Katy’s Newest Hangout to Combine History and Texas Hospitality Fun

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

June 4, 2024

By Natalie Cook Clark

Katy continues to grow with businesses and 2024 is set to introduce Katy families to a truly unique experience with The Dryer. Formerly known as the Cardiff Rice Dryer, The Dryer will incorporate entertainment and history in its historic space and their first tenant, The Katy Beer Garden is set to open this month.

First Business in The Dryer Opening this Month

Get excited to shop and drink with friends all while enjoying Katy history. The Dryer has big plans to incorporate entertainment and history to the historic space. The 25,000 square-feet entertainment space will include a museum, beer garden, 16 vendor spaces, gift shop, train ride, with plans for a farmer's market and more.

The Katy Beer Garden, their first tenant, is set to open this month and will offer Katy families a unique blend of Texas Hospitality and a Bavarian-Inspired Bar. They promise to cater to a diverse taste and preferences with 100 beer taps, a 100-bottle wine list, and a wide range of spirits and cocktails plus a small menu of bar food.

“Join us this summer to experience the unique blend of culture and excitement at Katy Beer Garden – where Bavaria meets Texas,” says Katy Beer Garden Steven Salazar.

This will be both a Katy hangout for casual visitors and nightlife enthusiasts with amenities that include: modern viewing with 85 inch TVs and an 18 foot wide LED mega screen so guests don’t miss any of their favorite sports. There will be a dedicated board game area and two bocce courts, which will host a league on Thursday nights.

In addition to the beers on tap and wine list, there will be a full mixology program curated by owner Steven Salazar. Salazar is renowned for his previous project (now since departed), Diversion Cocktails, which was recognized in Esquire Magazine as one of the Best New Bars of 2022.

A rotating selection of 2-3 food trucks providing a diverse culinary experience alongside Bavarian pretzels from our kitchen, a highlight of the soft opening menu.

The Katy Beer Garden will be open seven days a week until 2:00 a.m. Salazar says it won’t just be a bar but a community hub where every night is a blend of festivities, flavor, and fun.

“We invite everyone to come and enjoy what promises to be a cornerstone of local nightlife and camaraderie,” says Salazar.

For opening information, follow the Katy Beer Garden online and on Facebook.

Inspired by the Magnolia Silo

The Dryer will be truly a unique Katy experience inspired by a famous Texas site.

“My inspiration came from the Magnolia Silo in Waco and The Pearl in San Antonio,” says Hadi (Andrew) Nurcahya, the developer for The Dryer. “We are incorporating more heritage and history with our venue due to our deep roots here in Katy for Trains and Rice Farming.”

The unique concept that involves 7 different addresses requires a lot of permits. Nurcahya says that there have been challenges and delays, but he is very thankful for the city staff and their support.

At The Dryer, people will find stacked shipping containers have been transformed into restrooms and vendor spaces. There will be an underground museum being operated by the Katy Heritage Society. A Katy gift shop will be inside the rice dryer. The Dryer's first tenant to open is The Katy Beer Garden, a bar that offers 10,000 square-feet indoor space and 15,000 square-feet of outdoor patio shaded by 45-foot tall oak trees.

You can follow updates from The Dryer on Facebook.

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