The Stuffed Baked Potato Factory in southwest Houston has closed after ten years. Owner Michael D. Moore announced on Facebook that he shut down operations on Wednesday, which is also his birthday. The business began as a pop-up and later grew into two Houston locations and a franchise.
Moore’s Facebook message — “I have officially ceased operations at The Stuffed Baked Potato Factory, effective December 3rd, 2025” — was reported by Chron. He said economic pressures and a drop in his mostly Hispanic customer base, linked to increased immigration enforcement, were reasons for the shutdown. Moore said that after ten years in business, he was ready for a change.
Local business and delivery listings back up what fans have been seeing on the ground: both Houston storefronts are now closed, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard location and the Hiram Clarke Road spot. Before the shutdown, delivery and catering platforms and other listings showed both stores as active, according to ezCater and Uber Eats. The brand also stepped outside Texas with a franchise in Ridgeland, Mississippi, as noted in a 2019 franchise announcement reported by The Franchise Courier.
From Pop-Up Hustle To TV Spotlight
Before there were TV cameras and lines for loaded spuds, Moore was cooking and catering out of his home and running a pop-up called Chicago Grilling. That grind eventually led to his first brick-and-mortar on MLK, where the concept quickly built a neighborhood following. The massive, fully loaded potatoes and Moore’s signature seasoning blend, “Moe’s Magic Dust,” later snagged television attention when the Travel Channel featured the shop in a “Food Paradise” segment, a boost that local coverage credits with elevating the restaurant’s profile. 5 Corners District documented that early rise.
Community Reaction And What’s Next
Moore told the Chronicle that the wave of support and memories posted in response to his Facebook announcement “It made me feel real good,” emphasizing that he ran the business more for joy than for profit. Chron notes that he has not publicly detailed his next move, saying he believes God will guide whatever comes next. In the meantime, customers and catering clients who relied on those oversized plates will be scanning the city for new spots that can handle the kind of big orders the Factory was known for…