The tower’s owners, Houston-based real estate firms Midway and Lionstone Investments, say its the largest outdoor patio by square footage within the downtown district, or the 1.84 square-mile area bound by Interstate 69 to the east, Interstate 45 to the south and west and Interstate 10 to the north.

Finn Hall's new patio is part of the city’s “More Space: Main Street” program. The pandemic-related initiative was launched to give struggling downtown restaurants the ability to expand their outdoor dining space by closing Main Street to vehicle traffic between Commerce to Rusk Streets.

The program was set to expire in March, but Houston City Council recently voted to extend the initiative for another year. The pedestrian-friendly program is available to eateries and bars across seven blocks. Downtown bar Little Dipper was the first business to take advantage of the program in March 2021.

“Quite frankly it has been working and quite popular …. This may be something that will be long-term because it is well received and people like sitting out, being out, especially when the weather is great,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner in a Februrary meeting approving the program extension.

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For Finn Hall, Midway and Lionstone funded construction of the 75-seat patio, which spans about half the art-deco building along the Main Street side.

“Now we have the opportunity to activate our outdoor patio with music and a robust events program, so like our food, our patrons can enjoy something different each time they dine with us,” said Miranda Cartwright, General Manager at Midway, in a statement.

Finn Hall has already been hosting new events recently featuring art, live music, and food pop-ups.

The food hall now is home to the restaurants Pho Binh (which opened last year); Papalo Taqueria; Lit Chicken; Greenway Coffee; Yong; Pizza Zquare; Dish Society and Swallow’s Nest Bar.

The expanded outdoor dining area opened just in time for the Houston Rodeo that started last week and CERAWeek, a major energy conference that takes place downtown next week. Both events are hosting their first in-person gatherings since the pandemic started.