What You Missed This Week in Houston: New Fees, Hotel Makeover, Kinokuniya and More

Houston had a busy week, with changes coming to city utility bills, a major hotel renovation underway near NASA, a new Japanese bookstore headed to Rice Village, and a new barbecue spot opening in Eastwood.

If you missed the headlines, here are four Houston developments worth knowing about.

Houston’s New $5 Solid Waste Fee Is Showing Up on Water Bills

Houston residents may notice a new $5 monthly solid waste fee appearing on their water bills in August and September.

The charge is part of Mayor John Whitmire’s broader budget overhaul and is intended to help stabilize the city’s solid waste department, which has faced years of operational challenges, including missed garbage pickups.

Not every Houston household will be affected. Neighborhoods with private trash collection through their HOA are exempt from the fee.

For residents who receive city trash service, the new charge is another change to keep an eye on as Houston works to address ongoing issues with garbage and recycling collection.

Former Nassau Bay Hilton Getting a Margaritaville Makeover

A familiar hotel near NASA is getting a major transformation.

The Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake closed at the end of July and is now undergoing renovations. The property is expected to reopen in late 2027 as the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay.

The redesigned hotel is planned to feature 229 rooms, along with a lazy river, marina access and four Margaritaville-themed restaurants.

The project could give the Nassau Bay waterfront area a significant boost, particularly for visitors coming to the region for Space Center Houston, boating and other Clear Lake-area attractions.

For locals, the biggest change may be seeing a longtime hotel property transformed into a destination built around the Margaritaville brand.

Kinokuniya Is Coming to Rice Village

Houston's bookstore scene is getting another addition this fall.

Japanese bookstore chain Kinokuniya is planning its second Houston location at 2369 Rice Boulevard, taking over the former Village Fitness space in Rice Village.

Construction is expected to begin in October, with a target completion date in early February.

Kinokuniya is known for its selection of Japanese books, manga, anime-related merchandise, stationery and other specialty items. The new Rice Village location could give Houston readers another destination for Japanese-language and Asian pop-culture products.

For fans who already visit Kinokuniya's existing Houston location, the Rice Village store will also make the retailer more accessible to residents on the west and central sides of the city.

Willow’s Smokehouse Opens in Eastwood

Houston's barbecue scene has a new name to watch.

Willow’s Smokehouse is now open at 4109 McKinney Street in Eastwood, led by pitmaster Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela, both formerly associated with J-Bar-M Barbecue.

The restaurant focuses on Central Texas-style barbecue and tavern fare, combining the food with a distinctly Houston setting.

The restaurant occupies a more than century-old building filled with vintage finds, adding another layer of character to the Eastwood location.

For Houston barbecue fans, the opening gives the city's already competitive barbecue scene another new destination—and one with connections to an established local barbecue operation.

More Houston Changes Are Coming

From city services and utility bills to new restaurants, retail and major hospitality projects, Houston continues to change quickly.

These four stories are just a snapshot of what's happening across the city and surrounding communities. Some projects will take months or even years to fully materialize, while others—like Willow’s Smokehouse—are already giving Houstonians somewhere new to visit.

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