New bar the Canary features patio, pool
A neighborhood bar and grill, three years in the making, debuted last weekend in the Oak Forest area.
The Canary, a bright yellow building with a front deck and patio at 963 Judiway, is now open Tuesday through Sunday, with an grand-opening party coming this spring or summer to unveil a kitchen and backyard pool.
“I’d like it to be your casual neighborhood hangout that people can just have a great cocktail or hang out on the patio,” owner Kristen Genoway said.
This is the first business for Genoway and owners Juan Quintanilla and Kevin Nguyen. The trio are industry veterans who have worked at different Houston bars together over the past 20 years. They stumbled across an old bungalow they saw as perfect for their neighborhood bar idea.
They tore down the home under their contractor’s advice and built a new two-story building, keeping the existing pool in the backyard. However, starting construction in 2020 meant there were delays in permitting that would set back the project.
In 2023, they were able to hold pop-ups on their front deck, with music and drinks, where they introduced themselves to area residents. Genoway said the community has been supportive of the business as they get up and running.
“It’s nice knowing (the neighborhood is) super excited and have continuously expressed their support on it,” Genoway said.
Customers will be welcome to swim after the grand opening, which will also introduce an inhouse kitchen. It will eventually provide bar food, with plans for steak nights and kitchen takeovers with a rotating list of chefs.
For now, food options are being provided with on-site food trucks such as Toledo’s Tacos. The full-service bar has a variety of house cocktails going for $13, classic cocktails for $12 and an array of beers and wines. Bottle service is available.
The Canary is open noonmidnight Tuesday through Thursday, noon-2 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.