Community advocate, investor offers to pay Houston’s employees after abrupt closure
by: Megan Fayard
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis community advocate and investor is offering to pay Houston’s now out-of-work employees through the holiday season under one condition, reports say.
Darrell Horn is offering to pay all of the now out-of-work Memphis Houston’s employees after the long-time East Memphis steak house abruptly closed on Thursday.
But, this is all under one condition: He must be allowed to lease the space and equipment to reopen as a locally owned and community-invested operation, according to a media release from Morris Marketing Group.
Reports say Horn wants to rename, reimagine, and reopen the restaurant. He wants it to have Houston’s influences, but be locally owned and invested in the Memphis community and its employees.
As of noon on Friday, Morris Marketing Group says they have been unable to make contact with Hillstone Restaurant Group to discuss leasing the space.
Houston’s announced the sudden closure on its website Thursday morning, citing safety and staffing concerns.
“Regretfully, the operating environment in the vicinity has become increasingly difficult over the years, both with respect to staffing and public safety,” the statement read. “While we know this development will be disappointing to many of our guests, it is a decision that was not made lightly. We would like to thank our guests for their support and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you at another one of our locations.”
The city of Memphis’ crime map shows 55 incidents including more than 30 thefts have been reported at 5000 Poplar since Jan. 1 this year.
“As a native Memphian who had a love for Houston’s, the location of the restaurant, and certainly Memphis, I was appalled to hear of the abrupt closing after 40 years of support from the Memphis community,” said Horn.
Horn says that he wants the business to support the Memphis community, just as the Memphis community supports the locally owned restaurants.
He is asking for all out-of-work Memphis Houston’s employees at all levels to email him at Darrell@houstons2.com to discuss continued employment while they reestablish the restaurant operation. He says they hope to open in January.
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