By The Wayside Cocktail Bar & Live Music, from Co-owners Samantha Holsomback and Braden Navarre, whose talents span art, design, hospitality, and music, is in the works to be the area’s newest cocktail bar, live music venue, rotating art gallery, and community-driven gathering space. Renovations are occuring at 5644 Navigation Blvd to transform it into something fit for the couple’s vision.
The name itself carries weight. “By the wayside” is often used to describe what’s been cast off or forgotten. But in this case, that’s the entire point and the beauty of it. Holsomback and Navarre are building a place for the art that never made it to a gallery, the songs that never made it to a stage, and the ideas that stayed tucked away in journals. It’s about creating a home for what usually gets lost in the noise of modern nightlife.
This is where soulful expression takes center stage. Not just in music, but in the cocktails, the lighting, the layout with every detail having an intention behind it. The drinks are crafted, not just made, and with every syrup and mixer made in-house. Highlights from the menu include the Velvet Burn, a smoky-smooth mezcal and tequila blend cut with housemade pomegranate and blueberry syrup, and the Root & Ritual, which balances beet and ginger with chili liqueur and a light fizz.
“We’re not chasing trends, we’re creating meaning,” the duo explains. And that ethos runs through the whole project. From the rotating art on the walls to the live performances, By The Wayside doesn’t treat creativity like background noise and chooses to honor it. The music will be live, raw, and intimate, and designed to pull people in instead of fading behind conversation.
The idea came out of years of shared frustration. As Holsomback puts it, nightlife often felt “transactional.” Spaces were built to move people through, not invite them to settle in. “Music was background noise. The vibes were curated, but the soul was gone,” she explains. So she and Navarre decided to do something about it. By The Wayside merges her background in immersive design and his roots in music and storytelling, creating a space that prioritizes presence and connection with a little bit of wonder.
That vibe extends to the design as well. The interior is meant to feel like a lucid dream with dim lights, vintage touches, layered textures, and a layout that encourages real conversation. The goal is to make it feel lived-in, almost sacred. It’s meant for locals to feel like family and for newcomers to feel like they’ve stumbled into something special. Outside, the patio will offer a more open-air experience, complete with string lights plus the ambiance of conversation and music drifting through.
The couple is building the bar to be more than just for a quick drink. It’s meant to be a place to land and engage. And while the drinks and the aesthetics will be strong, it’s the mission behind it that sets it apart. In a city that’s constantly evolving, By The Wayside feels like a pause. It will be a reminder of the beauty that lives in the things we almost forgot to make room for.
If all goes according to plan, By The Wayside is aiming to open its doors in February or March of 2026. And when it does, it may very well become one of Houston’s most meaningful new gathering places for community, creativity, and connection.
