East End family turns community eye sore into icehouse

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A local family from the East End is giving back to their community.

For years a local ice house was a community nuisance and eyesore, but they decided to work together to turn it into a remodeled yet vintage ice house on the corner of Dumble and Mckinney.

"I was born and raised in this neighborhood," said Marco Ramos, owner of Invasion Ice House.

It's a part of Second Ward that a lot of people in Houston ignored for a long time.

"Passing by here as kids you would see the people that were in here they type of things that would happen," said owner Monique Ramos.

For the Ramos kids and many others who called this area home, the bar in the middle of the neighborhood was a nuisance.

"(I) would see this place as a 'cantina' low class," they said.

"I haven't left this community. I don't plan on leaving it," said Monique Ramos.

So the Ramos kids made a pact.

"I always had a vision that if one day I was to own this place I would make something completely different," said Marco.

What sounded like a perfect plan then is now a true reality. Invasion Ice House is set to open soon.

"There's just no words for it it's unbelievable," said Marco.

"I came up with the idea to buy a food truck so the customers can also enjoy a cold beer and some fajita tacos," said Marco's wife and huge supporter, Maria Delgado.

They have poured their heart and soul into this new vision for the East End and they hope to be received with open arms.

"We want the community to know about us because we have all done it as a family we hope the community enjoys it," said Delgado.