Conroe Courier October 24, 2023

Conroe’s restaurant landscape will be getting several new additions soon to close out 2023. 

Soon a Dairy Queen will return to the city. A Jack in the Box will open again in downtown Conroe and a new concept is going into the old MoCo Food Hall in downtown. 

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Here are some things to know about restaurants and venues that will open soon in the Conroe area:

Jack in the Box 

For years, a Jack in the Box location stood on the northwest corner of Texas 105 and Dallas Street. That location closed and the building was demolished. 

Soon a new location of the fast-food favorite will open on Frazier Street near the intersection of Madeley Street at 225 N. Frazier. The fast-food chain was launched in California in 1951 and now has more than 2,200 locations across the US. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. 

The new location has drive-through service and indoor seating with large windows facing downtown. The location is scheduled to be open by the end of the month. 

Dairy Queen 

After shuttering its doors due to bankruptcy six years ago, Dairy Queen is making a comeback to Conroe with a new location at 2020 North Loop 336 between Longmire Road and Interstate 45. 

Dairy Queen was founded in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois. Today the company is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota and has about 6,800 locations worldwide. The former Dairy Queen on Frazier Street closed in 2017.

The finishing touches are underway and the location will be opening soon. 

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen 

There are 16 locations of Gringo’s across the Houston area and one in College Station. The 7,200-square-foot restaurant is at Interstate 45 and Drennan Road next to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. 

Look for Tex-Mex flavors like fajitas, enchiladas, tamales, seafood and margaritas. The original location in Pearland was opened in 1993 by Russell Ybarra. 

The restaurant is currently hiring staff for a November opening. 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

A Freddy’s is currently under construction in Conroe in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 1413 N. Loop 336 W. The location is on the site of the former Ryan’s Buffet restaurant which closed and the building was demolished. 

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Freddy’s was created by Kansas businessman Freddy Simon. The restaurant is known for its frozen custard and thin burger patties that are crispy on the edges. 

An opening date has not been released. The closest Freddy’s locations are at FM 2978 in Magnolia and in Spring.

Game Changer arcade

The former MoCo Food Hall in downtown Conroe will soon have a new tenant. 

The Game Changer Arcade will open in the spot at 109 Metcalf Street in November. Hospitality experts Guy Nunn, Carlos de la Haba and Andrew Adams are at the helm of the project. 

The two-story building will feature an arcade, speakeasy bar, patio bar and food offerings by chef James Cole. The venue is family friendly during the day, but after 8 p.m. will become adults only. Game Changer will open in November. 

See their website for more. 

Catherine Dominguez contributed to this report.