A popular Houston restaurant and bar went into the weekend quiet and empty after the arrest of its owner.
Instead of drawing in crowds for pizza and cocktails, Betelgeuse Betelgeuse‘s location at 2101 Washington Ave. was closed on Friday. There was only a written sign on its locked patio: “Closed today. Apologies for any inconvenience. Please visit our Montrose location @ 4500 Montrose Blvd. 77006.”
Chatter about Betelgeuse Betelgeuse’s sudden closure surfaced as early as Thursday on Facebook and Reddit. According to court documents, Houston Police officers arrested Christopher Lee Cusack on Wednesday evening, alleging he “intentionally and knowingly failed and refused to comply with a municipal health and sanitary ordinance.” He was charged with misdemeanor failure to comply with local health or sanitary laws, and was released under court-imposed conditions.
Cusack’s next scheduled court appearance is set for May 13. The restaurant and its representatives did not respond to Chron’s request for comment Friday.
Anyone who sells or serves food, aside from private parties and family gatherings, is required to get a food dealer’s permit from the Houston Health Department; the permit is issued after facilities are inspected and approved, states the Health Department website. Permits are valid for one year, with renewal invoices mailed up to 45 days before expiration.
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse’s Washington Avenue location has been open since 2022. Cusack is well known in the Houston hospitality scene. Earlier in his career, he was the co-founder and co-owner of the restaurant group Treadsack. The group owned several locations inside the Loop, including Down House, Hunky Dory, Bernadine’s, Foreign Correspondents and Johnny’s Gold Brick.