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Panera Bread must have pulled out. I stopped by La Centerra last Friday night and noticed the Panera Bread signs that were on both sides of the space they were to move into were covered up. I thought it was odd they had plastic and tape over both. I went to the La Centerra website and Panera Bread is no longer listed as a tenant.

Negotiations must have continued as the signs for Panera Bread on the Northwest corner of the complex are now back up! Will be nice to have a Panera that close.

It will be an HEB anchored center developed by Fidelis. 125,000 square foot store so I would look for something like the one at Fry @ 99 in Katy that throws in some Central Mkt touches like expanded meat, natural foods, and cheese as well as some HEB Plus features like outdoor grill supplies.

I-10 @ Bunker Hill

How did he pass, and what projects did he work with in Houston?

I believe this was his first project as a developer. He was formally involved in construction with Atlas Air Conditioning, an HVAC contractor here in Houston that his father started many years ago. He and his brother sold the company to Comfort Systems USA in the late 90's and it is still around today as part of Comfort Systems USA.

Very sad indeed - my condolances go out to the Atlas family.

not yet,but if I find out I'll "spill it" .

And I'd not get too excited yet. most of those are tentative or what the developer is calling "proposed" there are different steps in the process. They are:

Available

Prospect

LOI being Negotiated

Lease being finalized

Leased

All these names I mentioned are at the "prospect" level, so they are very tentative. I just wanted to get everyone an idea of what type of retailers that La Centerra is looking at.

katy since '82 or anyone else......

Any news on Chuys or anything else new coming to La Centerra? I saw where Berry Hill, which was originally listed as a La Centerra tentant, ended up going into Villagio.

How far along is this project?

The garage structure is complete. On the front 1/3 or so they have what looks like the full 3-4 floors of residences framed. On the middle 1/3 there is a floor or so framed while the back 1/3 is just garage. I will try to remember to toss my camera in my bag and snap a few shots this week as I have a pretty good view from my office. There is a constant flow of wood framing material arriving and going up every day.

I know the "Aggie" is the mascot of Texas A&M but can somebody please explain to me what an Aggie is? Is it an animal, like most of the other US college mascots? Or a scary looking native person like some of the Canadian college mascots??

This should answer your question.

Texas A&M Aggies

The official mascot is Reveille. It was a originally a mutt found by some college students back in the the 30's. Since the original mutt, it has been a Collie.

Panera Bread will be opening this summer as well as Fish City Grill and a sushi place (can't remember the name) so that should drum up traffic. Chuys would be great!

Any idea how much alexan post oak will cost to rent?

One article noted $1.69 per square foot range so a "large" 1,000 square foot one bedroom would be in the $1,700 range.

Saw a sign up for "Panera Bread - Coming Soon" on one of the buildings facing Westeimer parkway this afternoon. Will be a nice addition to the center.

I would love to see Chuys go in. Hope they can come to some type of agreement.

Here is a HAIF thread discussing the project.

BLVD Place

there is a thread on the West Loop/Galleria forum

1111 Post Oak (AKA - Alexan Post Oak)

Guggenheim's New York Style Delicatessen

Are they still around on Post Oak?

Guggenheim's has been gone for maybe 4 to 5 years. Kenny's & Ziggy's may have run them out of business.

You guys don't like Chuy's?? Well, to each his own I suppose. For me, Chuy's is one of my favorite Tex-Mex places. Now, before you call me a Yankee or acuse me of not knowing my Tex-Mex - let me say I'm a 3rd generation Houstonian who's been eatin' Tex-Mex since I was a kid. Heck, I was eatin' fajita's before most people had ever heard of 'em (late 70's early 80's). IMHO, Chuy's has some of the best beef fajita's around. ..and if I'm not getting the fajita's I'm getting the #2 combo - enchalada and Chili Rellino - YUMMM!! Oh, and if you haven't tried the creamy jalapeno salsa you are really missing out.

SunKing,

I couldn't agree more. I've lived in Houston (with a 5 year stint in College Station) my whole life. Chuy's is one of my favorites here in Houston and the #2 Combo is one of the 2 plates I choose most often. I also love the Southwestern Enchiladas with the fried egg on top. Some of their sauces give it a little more "Southwestern-Mex" feel, but everything I have tried has been good. My top choices for fajitas is Pappasitos (most tender meat) and Lupe Tortillas (lime marinated beef) which are very different, but both very good IMO.

Del taco didn't last long in Houston. The last one i can remember was in the 80's. Kinda like ChiChi's they were not good and closed.

I remember a Del Taco up on FM1960 at Aldine Westfield and a ChiChi's just east of Kuykendahl on FM1960. ChiChi's was just horrible - that one later turned into an Olive Garden. My wife, who is from Iowa, said that had ChiChi's up there and everyone thought it was "great" Mexican food!

The SW corner of Ambassador's Way and Post Oak is the Stewart Title building (24 story high rise).

My mistake. I should have said corner of Hollyhurst/Uptown Park Blvd and Post Oak. I turn on Ambassador Way each day, so I guess I had that in my head.

Prosperity Bank on the southwest corner of Ambassador Way and Post Oak will block that nice view. Good looking property.

Yes, I think within a matter of 5 years Winhall may get bought out. Im not certain how to evaluate which is the better property to buyout: Inverness or Winhall. inverness seems to be high value property due to its proximity to Uptown Park. But I have been inside of them and they are not the best looking living spaces.

Winhall is an AMAZING property. I actually own a unit there. The interirors of most of them are wonderful (in 2000 they offered rehab units with modern amenities such as wood floors, Stainless appliances, granite, etc). I was told the McDonalds between winhall and 1111 Post Oak isnt going to "renew its lease" (whatever that really means) and they are soon to go as well. The buyouts for owners of winhall/invervess properties could ptentially be very lucrative. There has been a lot of buzz about a winhall buyout. But if you get one for investment, beware of the HOA fees which will slice into your profits. Can't rent too high or potential tenants can simply go across the street to 1200 post oak or lofts on post oak (newer buildings and more modern amenities).

In closing, i think both winhall and inverness are great buys at the moment for anyone who has a little patience. The way they are re-building on post oak blvd. is incredible. Cosmopolitan, Pavillion (coming soon), Eatzi's strip (Wulfe and Co), and the one coming to the corner of Post Oak and 610 (across from uptown park). Im very excited to see what the future has for the small strip on post oak between san felipe and 610.

by the way, what's coming to the corner of post oak/san felipe where the chinese restaurant used to be?

Thanks for the additional insight. Yes, some of the Winhall units do look very nice on har.com. Figuring in the HOA (at one time I saw what they were, but can't remember), it looked like the rental potential was marginal - you would be hoping to break-even cash flow and ride up some appreciation. That was a while ago so things may have changed. Having mulitple new units at 1200 Post Oak and the new Avalon property does put quite a few more units in the are with nice features and ammenities.

The strip of land where the Chinese place was looks to be additional parking for the shoe store. I think I read where the State of Texas purchased it, but ended up selling it back to the private sector as they didn't need it for street/sewer expansion.

found this on the net. seems that "Alexan Post Oak" apartments will occupy the former 1111 Post Oak Blvd spot.

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/oth...18400%5E1322520

Im still more interested in the Winhall Condo's (on the other side of the McDonalds) and the dreadful Inverness (corner of Post Oak and Uptown Blvd). I can't see these places lasting for more than 4 years until they are bought out.

I've kept an eye at listings on har.com of the Winhall units you mention as an investment/rental property, but I was kind of thinking them same thing on them eventually seeing the wrecking ball. They seem to be in much better condition than the Inverness across the street.

1111 Post Oak started gettting the "wrecking ball" yesterday.

I recently noticed that a chain link fence has been erected around 1111 Post Oak Blvd. This is the very old and recently vacated apartment complex directly west of the McDonalds. Does anyone know what they are going to do with that land?

I work nearby and you can see a lot of junk piled up under the carports and the fence did go up last week as you mentioned. Grubb & Ellis had it listed for $16.99M - not sure if someone purchased it or not.

1111 Post Oak Blvd listing

I thought I noticed a sign saying it was going to be a high rise...like the Galleria area needs more of those.

I saw the sign this morning on the way in, and it's the same one that has been up for awhile. The closest high-rise is the Cosmopolitan down the street where the old James Coney Islands once stood.

I think we are talking about a different CHAMPS. I'm talking about the sportswear and shoes.

Yep, my bad. I was talking to someone yesterday about this, so when I read you post I was thinking beer and sports.

La Centerra needs a CHAMPS. I hate going all the way over to West Oaks.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Champps is in the process of closing the Willowbrook and Royal Oaks (Westheimer) locations in Houston, leaving only the Uptown Park location near the Galleria.

FYI - The bookstore noted on the layout is going to be a Borders.