River Oaks District: Mixed-Use Development At 4444 Westheimer Rd. & 4702 Westheimer Rd.

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 11/19/2021 at 5:03 PM, Houston19514 said:

10 new concepts recently opened, coming soon to River Oaks District by mid-2022

 

From the article:

Now open

• Frances Valentine, an American lifestyle brand that opened in September
• La Vie Style House, a luxury women's lifestyle brand that opened in October

Coming soon
 

• Zimmermann, a luxury Australian fashion brand
• LoveShackFancy, a New York City-based lifestyle brand
• Rolex Boutique at de Boulle, a timepiece and vintage watch retailer
• Lunya, a women's clothing and sleepwear store
• YellowKorner, a photography gallery with locations around the world
• Icon Luxury Sound, an audio/visual equipment supplier
• Little Hen, a breakfast and brunch boutique restaurant founded in Miami
• Ti Amo Restaurant, an Italian restaurant

 

The name of the Italian restaurant is no longer Ti Amo. The owners switched it to Bari sometime late last year. Houston Chronicle reported this is in an article listing anticipated restaurant openings for 2022 (but failed to inform readers it was previously reported as Ti Amo).

 

Little Hen is taking over the space vacated by East Hampton Sandwich Co., according to Houston Chronicle.

[Urbannizer]

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/05/02/river-oaks-district-renovation-pocket-park.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_27&cx_artPos=2#cxrecs_s

[Amlaham]

I think turning that street into a park is a wonderful idea, there's already enough entrances and exits to the shopping center.

[Big E]

9 hours ago, Amlaham said:

I think turning that street into a park is a wonderful idea, there's already enough entrances and exits to the shopping center.

Will this stop the exodus of stores, tho'?

[Amlaham]

13 hours ago, Big E said:

Will this stop the exodus of stores, tho'?

I think either way, ROD is headed in the right direction. It made sense for the stores that left to Galleria, I think it was inevitable. They want to be in a high foot traffic area to get more walk ins. However, some stores don't need or want that because their clientele is already known and may even require appointments like Hermes and Cartier. Same goes with the jewelry stores. I know most might disagree but I do think its possible stores like Chanel and Tiffany may eventually move to ROD because they also have a certain clientele and don't really rely on walk ins. Stores that require a lot of foot traffic will probably never consider coming to ROD like LV, Gucci, Versace, etc. Just my take. 

 

[iah77]

22 minutes ago, Amlaham said:

I think either way, ROD is headed in the right direction. It made sense for the stores that left to Galleria, I think it was inevitable. They want to be in a high foot traffic area to get more walk ins. However, some stores don't need or want that because their clientele is already known and may even require appointments like Hermes and Cartier. Same goes with the jewelry stores. I know most might disagree but I do think its possible stores like Chanel and Tiffany may eventually move to ROD because they also have a certain clientele and don't really rely on walk ins. Stores that require a lot of foot traffic will probably never consider coming to ROD like LV, Gucci, Versace, etc. Just my take. 

 

Tiffany is now owned by LVMH and most definitely relies on heavy foot traffic for a large portion of sales. I think ROD is going downhill retail wise and will end up just being a place mainly for restaurants. I really want them to succeed but I feel the project should have been a little bigger to achieve more of a critical mass. It's very hard to compete again Simon Malls because I'm sure they get a huge discount for having stores in large numbers in multiple malls of their portfolio. We will see what the future holds

[Luminare]

I think what's encouraging is that this development wants to be a success. Its willing to try new things to bring new people in. This is what is great about the market if you are open to change. Is it always successful, no, but at the very least they are trying. I agree with you @Amlaham that it's moving generally in the right direction. I think making that entire interior loop a promenade will go a long way into making this place even more flexible and open to people relaxing and hanging out in the area which will help eventually draw people into shops if the shops/prices are right.

[editor]

I wouldn't be surprised to see more luxury and near-luxury brands moving to the River Oaks District.  There's been a lot more mayhem at the Galleria lately than makes the evening news or the newspaper.  Some of the stores are shortening their hours in the name of security. 

That said, there will be luxury shoppers who will be very hard to pry away from The Galleria.  Middle-Eastern tourists, for one.  Also, people who shop at the Galleria so that other people can see them shopping.  That's how Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus manage to stay open.  The ladies who lunch want to be seen by the other ladies who lunch.  They don't care what happens in the rest of the mall. 

[asubrt]

3 hours ago, editor said:

Also, people who shop at the Galleria so that other people can see them shopping.  That's how Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus manage to stay open.  The ladies who lunch want to be seen by the other ladies who lunch.  They don't care what happens in the rest of the mall. 

That might be true about Neiman Marcus, which does feel pretty elitist (not unexpected for a Dallas company after all)... but I don't think that's the case with Nordstrom. It's an awesome store with great customer service and it doesn't really feel obnoxious at all. If anything I'd throw Saks in that former camp before Nordstrom.

[editor]

11 hours ago, asubrt said:

That might be true about Neiman Marcus, which does feel pretty elitist (not unexpected for a Dallas company after all)... but I don't think that's the case with Nordstrom. It's an awesome store with great customer service and it doesn't really feel obnoxious at all. If anything I'd throw Saks in that former camp before Nordstrom.

Yes, absolutely.  Saks is a better fit for that description than Nordstrom. 

[Amlaham]

New restaurant/ cafe from Mexico City! It looks more casual, with a focus on health and exercise. Didn't expect this kind of place to open here, but I think it adds a nice diverse touch to the district (I don't think everything has to be super high end)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXhA0LfvCel/

Edited June 9, 2022 by Amlaham

[LBC2HTX]

This area desperately needs a casual cafe. This will do well. 

[Big E]

7 hours ago, LBC2HTX said:

This area desperately needs a casual cafe. This will do well. 

This area desperately needs tenants in general. I'm kind of taken back by how many places have come and gone from here.

[Fortune]

11 hours ago, Big E said:

This area desperately needs tenants in general. I'm kind of taken back by how many places have come and gone from here.

Haw many vacancies are there in this development? 

[iah77]

21 minutes ago, Fortune said:

Haw many vacancies are there in this development? 

I know there are at least 10?

Former Akris, Tom Ford, Cavalli, the furniture store, former forty five ten etc. 

[monarch]

4 minutes ago, iah77 said:

I know there are at least 10?

Former Akris, Tom Ford, Cavalli, the furniture store, former forty five ten etc. 

^^^ pleeeeaaaase bring back forty-five ten, this boutique was like a mini neiman marcus.  MAGNIFICENT!

[iah77]

9 minutes ago, monarch said:

^^^ pleeeeaaaase bring back forty-five ten, this boutique was like a mini neiman marcus.  MAGNIFICENT!

Forty Five Ten was destroyed when its old owner died and the new owner made bad hires. They closed all their stores besides downtown Dallas location and it's only open 3 days a week at that. It had so much potential before it was ruined. I loved their NYC store before it closed. 

[Houston19514]

Yeah, Forty Five Ten is not coming back. They'll be doing well just to survive.

But the good news for Forty Five Ten fans is that Brian Bolke (the co-founder of Forty Five Ten), is coming back to River Oaks District with his new store The Conservatory.

Edited June 10, 2022 by Houston19514

[Big E]

4 hours ago, Fortune said:

Haw many vacancies are there in this development? 

What @iah77 said. Its been a revolving carousel of closures.

[Houston19514]

12 minutes ago, Big E said:

What @iah77 said. Its been a revolving carousel of closures.

The turnover at ROD is probably not particularly unusual, especially for a pretty new center such as this in times of a pandemic.

[iah77]

1 minute ago, Houston19514 said:

The turnover at ROD is probably not particularly unusual, especially for a pretty new center such as this in times of a pandemic.

I think it is. What is unusual is that prime tenants have reverted back to the Galleria (i.e tom ford, akris, probably dior). ROD's sister project in Atlanta [Buckhead Village] which opened with an almost identical tenant mix has not seen the same wave of departures. I think the stores in ROD attract a lot of people to the restaurants due to making it seem very upscale. Would Toulouse be so busy if not next to a very aesthetically pleasing dior store?  Probably not? These two other similar complexes saw a boost after covid, not what's happening here. 

In Dallas, Highland Park Village's departures have led to even more niche and upscale retailers opening in the void while ROD's are left vacant a long time and heading in a direction that will scare away the original tenants.  

I don't really care, I'm just scratching my head on the re-alignment since I think Houston should be able to support 3-4 high end centers like Dallas has. 

 

 

[Houston19514]

16 minutes ago, iah77 said:

I think it is. What is unusual is that prime tenants have reverted back to the Galleria (i.e tom ford, akris, probably dior). ROD's sister project in Atlanta [Buckhead Village] which opened with an almost identical tenant mix has not seen the same wave of departures. I think the stores in ROD attract a lot of people to the restaurants due to making it seem very upscale. Would Toulouse be so busy if not next to a very aesthetically pleasing dior store?  Probably not? These two other similar complexes saw a boost after covid, not what's happening here. 

In Dallas, Highland Park Village's departures have led to even more niche and upscale retailers opening in the void while ROD's are left vacant a long time and heading in a direction that will scare away the original tenants.  

I don't really care, I'm just scratching my head on the re-alignment since I think Houston should be able to support 3-4 high end centers like Dallas has. 

 

 

Take a look at the Buckhead Village map.  They have at least as many empty spaces as ROD.

[monarch]

22 minutes ago, iah77 said:

I think it is. What is unusual is that prime tenants have reverted back to the Galleria (i.e tom ford, akris, probably dior). ROD's sister project in Atlanta [Buckhead Village] which opened with an almost identical tenant mix has not seen the same wave of departures. I think the stores in ROD attract a lot of people to the restaurants due to making it seem very upscale. Would Toulouse be so busy if not next to a very aesthetically pleasing dior store?  Probably not? These two other similar complexes saw a boost after covid, not what's happening here. 

In Dallas, Highland Park Village's departures have led to even more niche and upscale retailers opening in the void while ROD's are left vacant a long time and heading in a direction that will scare away the original tenants.  

I don't really care, I'm just scratching my head on the re-alignment since I think Houston should be able to support 3-4 high end centers like Dallas has. 

 

 

^^^ actually, we are all "scratching our heads" wondering just when are they going to break ground... and start constructing the long awaited... RIVER OAKS DISTRICT HOTEL.  heck, if this was dallas or austin, the hotel would not just be completely constructed, it would be a monumental significant brand catering to the most elite patrons.  at times, houston seems to be just too damn lethargic, bureaucratic, and complacent.  sure, enough, we have ALL faced some very difficult past couple of years per se.  however, ROD is a very beautiful and significant development that should be moving forward... not surrendering.  JUST CONSTRUCT THE DAMN HOTEL ALREADY...

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by monarch

[kennyc05]

18 minutes ago, iah77 said:

I think it is. What is unusual is that prime tenants have reverted back to the Galleria (i.e tom ford, akris, probably dior). ROD's sister project in Atlanta [Buckhead Village] which opened with an almost identical tenant mix has not seen the same wave of departures. I think the stores in ROD attract a lot of people to the restaurants due to making it seem very upscale. Would Toulouse be so busy if not next to a very aesthetically pleasing dior store?  Probably not? These two other similar complexes saw a boost after covid, not what's happening here. 

In Dallas, Highland Park Village's departures have led to even more niche and upscale retailers opening in the void while ROD's are left vacant a long time and heading in a direction that will scare away the original tenants.  

I don't really care, I'm just scratching my head on the re-alignment since I think Houston should be able to support 3-4 high end centers like Dallas has. 

 

 

 

Just now, Houston19514 said:

Take a look at the Buckhead Village map.  They have at least as many empty spaces as ROD.

The luxury stores at Buckhead Village were leaving for Phipps and Lenox before River Oaks District even started losing tenants to the Galleria. 

[Twinsanity02]

"The ways of commerce are exceedingly odd,sir".  Jeeves

Season 2, Episode 5. Jeeves and Wooster

[Skyboxdweller]

I think it is still too soon to understand the impact of the pandemic on retail/consumer activity and foot traffic at retail locations.  At super high priced luxury malls, smaller boutiques and stores not supported by global giants don't have the resources to stick it out and make mid-course changes.  ROD doesn't draw on the presence of office workers to the extent that downtown locations do in America's cities.  But what we see in places like NY and Chi is that without a steady influx of suburban office workers into downtowns on a five day a week basis , the retail and restaurants in the area aren't going to make their numbers to support their pre-pandemic rents. 

[Triton]

Makes me wonder how many years it will take before they buy the Target property and convert it. The way they developed this, it would be very easy to connect all the way to San Felipe. 

[Houston19514]

On 6/10/2022 at 12:18 PM, iah77 said:

I know there are at least 10?

Former Akris, Tom Ford, Cavalli, the furniture store, former forty five ten etc. 

Tom Ford space is no longer vacant.  Not sure where Akris was and I don't recall a furniture store at all, let alone its location.  FWIW, it's odd, but their website is not up to date. There are some new stores open that are not shown on their website and there are more currently under construction that are also not on their website.

[SMU1213]

Our hotels' RevPARs are too low to support new development (with the exception of The Post Oak which doesn't release their information since they aren't part of a chain), especially with the rapidly rising construction costs. Houston's hotels rely on business travel which typically has a cap on room rates and their RevPAR peaked in 2014 when oil peaked. Our only hope for a new hotel that isn't an ego tower (Tilman's) is that the high energy prices start translating to higher RevPAR.

[X.R.]

On 6/11/2022 at 2:58 PM, Triton said:

Makes me wonder how many years it will take before they buy the Target property and convert it. The way they developed this, it would be very easy to connect all the way to San Felipe. 

I've spoken to lawyers with knowledge about Target's retail numbers at this site and how that land is being valued internally with expectations of where the area is headed in the next 5 years. Whoever tries to do it will have to take it from Target's cold, dead hands.

We're talking retail at the site so I am surprised no one mentioned what seems like a decent success, and thats Saint Bernard. I got clients that go there, I go there sometimes, its always busy on the weekends now, and last winter season was crazy there. Maybe they just don't have the right retail mix? Tom Ford never made much sense to me there, despite people who could afford tom ford shopping down the street at saint bernards and buying like 500 dollars of golf shirts [about 3.5 shirts, lol]. They shouldn't try and be an extension of the Galleria's uber-luxury section, they should be themselves and figure out really draws in the pockets of the people surrounding them. They have a few examples, so build around that.

Edited June 13, 2022 by X.R.