HOUSTON – It's 11:30 a.m. on a Thursday and already the restaurant is starting to fill up at the House of Blues.  The restaurant has only been open for a week, but downtown business people are curious about what the city’s newest venue has to offer.

11 News

Houston's House of Blues opened on October 11.

“We came to check out the menu and to see if they can give us a tour,” said Antonio Ramirez, patron.

Ramirez and his two co-workers work at Total Petrochemicals, located just down the street from the venue. They dropped by during their lunch hour to check out what the House of Blues had to offer.

"I'm not going to the concert tonight, but am planning to come in the future," said Ramirez. 

He wasn't the only one scoping out the scene. By noon, the restaurant was nearly at capacity.

11 News

All of the artwork in Houston's House of Blue are original pieces.

Houston’s House of Blues opened its doors on October 11 after being in development for a couple of years.  The entire building was decorated to reflect Houston's culture, music scene and food.

“Three years ago, a team of local people and artists got together to decide ‘what is Houston’ and how the venue should look. Everything you see here you won't find at another House of Blues. It was designed specially for this venue – including the food on the menu,” said Brian Distefano, Marketing Manager for the House of Blues.

Distefano said that all of the artwork on the walls are original pieces, and even the wall mural in the restaurant was hand-painted by a House of Blues artist.

But there is much more to House of Blues than the restaurant.  There is, of course, the music.

“The main music hall holds 500 people upstairs and 1000 downstairs,” said Distefano. “Right now they are setting up for Jay Z’s concert tonight.”

Thursday’s show is part of the grand opening week celebration and includes a pre-party with Jay Z and Beyonce, followed by a concert. There were still tickets available at noon, but Distefano predicted that they would sell out by the evening.

In addition to the main music hall, the venue also has a smaller concert area, called the Cambridge Room, where local and up-and-coming artists will play. 

But what is creating a buzz around the city is the venue's upcoming Blues Brothers concert this weekend. 

“It’s really going to start on Saturday afternoon with the Rock Ride.  At 2 p.m. Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi pick up 500 people on motorcycles across town and then picking up 500 more in another location,” said Distefano.

The thousand bikers will then make their way to the House of Blues on Caroline Street.  

The Rock Ride is only the beginning of the entertainment.  At 7:30 that evening, the real fun begins.

“The big House of Blues party kicks off at 7:30 p.m.  There will be music everywhere – in the restaurant, in the Cambridge Room and on stage.  We are expecting 2,500 attendees and they will have the chance to walk around and check out everything,” said Distefano.

Saturday’s concert is the official launch of the venue.  More concerts are already planned for later in the year including Willie Nelson, BB King, and Usher.

“Our goal was to find musicians that would appeal to everyone including the classic blues audience, to fans of the newer artists like Usher,” said Distefano.

Based on the excitement brewing with the lunch crowd, it seems the House of Blues had found the right amount of soul for music lovers of all ages.