News Summary
This Is It Soul Food, a beloved soul food restaurant in Houston, has officially closed its original location after 66 years of service. Known for its family-friendly dining experience, the restaurant served its last meal on October 12. The Joseph family, who founded the establishment, plans to continue the legacy at their remaining location in Humble. This closure reflects a larger trend of restaurant shutdowns in the Houston area, as many establishments face challenges in the evolving culinary landscape.
Houston
This Is It Soul Food has officially closed its original location at 2712 Blodgett St. after 66 years of service. The beloved Houston soul food restaurant served its last meal on October 12, 2025, marking the end of an era for the local culinary scene. The closure was announced through an Instagram post that expressed gratitude to patrons, vendors, and the community for their support over the decades.
Founded in 1959, This Is It Soul Food became a cornerstone of the community, known for its deeply rooted family-oriented dining experience. Four generations of the Joseph family have upheld the restaurant’s legacy, which has become a favorite among notable personalities, including Beyoncé and Jill Biden. Moreover, this year, Kelly Rowland featured This Is It Soul Food in a Pepsi marketing campaign, further solidifying its status as an icon in Houston.
The restaurant originally opened its doors in the Fourth Ward before relocating to Third Ward in 2010. Despite the closure of its original location, the Joseph family has plans to continue the restaurant’s legacy at their remaining site in Humble, located at 9441 Farm to Market 1960 Bypass Rd.. This location aims to focus on growth and innovation as the family seeks to sustain the spirit of This Is It Soul Food.
Following the closure of This Is It Soul Food, the Blodgett St. address will be taken over by Mikki’s Soulfood Cafe. Scheduled to open on October 26, 2025, Mikki’s Café will be run by the children of the original founders, ensuring that the legacy of soul food continues in the same neighborhood.
The closure of This Is It Soul Food marks one of several notable restaurant shutdowns in Houston this year, alongside the closures of Brooks’ Place BBQ in Cypress and Rudi Lechner’s near Westchase. The steady wave of restaurant closures reflects the challenges faced by many establishments in the ever-evolving culinary landscape of the city.
As the community bids farewell to a historic dining spot, the memories shared over meals at This Is It Soul Food will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of its patrons. The restaurant’s dedication to family spirit and shared meals resonates deeply, making it an enduring symbol of Houston’s rich culinary heritage.
The Joseph family’s commitment to soul food and community engagement will continue as they embark on this new chapter at their Humble location, demonstrating resilience in the face of change.
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle: This Is It Soul Food Closure
- Wikipedia: Soul Food
- KHOU: This Is It Soul Food Closes
- Google Search: This Is It Soul Food Houston
- What Now: Houston Soul Food Icon Closes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant
- Chron: Longtime Soul Restaurant Closes
- Google News: Houston Restaurant Closings
- Eater: Kelly Rowland and This Is It Soul Food
Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
