‘Creek’ creator plans to keep the integrity of Wabash Feed
The man who brought a little bit of the Hill Country to Houston with Onion Creek, Dry Creek, Canyon Creek and Cedar Creek is opening a new Creek Group eatery — his first since 2008. The new Washington Corridor restaurant-bar will be called “Driftwood” and will retain the “countrified” theme of the Creek Group’s other ventures.
Driftwood will move into the old Wabash Feed & Garden Store 5701 Washington, after Wabash relocates to a larger space near Garden Oaks.
Creek Group owner Gary Mosley said he anticipates a 2017 opening for Driftwood.
Mosley said there isn’t much to change in respect to the Wabash building, which has been a belovedquirky, country-style-institution in Houston for 26 years where locals flock to buy farm, pet and garden supplies;organic eggsas well and as fresh craft brews. “There are so many icons that have been torn down, and it’s kind of sad,” Mosley said. “The Creek Group believes in preserving buildings and trees. We’re going to respect the integrity of that landmark, it already represents theCreek Group.” Mosley, a Heights resident and Houston-native, has been a patron of Wa- bash for many years. He noticed a for sale sign on the property in the latter part of 2015 when he stopped in to buy feed for his four backyard chickens. Likening an uncertain future for the Wabash building, Mosley said he couldn’t bear to think of another landmark vanish-ing Mosley already had business growth on his
mind. He put a bid out on the Wabash building and crossed his fingers.
Mosley finalized the Wabash purchase in January
The other Creek Group ventures are named after spots in the Texas Hill Country.
Though raised in Houston, Mosley spent summers visiting relatives around Austin and Luckenbach, and attended San Marcos Academy for High School.
He said the Hill Country captured his heart, but Houston is home.
He wants Driftwood to fit the Hill Country theme that dominates his other restaurants, and following an organic method of idea-hatching, he said he looked at Wabash and im- mediately envisioned his childhood standing on the banks of Lake Travis, watching pieces of driftwood as they passed by under the Texas sun.
“I just thought of the driftwood, and that name fit,” Mosley said.
Mosley has named and designed all of his restaurants himself, and said he will do the same for Driftwood. He has a warehouse brimming with items he has picked up here and there, mostly things that represent a piece of history.
“I just look in my warehouse and see what fits,” Mosley said of his design process.
The food menu is not yet set, but Mosley said he will stick to comfort food, and plans to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. Driftwood will also feature a full bar.
Whether live entertainment will be a part of Driftwood’s future is uncertain, but Mosley still has a few dreams for the grand opening.
“I would love to see Robert Earl Keen come out and play for us. Maybe if I say that it will get his people on it,” he said, chuckling.
A self-made man, Mosley grew up in Houston and the Hill Country.
His mother, civil rights activist Ruby D. Mosley, worked for Houston Community College.
His grandmother was a cattle rancher and NASA employee, and his father a barber and chemical plant worker.
Mosley attended HowardUniversity in Washington, D.C., where he made ends meetwaiting tables in Georgetown.
Mosley said the restau- rant business captured his imagination, and he asked many questions as he picked up every available shift he could. He skipped meals out with friends and sockedaway his tip money, saving for a restaurant of his own.
When he came back to Houston he stuck with the industry, working for many notable Houston restaurants including Ruggles and CafeMolina’s.
Hewas fired a fewtimes, but Mosley said it was always for standing up for whatwas right.
In fact, he credits those owners for letting him go as fuel for a growing fire within him to open a restaurant he could run his way— serving quality food and providing dignified employment opportunities.
In1996 he openedHous- ton’s Reggae Hut Cafe on Almeda Road with a $20,000 bank loan.
His holdings have since grownto include five Creek Group restaurants, an organic farmers market, and the nonprofit Summer house, a program which teaches independent living and job skills to intellectually disabled young adults.
And yes, Reggae Hut Cafe is still alive and kicking, dishing up Caribbean eats and inspiring the developing area surrounding it.
Mosley said there’s been struggles and legwork to overcome while building his little empire, something he hopes to change for the next generation of entrepreneurs through his involvement in local politics.
Mosley said Driftwood will be the first of several Creek Group projects on the horizon.
Houstonians can expect at least two more Creek Grouprestaurants by 2019. Mosley estimates that his new ventures will collectively create 300 newjobs.
Beyond Driftwood, Mosley won’t reveal which areas he has in mindfor his next restaurants, but he did say he is excited about the things he’s seen in the Washington Corridor, Downtown, Montrose and OakForest.
For more information on The Creek Group Company, and Driftwood, visit www.thecreekgroup.com.