesses. Located northwest of downtown, the historic area is home to gorgeous residential homes, the 19th Street Shopping District, and a variety of retail developments. Yet despite its fast growth, shopping small and local seems to remain a part of the Heights’ ethos. We’ve rounded up three small businesses to support in Houston Heights.
Manready Mercantile
321 W 19th St, Ste. B Houston 77008
Manready Mercantile owner Travis S. Weaver started his business by making candles in his apartment and selling them online. His focus was on making small-batch apothecary goods that appealed to men, and like that, Manready Mercantile was born. Now housed in a rustic space inside a two-story building on 19th Street, the premium goods store known for its hand-poured candles and leather goods, is a shopping destination for men or those looking for gifts for the guys in their lives. Aside from smell-good candles and lotions, shoppers will find t-shirts, caps, bags, made-just-for-him colognes, cocktail kits, seasoning mixes, and more – all made in the USA.
Forth and Nomad
731 Yale St, Houston 77007
This beautiful lifestyle market in Heights Mercantile focuses on showcasing local brands and emerging makers. If you need a special gift or just want to browse to buy something for yourself, Forth and Nomad stocks a rotating selection of thoughtfully curated apparel for men and women, accessories, jewelry, gifts for babies, ceramics, candles and fragrances. The bright minimalist space is more than just a retail store. It boasts an in-house coffee bar, where shoppers can get their caffeine fix, and a candle bar, where guests learn how to make their own candle with the knowledgeable guidance of the shop's staff. They also sell candle kits for you to make candles at home.
A 2nd Cup
1111 E 11th St., Houston 77009
Drink coffee for a worthy cause at this Heights coffee shop dedicated to fighting human trafficking. With ample seating and coffee beverages prepared with locally roasted coffee, A 2nd Cup on 11th Street is a great place to work, but you can always just pick up a coffee to go on your way to work (or your home office). Aside from coffee, specialty lattes and teas, the shop serves breakfast tacos, avocado toast, pastries and paninis. Every month, as part of what it calls the split shot program, A 2nd Cup features a special drink and an organization dedicated to anti-trafficking. Fifty percent of the sales of the drink benefit that month’s ally. So next time you visit, make your coffee purchase counts toward a good cause by looking for the monthly split shot.
