A contingent of owners of popular Heights-area bar Wakefield Crowbar consisting of Co-Owner and Managing Partner Omid Rafiei, Co-Owner and Managing Partner Aly Valiani, and Area General Manager Miguel Cruz has announced that its upcoming Spring Branch bar The Decoy (1222 Witte Road, Building B, STE 200, Houston, TX 77055) opened to the public on November 16th. Previously announced in November of 2022 as part of a broader reveal of plans to re-develop a former warehouse along Witte Rd. into a dynamic mixed-use lifestyle destination, The Decoy is now ready to open to the community as a full-scale catalyst for socializing that is strategically configured to offer patrons a multitude of different experiences – including sand volleyball games, cornhole and other yard games, TVs, daily programming, DJ sets, and more – designed to keep patrons on their feet and moving about the bar’s confines in order to get the most out of the multi-faceted bar’s offerings as possible.
The new west Houston locale, which has come to life across 10,500 square feet on the south side of the re-imagined Witte Rd. development, is anchored at its center by three sand volleyball courts set against the backdrop of an expansive patio affixed to green space. Additional outside seating configurations at The Decoy include a large pergola, trellis, and volleyball court viewing area; inside, The Decoy has 75 seats. On the libations side, The Decoy will feature a curated selection of vibrant cocktails including the Watermelon Burro (vodka, ginger beer, lime, watermelon puree), Riz-berry Cosmo (raspberry vodka, Cointreau, lime, cranberry juice), Spicy Pineapple Margarita (reposado tequila, pineapple juice, lime, agave with muddled jalapeños, rimmed with tajin), and the Lemon Mint Sparkler (lemon vodka, brown sugar simple syrup, mint, topped with Sprite) – as well as creative shot offerings, wine, and beer selections.
On the food side, The Decoy allows guests to enjoy food from any of their favorite gastronomic destinations, including neighboring Underbelly Hospitality concepts Underbelly Burger and Wild Oats, each of which affords Decoy patrons the option to place and pick up orders to enjoy at The Decoy alongside the bar’s myriad drink offerings; these two restaurants will also be available to Decoy visitors as white label catering menus. Beyond the above-mentioned F&B arrangements, The Decoy will have special food-centered events, including Steak Nights, crawfish boils, and other food pop-ups.
“When my partners and I decided to venture out and develop this wholly new concept, we immediately identified Spring Branch as an area that was lacking in high-energy entertainment options that extended beyond the typical happy hour hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and wanted to offer something that could enhance the neighborhood for adults looking to stay out later,” noted Rafiei in a statement, who also owns prominent area recreational sports organization Houston Sports & Social Club. He added, “The Decoy is specifically designed to be un-specific in its approach; that is to say that we cater to all different types of bar-goers. From the rec league enthusiasts looking to play or watch sand volleyball, to the fantasy football team looking for a place to draft, to the college or NFL fan base organizing somewhere to watch an upcoming game, to the group of women celebrating a bachelorette party, to the corporate outfit seeking a place for team bonding, The Decoy has it covered.”
On a weekly basis, The Decoy will offer lively themed nights – each of which includes an accompanying drink special. Monday is Mix & Mingle Monday – also known as Industry Night ($3 Jameson and Fireball); Tuesday is Tipsy Tuesday (all cocktails priced at $5); Wednesday is Western Wednesday ($2 off all whiskey drinks and a selection of specialty cocktails, plus specials on steak from Wild Oats); Thursday is Throwback Thursday ($2 off all tequila drinks and shots, plus select bottles discounted to $100); and Friday is Ladies’ Night (half off Veuve Cliquot and other select bottles plus $5 house wine). During the weekend, The Decoy will offer $5 off all beer and mimosa towers on Saturdays and Sundays – as well as $6 specialty cocktails on Sundays specifically. A rotating selection of local DJs will spin at The Decoy throughout the week and on weekends – including DJ Kaos, Demo HTX, Mateo the DJ, DJ Kyxx, and the Smash Brother DJs.
The Decoy will be an official destination for Houston Sports and Social Club volleyball leagues. As part of its partnership with HoustonSSC, The Decoy will host recurring sand volleyball league play and tournaments throughout the week and on weekends. Outside of HoustonSSC-sanctioned volleyball, The Decoy’s courts are available to be rented for $25 per hour on Monday through Wednesday and for $45 per hour on Thursday through Sunday. Additionally, The Decoy has partnered with Rare Breed Cornhole to facilitate cornhole league play and tournaments.
During its first two weeks of opening, The Decoy is raising funds for the Houston chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star in order to aid its mission of creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. The Decoy will pledge $1 from each specialty cocktail sold to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston from now through November 24th.
