"Red Dwarf, a new coffee shop, bar and arts and music venue, is opening in the spot formerly occupied by beloved Midtown hangout Mongoose Versus Cobra. Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission records indicate that the new spot, located at 1011 McGowen Street, received a late night mixed beverage permit last week. According to the bar’s Instagram account, Red Dwarf’s debut, which was originally scheduled for July 1, was postponed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bar plans to offer to-go cocktails and small bites starting on August 1, with a more formal opening is scheduled for later this year. The venue is a collaboration between Sarina Pasha, co-owner of Black Hole Coffee, who will run the coffee program; James Koby Boren, who will oversee bar operations; and Sarnia’s brother Shan Pasha; booking manager, according to Houston Food Finder. The trio took over the spot from 13 Celsius co-owner Mike Sammons, who opened Mongoose Vs Cobra in 2012 as a craft cocktail- and beer-focused bar. The building, which was built in 1915, was originally a grocery store but sat vacant for several decades until Sammons took it over. Red Dwarf will eventually be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Shan Pasha told the Houston Press. The idea behind the bar was to create a spot that offered something for everyone, from coffee lovers to art aficionados to music fans, he told the paper. In addition to craft beer and fair trade coffee, Red Dwarf is keeping some of Mongoose Versus Cobra’s more popular cocktails on the menu, and will pair up with chef Grant Keaton to offer breakfast pastries and a full lunch and dinner menu daily. Pasha told The Press he is currently hosting an open call for musicians and artists who want to display their talents at the bar when it eventually opens to the public — Red Dwarf does not plan to charge creatives a booking fee, he said. Houstonians can tune in to Red Dwarf’s Instagram and Facebook for information on future offerings and opening plans." - Brittanie Shey
