OKRA Charity Saloon Gives 100% of Proceeds Away

OKRA Charity Saloon, a bar that gives 100% of its proceeds to a different charity every month. Located in downtown Houston, 924 Congress Avenue.

While Houston Restaurant Weeks, which we heard about last week on Houston Matters, continues throughout the month of August, it’s not the only example of restaurants banding together to support a community initiative. Back in 2009, a loose affiliation of like-minded restaurant and bar owners began commiserating about the need for what they characterize as a “public voice for independents” in the restaurant industry. Two years later, they formally established OKRA – or an Organized Kollaboration on Restaurant Affairs. While that “kollaboration” (yes, they know it’s spelled wrong – but you can’t spell okra with a “c”) is up front about its purpose as an advocacy group, it also has opened up what it calls a “charity bar.” 100% of the bar’s proceeds are donated to a different Houston-based organization or social cause each month, and patrons get to vote on which charity is chosen each month among various nominees. Houston Matters’ Edel Howlin learns more.