HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – The Montrose Collective, a mixed-use development rising at a prominent corner in the Montrose neighborhood, has announced a new restaurant tenant.
The Atlas Restaurant Group, led by brothers Alex and Eric Smith, has signed a lease for a 5,500-square-foot space to house a 225-seat Italian concept. The restaurant is scheduled to open in spring 2022.
The Maryland-based group behind acclaimed Houston destinations Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar at River Oaks District is expanding its presence in the city.
“The success of Ouzo and Loch Bar, combined with the city’s business-friendly environment, made the decision to grow here an easy one,” said owner Alex Smith. “We love Houston and plan to continue building new brands here under the Atlas umbrella where it makes sense. Montrose Collective made perfect sense.”
The Smith brothers selected local architect Tim Cisneros to design the build-out. Cisneros will collaborate with Maryland-based designer Patrick Sutton to realize a neighborhood restaurant focused on handmade pastas, charcuterie and prime steaks.
The Montrose Collective development, located on Westheimer Road between Grant and Crocker Streets, will include five buildings, approximately 100,000 square feet of office space and more than 50,000 square feet of retail. Among the retail tenants is Uchi, which now occupies the former Felix Restaurant building. Felix Restaurant, once famous for its cheese enchiladas, was founded by Felix Tijerina, the first national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
The project will also host the relocated Montrose branch of the Houston Public Library, which will move from its current space at the historic Campanile at 4100 Montrose Boulevard. The Campanile is a redevelopment by John Hansen of the former Central Church of Christ, a house of worship originally designed by William Ward Watkin and opened in 1940. The Black Labrador pub, which operated for 33 years in what had been the church’s Fellowship Hall, closed in December 2019.
Developed by Radom Capital and designed by Michael Hsu, the Montrose Collective will feature preserved mature live oak trees, wide covered walkways, public art and landscaped public gathering areas. Upon opening, the development is expected to include six new restaurants and 15 retail stores that are new to the Houston market.
In addition to the Montrose Collective, Skanska is planning a major mixed-use development at the southwest corner of Montrose and Westheimer.
June 7, 2021 Realty News Report. Copyright 2021.
For more about Texas real estate, see the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins.
Image: Radom Capital. Caption: Alex Smith, Steve Radom of Radom Capital and Eric Smith.