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
Leadership in Action: Clothiers Murry and Karen Penner Celebrate Family Business’ 50-Year Anny

Murry & Karen Penner, Owners, M PENNER

How did you get where you are today? We’ve stayed true to the vision of the store’s founder, Morris Penner, who relentlessly sought out unique product, with exceptional quality being a key element. Morris always used to say, “The fastest way to lose a customer is to bore him” and we agree. A percentage of every season’s budget is allocated to something new and unique. While product is key, it’s not enough. Having an excellent staff and discipline in business practices is also critical.

Keep Reading Show less

Lisa Rich, Jessica Givens, Coco Lu

BETWEEN AN EXCITING raffle and runway show, Homemade Hope's fash bash at Tootsies was a truly tasteful success! More than 160 well heeled attendees also enjoyed browsing the season's most stylish offerings and chatting with Homemade Hope's executive director, Blair Bentley Ozenbaugh, about its mission to support at-risk children via mentoring and culinary lessons.

Keep Reading Show less
Style

Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson

Chairs Brady and Zane Carruth, Brittany and Adam Clark

IT ALREADY FEELS like spring in Houston and the spring social season is here with it! 375 guests donned in white-tie flocked to The Post Oak Hotel for the annual Houston Symphony Ball, one of the city’s most anticipated and A-list galas.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties