THE CORNER OF Richmond and Shepherd is famously home to a long-empty James Coney Island (RIP). But the prime piece of real estate, which includes a drive-through, will soon be transformed into the first brick-and-mortar location of Bun B’s celebrated Trill Burgers, which has garnered tons of praise since its first pop-up in 2021.

The news caps an eventful year for Trill Burgers, which won the title of the best burger in the country on Good Morning America’s weeklong, televised cookoff competition in July. The fall was filled with pop-ups where the signature smashburgers — 44 Farms beef, onions, pickles and Trill Sauce — flew off the grills at locations like 8th Wonder, City Hall and the Southern Smoke Festival.

Bun B himself is a mainstay at the pop-ups, and Houstonians can be sure they’ll see his face at the permanent location when it opens early next year.