1900s-era home transforms into Houston's Nett Bar
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- What was once a home for a family of seven, has now transformed into Houston's newest bar with an inviting neighborhood feel.
Nett Bar, located on the west end of the city, has a modern farmhouse look and is surrounded by big oak trees first planted in the 1900s.
Nett Bar owner Oswaldo Gutierrez, originally from Mexico, calls Houston his second home. And six years ago when he found the property on 4504 Nett St., he knew it was the perfect spot to make his dream into a reality.
"There was something charming about the bungalow that sat on it," he said.
Gutierrez recruited Ryan Echiverri and John Caravello as partners in his bar business journey and together, they were able to come up with what they call a social, active and fun place for the community.
As they were putting plans together to repurpose the old home, they realized there was a special story behind it.
"Six months ago, the original owner of the home came to us and told us her daughter was born here. Her grandpa planted these beautiful oak trees around here," Gutierrez said.
The original structure was built in the early 1920s by the Hohmann family.
Walter and Elsie Hohmann had five children, two of whom were born in the home. One of their children, 84-year-old Dorothy Bautsch, lives in Deer Park.
She found out what was being done to the house, and wanted to see for herself. Bautsch was overwhelmingly happy to see what Gutierrez and his team had done.
"It's beautiful. I'm just so happy that I'm alive to see this," Bautsch said.
Bautsch and her family even gave Gutierrez photos of her family and the house from when it looked like back then. They are framed and displayed inside the bar.
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Bautsch relived some memories about her childhood home, describing how often she and her four other siblings would enjoy their time in the backyard.
"We had very happy days. We played outdoors all the time and climbed the trees," Bautsch said.
Those trees were planted by her father, and it's one of the reasons why Gutierrez fell in love with the property.
The oak trees will provide a shady outdoor area for the patrons, and it creates a welcoming space.
"Most of these places around don't have a yard. They are townhomes with little or no patio, so we tell them that this is like their own backyard," Gutierrez said.
Nett Bar opened two weeks ago, but it will have its official grand opening Saturday. People are invited to bring their families and friends. They have games for all ages and a big area for bocce ball.
"The best thing about bocce ball is you can play it with a drink in the other hand," Echiverri said.
And if you have a dog, bring them along. Nett Bar has a dedicated area for the pups where they can run around under the shade.
The design inside the bar is a clean look, with a big farmhouse door, white walls, wood floors and small touches of rustic decor.
It was specifically designed to create an environment where patrons are encouraged to kick back as if they were in their own house.
"We want them to feel like it's their home, which is the reason behind the design, feel and atmosphere. That's what we want to make them feel like - home."
