Village Retail Redevelopment Underway

HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Fifth Corner has kicked off the redevelopment of Village Corner, a midcentury retail center at 2400 Times Blvd. in the Village.

Houston-based Fifth Corner acquired the property, which is located along Rice and Times Boulevards, just west of Morningside, last year. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture designed the renovations to include new facades, expanded patios and public spaces, and improved walkability.

The redevelopment of Village Corner will focus on enhancing and repositioning the project’s 38,035 square feet of retail space, according to Fifth Corner. The center also has 28,500 square feet of office.

Village Retail Redevelopment Underway — Michael Hsu Office of Architecture will create shaded patios and walkways at Village Corner. Fifth Corner courtesy rendering.

Rebel Retail Advisors is leading the retail leasing. CTC Contractors is handling construction, which is expected to wrap up in the fourth quarter.

“From the beginning, we wanted this project to feel like it belonged here,” said Tenel Tayar, Co-Managing Partner at Fifth Corner. “This isn’t about creating a standalone development. It’s about contributing thoughtfully to the continued evolution of Rice Village with architecture, retail, and public spaces that complement what makes this neighborhood so special.”

Long Term in Mind

“Our goal has never been simply to redevelop a property,” said Brandon Eads, Portfolio Development Manager at Fifth Corner. “We’re creating a place where exceptional brands want to invest, where people naturally want to spend time, and where every detail—from the architecture to the patios to the pedestrian experience—has been considered with the long term in mind.”

Located in one of Houston’s oldest and most walkable shopping districts, Village Corner is home to longstanding shops and restaurants such as La Taste, Salento Bistrot, Café Rabelais, and Torchy’s Tacos. The Village sits between Rice University and West University Place.

Renovations are in progress at Village Corner retail center at 2400 Times Boulevard. — Renovations are in progress at Village Corner. Realty News Report photo Copyright 2026

“We’ve been working closely with each of the existing tenants throughout the planning process and have thoughtfully considered their long-term goals as the project evolves. Our approach has always been to curate Village Corner with the right mix of retailers and restaurants while supporting the businesses that contribute to the character of the property,” the company said in a statement.

Fifth Corner did not provide specifics on any tenant changes in the works.

“We’ve seen strong interest in Village Corner and are excited about the level of leasing activity already underway. While we do have progress to share, we’re working collaboratively with our future tenants to announce new leases at the appropriate time. We look forward to sharing those additions when each brand is ready to make its own announcement.”

A Magnet for Expansion

The Village has been a popular choice for local shops and restaurants as well as retailers expanding to Houston for the first time. Several nearby spaces in centers owned by others are being prepared for new tenants.

Jones Road Beauty will open its first Houston store across Times Boulevard in the space previously occupied by Mac Cosmetics.

Hill House Home, a boutique selling clothing, accessories, and bedding, will take over the former Lily Rain store on Kelvin for its Houston entry, according to a TDLR filing. Lily Rain relocated to the former Francesca’s space at 2515 University Blvd. And New York-based Thursday Boot Co. recently leased 2,812 SF for a new store at 5407 Kelvin, according to NewQuest.

Kinokuniya will soon transform a nearly 5,600-SF space at 2369 Rice Blvd. into a Japanese bookstore for its second area location. The renovations are expected to wrap up in February, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. The space was previously occupied by Village Fitness.

In another center near West U, Fifth Corner recently brought in Merit Coffee Co. to fill the space vacated by Starbucks in the Terrace Shops on Buffalo Speedway near Westpark. The community café marks the first location for the San Antonio-based coffee roaster.

Boilerplate: Fifth Corner was founded by former AmREIT executives Chad Braun, Tenel Tayar, and H. Kerr Taylor in 2017. The company is focused on investing in what it calls Irreplaceable Corners, or walkable, highly visible properties in thriving urban neighborhoods with long-term potential.

Mark Your Calendar:

CommGate will host its Economic Outlook –Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Houston Country Club. Economist Ted C. Jones, PhD, will present an economic forecast examining trends that will shape the real estate market in the coming year. Following the presentation, connect at a networking social with beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Free for members of CommGate, CCIM, and SIOR. Non-members $50. Link to Registration