Houston Alcohol Sales

Top Performers in Houston's Alcohol Sales

Leading the charge in Houston's alcohol scene for August 2025 is Aramark Sports & Entertainment Services of Texas at Minute Maid Park. With total receipts hitting an impressive $3.75 million, Minute Maid Park shows its dominance with nearly equal sales in beer and liquor. It's clear that sports events continue to be a major driver of alcohol sales in the city.

Coming in second is The Post Oak/Mastro's/Willie G's with over $1.35 million in total receipts. This establishment stands out with a strong emphasis on wine sales, which account for nearly 41% of their total alcohol revenue, a notable trend for those considering wine-focused business strategies.

Vida Garden/Pick Your Poison clinches the third spot, drawing attention with its heavy focus on liquor, making up a whopping 90% of its $1.11 million in total sales. Beer and wine take a backseat here, indicating a potential niche market in liquor-centric venues.

Mid-Range Players and Unique Trends

For those interested in mid-range opportunities, Marriott Marquis Houston and Noen are noteworthy. Marriott Marquis sees a balanced mix of liquor, wine, and beer sales, while Noen is heavily skewed towards liquor, with beer barely making a splash. This could signal a strong cocktail or spirits culture at Noen.

713 Music Hall and Kirby Ice House are also key players to watch. 713 Music Hall's receipts are dominated by liquor, suggesting a vibrant nightlife scene. Meanwhile, Kirby Ice House shows a healthy mix but with slightly more emphasis on beer, catering to a diverse crowd.

Noteworthy Observations and Insights

One interesting observation is the strong performance in liquor sales across many establishments, such as Whiskey River and Melrose, where liquor accounts for a significant portion of their total sales. This trend could be a potential opportunity for business owners to explore premium or innovative liquor offerings.

Steak 48 and Pappas Bros Steakhouse demonstrate a significant focus on wine sales, with Pappas Bros even having wine make up the majority of their alcohol revenue. These insights suggest that high-end dining venues continue to thrive on wine pairings and could be a lucrative avenue for new ventures.

Top Areas for Alcohol Sales

In August 2025, Houston's alcohol sales reached a staggering $134 million, with the downtown 77002 zip code leading the pack at over $14 million in sales. This area boasts 188 establishments, showing a strong market presence. Other high-performing areas include 77006 and 77024, with sales of nearly $12 million and $7.3 million, respectively. These neighborhoods highlight a robust demand for alcohol and suggest a thriving nightlife and social scene.

Sales Mix and Preferences

Liquor dominates the sales mix across most zip codes, particularly in 77006, where it accounts for 76% of sales. Conversely, zip code 77024 exhibits a notable preference for wine, comprising 32% of its sales. Meanwhile, areas like 77032 show a significant lean towards beer, which makes up 34% of their sales. This variation in preferences could inform product stocking and marketing strategies for businesses targeting specific neighborhoods.

Opportunities for New Establishments

With 2,809 establishments spread across 95 zip codes, some areas still show potential for growth. Zip codes 77002, 77006, and 77007 have high sales but also a high density of establishments, suggesting a competitive market. In contrast, areas like 77003 and 77070, despite having fewer establishments, demonstrate substantial sales, indicating room for new ventures to thrive.

Noteworthy Patterns and Insights

Interestingly, zip code 77021 stands out for its high liquor sales percentage at 81%, with a relatively low presence of beer and wine. Conversely, zip code 77053 shows an unusual pattern with 79% of sales in wine, which might attract niche markets or specialized wine bars. Furthermore, zip code 77085, despite its low total sales, has a remarkable 88% concentration in liquor, suggesting a targeted market that might benefit from more tailored offerings.

Overview of the Past Year

Over the past 12 months, Houston's alcohol sales have seen some interesting fluctuations. December 2024 stood out with the highest total receipts at a whopping $149.6 million, which isn't too surprising given the holiday season. Fast forward to August 2025, and sales were at $132.6 million, marking a noticeable recovery from the mid-year slump in July.

Monthly Sales Trends

While total receipts in August 2025 increased by 10.56% compared to July, the earlier months tell a different story. For instance, sales in March 2025 skyrocketed by 24.19% compared to February, driven largely by increased liquor sales. However, January 2025 saw a significant dip, with receipts dropping by 25.46% from December, reflecting the post-holiday slowdown.

Seasonal Patterns and Establishments

The data shows a clear seasonal pattern with peaks around the holiday months of December and March. Interestingly, the number of establishments slightly increased over the year, with a noticeable spike in April 2025, suggesting an expansion in the market or a surge in new business ventures. By August 2025, establishments had increased by 0.22% compared to July.

Sales Mix: Liquor vs. Wine vs. Beer

Across the year, liquor consistently dominated sales, peaking in March 2025 at $90.4 million. Wine sales saw their highest during December 2024, likely due to holiday celebrations. Meanwhile, beer sales were relatively stable, with minor fluctuations, reaching their peak in March 2025 alongside liquor.

Market Insights and Opportunities

These trends suggest a robust demand for liquor, particularly during festive seasons, while beer and wine maintain steady popularity. Businesses may find lucrative opportunities by aligning marketing strategies with these seasonal spikes and possibly exploring expansion given the slight growth in establishments. Looking ahead, there's potential to capitalize on the steady growth in the number of establishments and the strong preference for liquor.