By George Slaughter
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris meets Anna Liu, the new owner at Snappy’s Cafe and Grill (photo courtesy Chris Harris)
Before he left office in 2017, Mayor Fabol Hughes urged a reporter writing about him to visit Snappy’s Café and Grill, 5803 US 90. If you want to know what’s happening in Katy, he said, visit Snappy’s.
Today, four years later, Snappy’s itself is the story, as it has a new owner.
Long-time owners and operators Bobby Katsabas and Alex Tsounakas sold the iconic Katy eatery to Houston businesswoman Anna Liu, who began her tenure Tuesday. The restaurant, known for its breakfast and lunch fare, has been a central Katy gathering place for years. Snappy’s is so popular with its customers that some of them donated money to rebuild it following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when floodwaters damaged the restaurant.
For her part, Liu said she plans no changes to the restaurant.
“I’ve been telling everyone I’d like to keep things the same,” Liu said. “You don’t want to fix what’s not broken. I hope the customers are staying as well. Most business acquisitions are strategic. They are acquiring businesses for growth. That’s not the case here. The guys simply wanted to retire. There’s not a flaw in the business. I want to keep things the same.”
Liu said most Snappy’s customers are returning customers.
“Lots of them come in every single day,” Liu said. “I was able to meet a lot of people in a very short amount of time. It shows the bond in the community. I’m really honored to be able to carry out this tradition in this community.”
The unique quality of the place was a key attraction. Liu said she was looking at other business opportunities when a business broker brought Snappy’s to her attention.
“I think there’s not a lot of restaurants like this anymore,” Liu said. “It’s all about the people. It brings people together. There are plenty of dining options around, but the employees, the people who come on in, that makes the place. The longer you go in, it’s like hanging out with family and friends and making new friends, and I love that. That’s how I thought the past couple of days. I don’t feel like I’m working a lot, but just hanging out with everyone.”
Liu has come a long way to get to Katy. She was born and spent part of her early childhood in China. Her family moved to Houston, then Louisiana, then Kentucky, where she earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky. She returned to Houston to earn her MBA at Rice University.
Liu’s parents live in Cinco Ranch today. When she learned that the restaurant was up for sale, before the pandemic hit, she decided to pay a visit. She invited her parents to join her for a meal there. She said she did not tell them she was considering purchasing the restaurant, however. After the meal, she asked them what they thought.
“They loved it,” Liu said.
Even though Liu lives in Houston, she’s off to a good start in meeting local luminaries who frequent Snappy’s. She said she’s met city officials, longtime community volunteers, and even Katy High School football coach Gary Joseph.
“I really want to show my appreciation to the Katy community for welcoming me with open arms,” Liu said. “I hope to serve the community.”