Mama Tina’s Gumbo Reopens at Houston Rodeo After Temporary Health Department Closure Over Complaint Investigation

A high-profile new vendor returns after a short shutdown

Mama Tina’s Gumbo, a first-year food vendor at the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, resumed operations this week after a temporary closure tied to a City of Houston health department action. The booth is associated with Tina Knowles, a Houston native and the mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, and has drawn significant attention as one of the event’s headline new food offerings.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is being held at NRG Park from March 2 through March 22, 2026. Mama Tina’s Gumbo began serving early in the run and was promoted as a new vendor on multiple food guides and event previews ahead of opening day.

What the city and rodeo said about the shutdown

The City of Houston’s health department ordered a temporary closure of the Mama Tina’s Gumbo booth on Monday, March 16, 2026. City officials said the action followed a complaint investigation. The department also said the vendor cooperated with recommendations, passed a subsequent inspection, and was authorized to reopen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Separately, rodeo organizers described the matter as involving clerical issues and said vendors are required to comply with rules and requirements enforced by the fire marshal, the city health department, and other governmental entities with jurisdiction at the venue. The rodeo stated the vendor worked with the city to address the issues and reopened under the health department’s guidance.

Timeline of events

• March 2, 2026: The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens at NRG Park for its scheduled March 2–22 run.

• March 16, 2026: The city health department issues a temporary closure of Mama Tina’s Gumbo following a complaint investigation.

• March 17, 2026: The vendor is authorized to reopen after passing a subsequent inspection, according to the health department.

Food operations and compliance at large events

Large-scale events such as RodeoHouston operate with extensive temporary and semi-permanent food service setups, requiring permits, documentation and ongoing compliance checks. Health department actions can range from routine inspections to responses triggered by complaints, with outcomes that may include corrective steps, reinspection, and authorization to resume operations.

City officials said the temporary closure resulted from a complaint investigation and that the booth was allowed to reopen after a subsequent inspection.

What this means for rodeo attendees

With the booth reopened, attendees again have access to the gumbo offerings that were introduced as part of the rodeo’s 2026 lineup of new foods and vendors. Organizers have encouraged visitors to use official on-site navigation tools and signage to locate food vendors across the fairgrounds during the event’s remaining days.

The rodeo is scheduled to continue through Sunday, March 22, 2026.