Brian Ching as Impresario

Beloved soccer star will open second bar in EaDo.

Daniel Ortiz
E300F56A-E722-40E1-ACF0-4680A53DDF61-30415-00000882B3BAB018
E300F56A-E722-40E1-ACF0-4680A53DDF61-30415-00000882B3BAB018

He’s a famous soccer star, and now Brian Ching is, ahem, kicking his post-playing life into higher gear. He announced this afternoon that, through a crowd-funding initiative with Houston-based NextSeed, he’ll open his second EaDo bar.


Ching is a native Hawaiian who grew to international notoriety as an early leader of the Houston Dynamo team more than a decade ago and also represented the U.S. national team for some eight years. He plans to open the doors to the neighborhoody, dog-friendly East End Backyard in the fall. A press release said to expect an enormous 20,000 square foot patio, community garden and an emphasis on outstanding service and sustainability.

“We want this to feel like the biggest backyard in Houston,” said Ching of the project, noting that live music and special events will be on tap. “EaDo is my favorite neighborhood in the city, it’s the most exciting neighborhood in the city, and my hope is that East End Backyard really helps it feel more like just that: a neighborhood.”

Ching, 40, retired from playing professional soccer in 2013. He opened his first bar, EaDo’s Pitch 25 Beer Park, last year.

Dispatches
Ancient French Wellness Cures Reimagined at Houston’s Escape Spa: The Power of Vichy

Serial entrepreneur and spa visionary LeBrina Jackson

NESTLED IN THE heart of France, the town of Vichy holds a rich history in the world of wellness and hydrotherapy. Acquiring fame for their alkaline springs in the 17th century, the Romans were among the first to recognize the therapeutic benefits of the springs. They established a French spa known as “Vichy,” which still exists today and continues to attract spa-goers from around the world to experience the transformative effects of hydrotherapy.

Keep Reading Show less

A new look from the soft landings collection

FROM THE OWNERS of popular Montrose haunts Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart is another jetset-focused business. Owners Thy and Matthew Mitchell launched Foreign Fare in the fall of 2023 with long-haul travelers in mind. The pieces are wrinkle-free and designed to be functional as well as stylish. The line was recently featured in Travel & Leisure as a “first class look.”

Keep Reading Show less

The lobby of White Elephant Palm Beach

COVERED IN VERDANT vines and flanked by tall palm trees, the entrance to the White Elephant Palm Beach feels like passing into a stately home, rather than one of the island’s newest resorts. The building is 101 years old, and while the original footprint and façade remain, the interior has a decidedly updated, ultra-luxe beach vibe.

Keep Reading Show less