“I waited for this building for over a year and a half,” said Genevieve Thompson, restaurateur and owner of PIK-NIK Culinary Market + Deli in Rockport. “We’re just so happy to bring it back to the eatery.” Captain Charles Davis and his wife Mollie commissioned Rockport’s iconic art moderne building in 1942 after a fire destroyed the original 1920s structure at the intersection of Austin and North Streets. Several restaurants occupied the site over the years, including the beloved Kline’s Café.
After serving as a post-Harvey haven for the Rockport Center for the Arts, “the Kline Building” relocated in spring 2021, with Thompson among those who watched the slow migration four blocks south. Thompson’s new venture, PIK-NIK, opened its doors in April 2024.
A landmark designated by the Texas Historical Commission in 2022, the building now settled at the corner of St. Mary’s and Magnolia offers indoor and outdoor seating. An herb garden greets visitors at the front door and, in a pinch, may contribute to the offerings on the plate—like this summer’s tomato-watermelon salad with fresh mint. “Those things have saved us so many times,” Thompson said of the plants with a giggle, “little as they are.”
Thompson described the restaurant’s vibe as “boho but moody,” with carefully selected features serving PIK-NIK’s “culinary-driven and experiential” mission. She designed a purpose-built peninsula to host coffee classes and cooking demonstrations. Wine Down Wednesdays and Beer:30 Fridays occur weekly and are PIK-NIK’s versions of happy hour specials.
The menu is loaded with wine pairings and bulk seasonal salads, perfect for crafting a picnic. To build your own basket, simply choose from the deli case and display of retail products. “Everything here you can put in a picnic basket and take with you to the beach,” Thompson said. “It’s a picnic; you can come in and pick.”
Several namesake dishes at PIK-NIK pay homage to a century of Rockport culinary history inside the building’s white stucco walls. Try The Kline Avocado Flatbread with arugula, prosciutto, tomatoes, red onion and an over-easy egg; or the PIK-NIK Chicken Salad with pecans, pickles, red grapes, red onion and boiled egg with mayo. The Theo’s Roast Beef Sandwich is also a hit and combines roast beef, gruyere, fried onion and horseradish mayo on sourdough.
Thompson made a name for PIK-NIK last year by curating pop-up experiences such as beach proposals and garden parties. “I wanted to get the brand awareness out there by launching the summer before,” she said. “I honestly didn’t know if I was going to secure this building, but I just put it out there in the world.” She and fiancé/business partner Darrell Shirley made the move to Rockport in April 2023, though they have been visiting for years. The legacy of the location is not lost on the new occupant.
“So many different influences in this building,” Thompson said. “I love the history part of it, and I’m hoping that PIK-NIK will be the next iconic eatery here and that we’ll be part of the tradition.”
Location: 1005 St. Mary’s St., Rockport
