HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – The Montrose Collective – a mixed-use project under construction at the primary corner in the Montrose area – has secured a new restaurant tenant.
The Atlas Restaurant Group, led by brothers Alex and Eric Smith leased a 5,500-SF space 225-seat Italian concept. It is expected to open in Spring 2022
The acclaimed Maryland-based restaurant group that brought Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar to River Oaks District over two years ago.
“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. “Frankly, we love Houston and plan to continue creating new brands here under the Atlas umbrella wherever it makes sense. And Montrose Collective made absolute perfect sense.”
The Smith brothers tapped local architect Tim Cisneros for the design build out of the new concept, who will work in tandem with Maryland-based designer Patrick Sutton to bring their vision for a neighborhood restaurant featuring handmade pastas, charcuterie and prime steaks to life.
The mixed-use Montrose Collective development rising on Westheimer Road along Grant and Crocker Streets will consist of five buildings, 100,000 square feet of office space and more than 50,000 square feet of retail, including the popular Uchi restaurant, which operates in the former Felix Restaurant building. Felix Restaurant, known for its cheese enchiladas, was operated by Felix Tijerina, who was the first national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Also coming to the Montrose Collective is the relocated Montrose branch of the Houston Public Library, which will be abandoning the existing city library space at the historic Campanile at 4100 Montrose Boulevard. The Campanile is a John Hansen redevelopment of the Central Church of Christ, a William Ward Watkin-designed place of worship that opened in 1940. The popular Black Labrador pub, which operated in what was once the church’s Fellowship Hall, closed in December 2019 after 33 years of operation.
Developed by Radom Capital, the Montrose Collective will be home to six new restaurants and 15 new-to-market retail shops when the Michael Hsu-designed project opens with preserved mature live oak trees perched above wide, covered walkways, public art, and natural gathering places.
Another major mixed-use project is being planned by Skanska at the southwest corner of Montrose and Westheimer.
June 7, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
For more about Texas real estate, check out the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins. Available on Amazon http://tiny.cc/4a2g6y
Image: Radom Capital. Caption: Alex Smith, Steve Radom of Radom Capital and Eric Smith.