HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Hines and Ivanhoé Cambridge have announced that What If Syndicate, a major Chicago-based restaurant group led by two-time Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant, has signed a lease for 8,000 square feet across two new restaurant concepts at Texas Tower, the 47-story office tower currently under development in Downtown Houston.
Texas Tower is a 1 million-square-foot Class AA office building being constructed on the site of the former Houston Chronicle building, a downtown block bounded by Texas, Milam, Travis and Prairie streets. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, the tower is positioned diagonally on the site to create a strong civic presence and sweeping view corridors throughout the building. The development sits across the street from the 75-story JPMorgan Chase tower, also developed by Hines.
What If Syndicate will occupy 6,410 square feet on the building’s first floor for a restaurant called etta, described as a neighborhood restaurant focused on locally sourced, wood-fired dishes. Etta’s menu highlights include fire-baked focaccia, ricotta with honey and truffle, seasonal pizzas and handmade pastas. This Houston location marks the ninth signed etta and will be the fifth to open. In addition, the group has committed to a second, yet-to-be-announced concept that will take roughly 2,000 square feet in Texas Tower’s pavilion area.
“With the goal of providing a curated food-and-beverage program to the north side of Downtown and the surrounding community, we are thrilled to welcome What If Syndicate not only to Houston but also to Texas Tower,” said John Mooz, Senior Managing Director at Hines. “As a world-class operating partner focused on what really matters, their concept etta will deliver an unparalleled experience highlighted by great food and great service.” Mooz also thanked Kenton McKeehan of the Hines Retail Resources Group for assisting with the transaction.
Jonathan Pearce, Executive Vice President, Leasing and Development, Office and Industrial, North America at Ivanhoé Cambridge, added: “What If Syndicate pushes the boundaries of hospitality and service, and its new restaurant concepts are a key addition to our offering for guests at Texas Tower.”
David Pisor, a partner at What If Syndicate, said the group is excited to expand in Houston, “one of the nation’s most diverse and prominent food cities,” and noted that the new etta is slated to open in February 2022.
Texas Tower is expected to open later this year and is currently roughly 40 percent leased. Confirmed tenants include Hines, Vinson & Elkins and DLA Piper law firms. Hines plans to relocate its headquarters from Williams Tower in The Galleria to the new downtown Texas Tower.
As reported previously by Realty News Report, a Hines-led group negotiated the purchase of the Chronicle’s downtown property in 2015. After the sale, the Houston Chronicle moved to the former Houston Post building near Loop 610.
As the newest high-rise in Houston, Texas Tower will offer a suite of amenities designed to create a vertically integrated campus and a hospitality-driven workplace experience. Planned features include a dramatic lobby with hospitality-inspired details; multiple food and beverage venues; abundant networking spaces; a full-service conference facility; public gardens on level 12; and a health club. Ten-foot, full-height windows will bring generous natural light to the 30,000-square-foot floor plates, complemented by a sophisticated underfloor HVAC system. Protruding, cantilevered bays on each face of the floorplate will create opportunities for dramatic internal staircases, atriums and communal spaces, with potential access to fresh air and outdoor green areas.
Hines and Ivanhoé Cambridge were represented by Crystal Allen with Transwestern in the lease negotiations. What If Syndicate negotiated the deal on its own behalf.
June 21, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
Image: Courtesy Hines
File: Michelin Star Chef Opening 2 Spots in New Hines Texas Tower. File (2). Danny Grant, Michelin Star Chef Opening 3 restaurants. Hines. John Mooz. Transwestern. Crystal Allen.