The Driscoll High-Rise & River Oaks Shopping Center Developments

[Houston19514]

2 hours ago, IntheKnowHouston said:

 

Coming soon signage for Pizzana, one of several new dining additions on the way to River Oaks District Shopping Center in Houston. The Los Angeles pizzeria restaurant is located in the former Starbucks unit at 2029 W Gray St.

 

FIFY

[IntheKnowHouston]

19 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

FIFY

Thank you! 😃

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/2/2022 at 3:05 PM, hindesky said:

Architect - https://www.gensler.com

Coming soon signage for Leo's at 2009 W Gray. The photo is from BuiltNearby. It was posted in their Instagram story yesterday.


Leo's a new restaurant that is part of the River Oaks Theater in the River Oaks Shopping Center. According to a hiring post, Leo's will be a fine dining restaurant. It's the latest dining concept from Houston restaurant group Culinary Khancepts, the company behind Liberty Kitchen and State Fare. I think this will be the first restaurant Culinary Khancepts didn't acquire. 

From the job post:

"Culinary Khancepts is a new and exciting, multi-concept, restaurant group that includes Liberty Kitchen, State Fare Kitchen & Bar and our newest fine dining concept, Leo's."


Star Cinema Grill is renovating River Oaks Theater which includes the addition of Leo's.

I thought I saw either a website or an Instagram for Leo's last week, but I can't find it now.


https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7cecc2e769c4f064

https://www.culinarykhancepts.com/

Edited November 2, 2022 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

Zanti / Zanti Cuisina Italia is opening to the public November 7. The Italian restaurant held family and friends previews over the weekend in its new Houston area location on the ground floor of the Driscoll at River Oaks. 

Zanti is located at 1958 W Gray St, Suite 101, in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

[IntheKnowHouston]

Photos of Zanti / Zanti Cuisina Italia at 1958 W Gray St, Ste 101. This is located at the Discroll at River Oaks in the River Oaks Shopping Center.


From Instagram















 

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/17/2022 at 8:24 PM, IntheKnowHouston said:

From Papercity Magazine today:
 

"Dallas-based Hudson House is also opening the doors to its fifth outpost right next door to Brasserie 19. According to the website, bar and food service should begin later this summer."

https://www.papercitymag.com/restaurants/houston-restaurant-buzz-park-house-location-brasserie-19-patio-fight-ciel/

It looks like Vandelay Hospitality has pushed the opening of Hudson House back further.

Instead of opening this year, this was updated on the Houston location page sometime between August and November:

"Your favorite neighborhood spot set to open Spring/Summer 2023"


Hudson House is one of several new additions coming to River Oaks Shopping Center. The restaurant is located at 1964 West Gray St / 1964 W Gray St.


https://www.hudsonhousehp.com/location/houston-tx-coming-soon-copy/

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/17/2022 at 8:02 PM, IntheKnowHouston said:

La Griglia restaurant in the River Oaks Shopping Center will close at year's end.

From an article today in Papercity Magazine:

"River Oaks Shopping Center is hopping with restaurant news not the least of which is that the much beloved La Griglia, part of the Landry’s empire, is losing its lease at the end of the year. We are told that Kimco Realty Corp., which bought the posh shopping center from Weingarten Realty Investors, may have either refused to renew the La Griglia lease or was contractually prohibited from a renewal perhaps due to a longstanding feud between Landry’s and Weingarten. There are several versions of this unconfirmed situation. Whatever the case is, La Griglia is leaving."

https://www.papercitymag.com/restaurants/houston-restaurant-buzz-park-house-location-brasserie-19-patio-fight-ciel

Kimco Realty Corp has found a tenant for the River Oaks Shopping Center unit at 2002 W Gray St ( 2002 West Gray St ).

La Griglia currently occupies the space. However, over the summer, Papercity reported the Landry-owned restaurant is closing its River Oaks outpost at the end of 2022.

Taking over La Griglia's space is another Houston-based restaurant. Goode Company is bringing its Tex-Mex concept Kitchen & Cantina to the shopping center. I don't know when Goode Company leased the space, but it is shown in a recent River Oaks Shopping Center site plan dated in August. 

Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina has three locations in the Houston area: The Woodlands, the Memorial area, and their most recent in the Heights.

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

The most recent marketing brochure for River Oaks Shopping Center at 1964 W Gray. This is from Kimco Realty Corp's website.


https://riveroaksshoppingcenter.shopkimco.com/
 

Brochure:
https://shopcompanies.com/properties/pdf/river-oaks-shopping-center



  

Edited November 14, 2022 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

 

On 8/11/2022 at 8:50 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Kimco Realty has an *updated marketing brochure for River Oaks Shopping Center. The brochure includes a more recent site plan with tenants listed. I think it's the same one on Kimco Realty's website.

*May 2022 is listed on the leasing brochure and site plan on Kimco's site. 


https://properties.kimcorealty.com/p/commercial-real-estate-listings/Houston-TX-77019/117820

Listing on Crexi
https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/446873/texas-river-oaks-sc

https://api-lease.crexi.com/assets/446873/flyer

 

The most recent site plan for River Oaks Shopping Center at 1964 W Gray.

A few of the newer tenants shown are Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina and clothing store Club Never.


Other observations:

• Women's clothing store Talbots is closing its River Oaks Shopping Center location at  2028 W Gray St. The space looks like it will be used to expand Perry's Steakhouse and also divided into to two units.
  
   
• Spry Fashion, likely a clothing retailer, is opening next to Leo's (the fine dining restaurant that is part of Star Cinema Grill's River Oaks Theater).

https://shopcompanies.com/properties/river-oaks-shopping-center

Site plan: 
https://shopcompanies.com/properties/pdf/river-oaks-shopping-center?f=site_plan

 

Site plan zoomed

Edited November 14, 2022 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/2/2022 at 3:05 PM, hindesky said:

Architect - https://www.gensler.com

 

On 8/17/2022 at 3:37 PM, hindesky said:

 

On 11/2/2022 at 5:53 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Coming soon signage for Leo's at 2009 W Gray. The photo is from BuiltNearby. It was posted in their Instagram story yesterday.


Leo's a new restaurant that is part of the River Oaks Theater in the River Oaks Shopping Center. According to a hiring post, Leo's will be a fine dining restaurant. It's the latest dining concept from Houston restaurant group Culinary Khancepts, the company behind Liberty Kitchen and State Fare. I think this will be the first restaurant Culinary Khancepts didn't acquire. 

From the job post:

"Culinary Khancepts is a new and exciting, multi-concept, restaurant group that includes Liberty Kitchen, State Fare Kitchen & Bar and our newest fine dining concept, Leo's."


Star Cinema Grill is renovating River Oaks Theater which includes the addition of Leo's.

I thought I saw either a website or an Instagram for Leo's last week, but I can't find it now.


https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7cecc2e769c4f064

https://www.culinarykhancepts.com/

Leo's listed on Culinary Khancepts' website. I don't know when it was added, but I noticed it in early December. This is the fine dining companion to the River Oaks Theater. It's located at 2009 W Gray.

[IntheKnowHouston]

A blurb about Leo's in Houston Chronicle's round-up of new restaurants opening in 2023. Included in the article is the estimated opening.

Leo's the fine dining companion to the River Oaks Theater. It's located at 2009 W Gray in the River Oaks Shopping Center.



Culinary Khancepts, the group behind Liberty Kitchen and State Fare Kitchen & Bar, will open a new restaurant featuring fresh seafood, caviar flights, pastas and steaks. Under the direction of executive chef Justin Yoakum, Leo’s is set to open spring 2023 at 2009 W. Gray, next to the historic River Oaks Theater.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/best-new-Houston-restaurants-open-2023-17663979.php

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

https://saveriveroakstheatre.org

Friends of the River Oaks Theatre, the non-profit organization formed to save the Houston movie theater from the wrecking ball after its closure in 2021, announced Monday that it is now selling off parts of the theater, namely the seats.

According to the group's web site, saveriveroakstheatre.org, you can sign up for pre-sale with prices at $50 per seat, with a two-seat minimum. With fees, the total is $53.59 per seat. Pickup date is yet to be announced.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/river-oaks-theater-seats-18101498.php

[hindesky]

"The River Oaks Theater should be reopened by the end of the year.

That's the word from Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of Sugar Land-based Star Cinema Grill which took over the lease of the property in 2022. The company announced Wednesday that the major renovation is starting on the theater at 2009 W. Gray, which has been sitting idle for two years after the previous tenant, Landmark Theatres, couldn't come to a lease renewal agreement with then-landlord Weingarten Realty. Subsequently, Weingarten was bought out by Kimco Realty, the Jericho, NY company that now owns the River Oaks Shopping Center, including the River Oaks Theatre."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/river-oaks-theatre-reopening-18105089.php

[toxtethogrady]

On 5/16/2023 at 9:01 AM, hindesky said:

https://saveriveroakstheatre.org

Friends of the River Oaks Theatre, the non-profit organization formed to save the Houston movie theater from the wrecking ball after its closure in 2021, announced Monday that it is now selling off parts of the theater, namely the seats.

According to the group's web site, saveriveroakstheatre.org, you can sign up for pre-sale with prices at $50 per seat, with a two-seat minimum. With fees, the total is $53.59 per seat. Pickup date is yet to be announced.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/river-oaks-theater-seats-18101498.php

Do you have to take delivery of the seats or is this just naming rights? $100 for two seems awfully cheap, as these things go...

[hindesky]

Pick up, they are replacing the seats, any not bought will probably be thrown away.

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/17/2022 at 8:02 PM, IntheKnowHouston said:

La Griglia restaurant in the River Oaks Shopping Center will close at year's end.

From an article today in Papercity Magazine:

"River Oaks Shopping Center is hopping with restaurant news not the least of which is that the much beloved La Griglia, part of the Landry’s empire, is losing its lease at the end of the year. We are told that Kimco Realty Corp., which bought the posh shopping center from Weingarten Realty Investors, may have either refused to renew the La Griglia lease or was contractually prohibited from a renewal perhaps due to a longstanding feud between Landry’s and Weingarten. There are several versions of this unconfirmed situation. Whatever the case is, La Griglia is leaving."

https://www.papercitymag.com/restaurants/houston-restaurant-buzz-park-house-location-brasserie-19-patio-fight-ciel

 

On 11/14/2022 at 2:40 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Kimco Realty Corp has found a tenant for the River Oaks Shopping Center unit at 2002 W Gray St ( 2002 West Gray St ).

La Griglia currently occupies the space. However, over the summer, Papercity reported the Landry-owned restaurant is closing its River Oaks outpost at the end of 2022.

Taking over La Griglia's space is another Houston-based restaurant. Goode Company is bringing its Tex-Mex concept Kitchen & Cantina to the shopping center. I don't know when Goode Company leased the space, but it is shown in a recent River Oaks Shopping Center site plan dated in August. 

Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina has three locations in the Houston area: The Woodlands, the Memorial area, and their most recent in the Heights.

La Griglia is likely closing its location at River Oaks Shopping Center soon.

Last year, a Papercity article noted the Landry-owned restaurant's lease would not be renewed. The article noted, "Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta and Landry’s are researching other locations in the choice River Oaks/Montrose neighborhood for a new foothold."

While La Griglia is leaving its longtime home at  2002 W Gray St (2002 West Gray St), it will relocate nearby.

The Italian restaurant is moving to Harlow District, the mixed-use development at 2800 W Dallas St. La Griglia is taking over the former Nino's space at  2817 W Dallas St (2817 West Dallas St):

 

  

14 minutes ago, IntheKnowHouston said:

Instead of Nino's, another familiar Italian restaurant is planned for Harlow District.

La Griglia is relocating to the mixed-use development. It will occupy Nino's former space at 2817 W Dallas St / 2817 West Dallas St.

The Landry-owned restaurant is in the River Oaks Shopping Center at 2002 W Gray St. But that location will close soon. As some may recall, Papercity mentioned the impending closure last year:

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46577-harlow-district-at-west-dallas-at-2817-w-dallas-st/?do=findComment&comment=680966

 

[hindesky]

Kim offices moving in the the top floor of the Kroger's.

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 1/19/2022 at 9:06 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Another restaurant addition is coming to the River Oaks Shopping Center.

Some of you may have seen alcohol notices, building permits, or the listing on River Oaks Shopping Center directory for Atrium River Oaks in the last year.  I think it will be located in the unit previously occupied by Citibank at 1971 W Gray St. Despite the name listed as Atrium River Oaks, the restaurant's actual name is Cocody.

The chef-owner of French restaurants Le Ministral and Bistro 555 is involved with this restaurant. According to LinkedIn, Cocody will possibly have a globally-centric menu.

https://www.riveroaksshoppingcenter.com/directory/

https://cocodyhouston.com

 

 

On 8/17/2022 at 8:14 PM, IntheKnowHouston said:

First reported news on Cocody, a new restaurant opening at River Oaks Shopping Center. Cocody will occupy the former Citibank location at 1971 W Gray St.

From Papercity Magazine today:


"Cocody Bar & Restaurant will bring a level of unmatched sophistication to River Oaks Shopping Center when it opens at 1971 West Gray, across the street from Brasserie 19. The owners have hired glamorous Houston-based designer Nina Magon to handle what is reportedly an $8 million investment in the long-empty space adjacent to the alley."


https://www.papercitymag.com/restaurants/houston-restaurant-buzz-park-house-location-brasserie-19-patio-fight-ciel/
 

 

On 10/11/2022 at 4:06 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

More about Cocody, a new restaurant opening at River Oaks Shopping Center. Cocody will occupy the former Citibank location at 1971 W Gray St. It's the latest restaurant from the owners of Bistro 555 former French restaurant Le Ministral in Houston.

Austin-based architecture firm Winn Wittman is designing the space. As previously reported by Papercity, Houston-based designer Nina Magon is handling the interior design. Houston's Construction Concepts is doing the build-out.


"Located in the River Oaks section of Houston, Texas, Cocody is an exuberant exercise in pinks and golds. Carved arches and curved bars are clad in polished brass. Pink granites and rich fabrics and glowing iridescent plastics are combined with glowing onyx panels and rich herringbone woods that set the tone for the continental-American cuisine of the chefs.

The interiors of the restaurant are a joint effort from Winn Wittman and the renowned interiors team of Nina Magon, based in Houston, Texas. Located in a 1930’s Art Deco building, and comprising 7,000 square feet of indoor and 2,000 square feet of outdoor courtyard dining.

When the restaurant opens in 2023, patrons will be able to savor a number of distinct experiences. From the bar, with it’s glowing acrylic “liquor chandelier”, to the cocktail lounge, to the chef’s table, where guests will behind a view into the state-of-the-art induction-based cooking, to the circular booths, based on a flower. The experiences will be a decadent and unparalleled melding of flavors, colors and reflective glowing stones and metals."


https://www.winnwittman.com/portfolio/cocody-restaurant/
 

 

On 10/11/2022 at 4:14 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Renderings of Cocody, a new restaurant opening in 2023 at River Oaks Shopping Center (1964 W Gray St), were uploaded last month.

Cocody will occupy the former Citibank location at 1971 W Gray St. It's the latest restaurant from the owners of Bistro 555 former French restaurant Le Ministral in Houston.


The renderings were found here:
https://www.winnwittman.com/portfolio/cocody-restaurant

According to a press release sent to Houston Food Finder, Cocody aims to open in August.  

Cocody is one of a handful of new restaurants opening at River Oaks Shopping Center. It will occupy the former Citibank location at 1971 W Gray St. The restaurant is from the owners of Bistro 555 and former French restaurant Le Ministral in Houston.

Below are some details pertaining to the restaurant's design. This is included in the Houston Food Finder article:


A key part of the design will be hundreds of crystal lights that will glow above the dining room, within columns and configured into veritable art installations. Cocody will also sport a 2,000-square-foot courtyard, lounge, free-standing metal bar and, similarly to Le Mistral, a semi-private room with a kitchen-side view for chef’s tastings.

https://houstonfoodfinder.com/news/le-mistral-alums-will-soon-debut-a-new-restaurant-in-river-oaks/


 

[gene]

finally renovations are about to begin this week!:

It’s been shuttered for two years, but look for the historic River Oaks Theatre to come roaring back.

The parent company of Houston-based Star Cinema Grill is preparing to begin a $5 million renovation. The 17,000 square foot theater is expected to reopen by the end of 2023 and when it does, there will be a full kitchen offering in-theatre dining plus wine and cocktails. Culinary Khancepts is handling the makeover. They’ve hired Gensler for design work and Star Commercial Construction Group as the builder.

Culinary Khancepts acquired the lease for the theater from Kimco, which owns the River Oaks Shopping Center. River Oaks Theatre, which was previously operated by Los Angeles-based Landmark Theatres, closed in March 2021 after failing to reach a deal with the former landlord.

The theater was built in 1939 by the now-defunct Interstate Theatre Corp.

 

taken from: https://www.connectcre.com/stories/houstons-river-oaks-theater-to-receive-5m-facelift/

 

 

Connect

 

 

 

 

 

Join the 150,0

[IntheKnowHouston]

@gene in case you missed it, there is an existing topic for the River Oaks Shopping Center. That topic includes the River Oaks Theater and it's companion restaurant Leo's.

There are lots of posts in the River Oaks Shopping Center topic about the new owner and renovations:


 

On 1/31/2022 at 11:55 AM, hindesky said:

Fate of the River Oks theatre to be determined.

"But it may soon be active again as Mayor Sylvester Turner's office announced Monday that he will be holding a press conference at 5 p.m. Wednesday to announce the future of the building."

https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/movies-tv/city-to-announce-fate-of-the-river-oaks-theater-16819149

 

On 2/1/2022 at 4:58 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

 

 

 

Although we're awaiting news on the future of the River Oaks Theater today, I kind of figured the business would possibly make a comeback.

Last month, I saw a new filing for River Oaks Theater Inc. connected to the owner of Star Cinema Grill. I didn't think much of it at the time, but I'm glad to see the business will likely be saved.

I hope the new owner and management will keep the indie spirit of River Oaks Theater. However, cosmetic interior renovations would be great for this venue. Star Cinema Grill theaters are nice. I've always enjoyed the seating and overall experience much better than Studio Movie Grill. But I think IPic is superior to both. My fingers are crossed that the River Oaks Theater will be similar to Star Cinema Grill (or IPic) if renovations are planned. I am looking forward to what's to come.

 

On 2/2/2022 at 3:03 PM, wilcal said:

Livestream of press conference here: https://www.twitch.tv/FriendsofRiverOaksTheatre

 

Edit: It is gonna be a Star Cinema Grill

 

On 2/2/2022 at 3:17 PM, ErickEdgar said:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/Exclusive-Star-Cinema-Grill-to-reopen-River-Oaks-16826710.php

Exclusive: Star Cinema Grill to reopen River Oaks Theatre as showcase for indie films

 

Cary Darling, Staff Writer

People gather at River Oaks Theatre on the final day of showing films Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Houston.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The curtain is going up on a new era for the vacated River Oaks Theatre.

Kimco Realty, the Jericho, New York-based company that owns the River Oaks Shopping Center Center where the theater sits, announced Wednesday that the cinema will be re-opening as a showcase for art house and independent films operated by Sugar Land-based Star Cinema Grill, which has eight multiplexes in the Houston suburbs. No date has been set, but it may not open until the end of the year.

Mayor Sylvester Turner was due to make it official with a Wednesday evening press conference at the theater.

The announcement of Star Cinema Grill as the new tenant comes almost a year after talks broke down during lease negotiations between the former River Oaks Shopping Center landlord, Weingarten Realty, and California-based movie chain Landmark Theaters. The Art Deco venue at 2009 W. Gray, built in 1939 and the last of the vintage movie theaters in Houston still being used for its original purpose, shuttered on March 25, 2021, sending shock waves through the region’s film and architecture communities.

While the three-screen River Oaks is like nothing else in Star Cinema Grill’s cinematic portfolio — the company’s other theaters, such as the 10-screen Springwoods theater that opened in 2019, are sprawling, modern multiplexes located outside the Loop — Star Cinema Grill vice president of development Jason Ostrow says the plan is to keep the River Oaks as filmgoers remember it.

“Star Cinema Grill is a Top 10 blockbuster movie chain. We’re playing top 10 product, and that’s our business, and there’s not a lot of programming creativity that goes into that,” he said in an interview earlier this week. “This is going to be much more of what it was before, finding that specialty content, specialty events and live theater events in a mixed-use venue. Star Cinema Grill is more of the business side, and this will be more of the passion side."

Star Cinema Grill president and CEO Omar Khan has a special fondness for the River Oaks, Ostrow said. “He’s a local Houstonian. His family has been in the movie theater business for a very, very long time,” he said. “So this is almost kind of like a legacy project for Omar, something that he can keep in his family and pass down, nurture and curate.”

1930s look, 2020s feel

Kimco, which bought out Weingarten last year, wants to turn the shopping center into a recreational destination.

“It’s a place where people on a Saturday will say, ‘Hey, let’s go to River Oaks.’ Not necessarily, ‘Let’s go to a movie’ or ‘Let’s go to this restaurant or that restaurant’ but ‘Let’s go to River Oaks,’” said Andrew Bell, Kimco’s vice-president of leasing. “We’re trying to do things that promote that going forward … (The theater) plays very well into what our overall vision is for River Oaks.”

Kimco, which has a 10-year lease with renewal options with Star Cinema Grill, never had plans to put another form of retail in the building or tear it down. “I never considered it not to be a theater,” said Bell, who grew up in Atlanta and remembers the fight to save the iconic Fox Theater in that city.

The River Oaks will remain a three-screen venue, though the remodeling will include new, larger seats that will probably lessen its capacity. “The decor will feel like you’re in 1930, but it’s going to feel very new and updated and fresh,” Ostrow said. “So we’re designing custom-made seats for this facility that are only going to be in River Oaks.”

The plan also includes a live stage. “We’re going to try to find some other uses within the space for other programming opportunities,” Ostrow said. “Those are all things that are still being hashed out, planned and investigated to what’s actually possible within that space.”

While the movie-exhibition business has suffered during the pandemic, Ostrow is not concerned about the River Oaks’ ability to draw a crowd.

“Our business at Star Cinema Grill, we’re up over 120 percent over 2019,” he said. “Now, we are seeing certain parts of demographics that haven’t come back to movies yet fully, but the bulk of our business has returned, plus some.”

Star Cinema Grill, which has multiplexes in Richmond, Cypress, Spring, College Station, Vintage Park, Missouri City, Baybrook and Conroe, recently expanded beyond Texas with two locations in suburban Chicago.

‘A big win’

The city is pleased with the outcome.

“I am thrilled to say that we finally have a long term solution to preserve this historic treasure that will inspire Houstonians for years to come,” said council member Abbie Kamin, whose District C includes the River Oaks Theatre.

Also satisfied is The Friends of the River Oaks Theatre, an activist group formed in the wake of the theater’s closure that includes Richard Linklater, Wes Anderson and Bun B. The group had made its own pitch to Kimco to operate the theater.

“It’s a big win,” said Maureen McNamara, a co-founder of the organization, noting that Feb. 2 marks the anniversary of the group’s first meeting. “For these guys to be sincerely planning on keeping the theater an art house, I think that’s important for the theater.”

She hopes that the Friends of the River Oaks Theatre can still be involved somehow.

“It’s still kind of an evolving situation because everybody’s still figuring out however all the pieces fit together,” she said. “But it’s like when somebody has half the ingredients to make a cake, and the other person has the other half the ingredients to make a cake … Working together we could help do something really amazing.”

 

On 2/2/2022 at 4:12 PM, wilcal said:

Website and new socials: https://riveroakstheater.com/

 

On 8/2/2022 at 1:05 PM, hindesky said:

Architect - https://www.gensler.com

 

On 8/17/2022 at 1:37 PM, hindesky said:

 

On 11/2/2022 at 3:53 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Coming soon signage for Leo's at 2009 W Gray. The photo is from BuiltNearby. It was posted in their Instagram story yesterday.


Leo's a new restaurant that is part of the River Oaks Theater in the River Oaks Shopping Center. According to a hiring post, Leo's will be a fine dining restaurant. It's the latest dining concept from Houston restaurant group Culinary Khancepts, the company behind Liberty Kitchen and State Fare. I think this will be the first restaurant Culinary Khancepts didn't acquire. 

From the job post:

"Culinary Khancepts is a new and exciting, multi-concept, restaurant group that includes Liberty Kitchen, State Fare Kitchen & Bar and our newest fine dining concept, Leo's."


Star Cinema Grill is renovating River Oaks Theater which includes the addition of Leo's.

I thought I saw either a website or an Instagram for Leo's last week, but I can't find it now.


https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7cecc2e769c4f064

https://www.culinarykhancepts.com/

 

On 1/5/2023 at 12:50 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Leo's listed on Culinary Khancepts' website. I don't know when it was added, but I noticed it in early December. This is the fine dining companion to the River Oaks Theater. It's located at 2009 W Gray.

 

On 1/5/2023 at 12:58 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

A blurb about Leo's in Houston Chronicle's round-up of new restaurants opening in 2023. Included in the article is the estimated opening.

Leo's the fine dining companion to the River Oaks Theater. It's located at 2009 W Gray in the River Oaks Shopping Center.



Culinary Khancepts, the group behind Liberty Kitchen and State Fare Kitchen & Bar, will open a new restaurant featuring fresh seafood, caviar flights, pastas and steaks. Under the direction of executive chef Justin Yoakum, Leo’s is set to open spring 2023 at 2009 W. Gray, next to the historic River Oaks Theater.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/best-new-Houston-restaurants-open-2023-17663979.php

 

On 4/28/2023 at 10:28 PM, hindesky said:

 

On 5/16/2023 at 6:01 AM, hindesky said:

https://saveriveroakstheatre.org

Friends of the River Oaks Theatre, the non-profit organization formed to save the Houston movie theater from the wrecking ball after its closure in 2021, announced Monday that it is now selling off parts of the theater, namely the seats.

According to the group's web site, saveriveroakstheatre.org, you can sign up for pre-sale with prices at $50 per seat, with a two-seat minimum. With fees, the total is $53.59 per seat. Pickup date is yet to be announced.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/river-oaks-theater-seats-18101498.php

 

On 5/17/2023 at 2:51 PM, hindesky said:

"The River Oaks Theater should be reopened by the end of the year.

That's the word from Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of Sugar Land-based Star Cinema Grill which took over the lease of the property in 2022. The company announced Wednesday that the major renovation is starting on the theater at 2009 W. Gray, which has been sitting idle for two years after the previous tenant, Landmark Theatres, couldn't come to a lease renewal agreement with then-landlord Weingarten Realty. Subsequently, Weingarten was bought out by Kimco Realty, the Jericho, NY company that now owns the River Oaks Shopping Center, including the River Oaks Theatre."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/river-oaks-theatre-reopening-18105089.php

@Urbannizer @Triton please consider merging with the River Oaks Shopping Center topic since the theater is located in the retail development. Thanks.


https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/32925-the-driscoll-high-rise-river-oaks-shopping-center-developments

 

[mkultra25]

I hope the renovations are sensitive to the original elements that remain in the interior - like what Bookstop did to the Alabama Theater when they moved in. I would love to see the two upstairs screens removed and the original balcony restored, but I know that's a pipe dream. There are very few surviving single-screen moviehouses that are even remotely financially viable, and I can't really see the River Oaks joining that rarefied list. 

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 7/31/2022 at 5:51 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

It appears Los Angeles pizzeria Pizzana is expanding to Houston. The pizza restaurant is listed in a site plan for River Oaks Shopping Center, which may have been updated in May.

Pizzana will be located at 2029 W Gray St, in the 1,500 sf unit previously home to Starbucks before closing in 2020.



https://pizzana.com

https://properties.kimcorealty.com/p/commercial-real-estate-listings/Houston-TX-77019/117820



 

  

On 10/11/2022 at 2:37 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Last week, Pizzana received its sales tax permit. The permit lists January 2023 as its anticipated opening. So, it's possible this restaurant could open in the River Oaks Shopping Center sometime in early 2023.

Pizzana will be located at 2029 W Gray St, in the 1,500 sf unit previously home to Starbucks before closing in 2020. This is a Los Angeles-born pizzeria specializing in Neo-Neapolitan pizzas. The restaurant is from the owners of cupcake shop Sprinkles (Candace Nelson and husband Charles) and Chef Daniele Uditi.

 

On 11/1/2022 at 5:44 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Coming soon signage for Pizzana, one of several new dining additions on the way to River Oaks Shopping Center in Houston. The Los Angeles pizzeria restaurant is located in the former Starbucks unit at 2029 W Gray St.


The photo was posted in BuiltNearby's Instagram story yesterday.

A rendering of Pizzana included in materials submitted to the Houston Archaeological & Historical Commission.

Pizzana is opening this year at the River Oaks Shopping Center. It will occupy Starbuck's former unit at 2029 W Gray St.

Pizzana is a Los Angeles-born pizzeria specializing in Neo-Neapolitan pizzas. The restaurant is from the owners of cupcake shop Sprinkles (Candace Nelson and husband Charles) and Chef Daniele Uditi.












 

Edited June 19, 2023 by IntheKnowHouston

[dguet]

I read that La Griglia was closing due to losing their lease:

"the much beloved La Griglia, part of the Landry’s empire, is losing its lease at the end of the year (article in magazine in 2022)."

Since it's now 2023 and it's still open, is there any information on what's up? Unable to find any updates.

Edited July 28, 2023 by dguet

[IntheKnowHouston]

56 minutes ago, dguet said:

Since it's now 2023 and it's still open, is there any information on what's up? Unable to find any updates.

If you type in La Griglia in the search, there are several posts about this in the topic for The River Oaks Shopping Center.

The latest post about La Griglia relocating from The River Oaks Shopping Center was May. La Griglia's forthcoming new home is mentioned in the post:
 

On 5/21/2023 at 2:48 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

La Griglia is likely closing its location at River Oaks Shopping Center soon.

Last year, a Papercity article noted the Landry-owned restaurant's lease would not be renewed. The article noted, "Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta and Landry’s are researching other locations in the choice River Oaks/Montrose neighborhood for a new foothold."

While La Griglia is leaving its longtime home at  2002 W Gray St (2002 West Gray St), it will relocate nearby.

The Italian restaurant is moving to Harlow District, the mixed-use development at 2800 W Dallas St. La Griglia is taking over the former Nino's space at  2817 W Dallas St (2817 West Dallas St):

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46577-harlow-district-at-west-dallas-at-2817-w-dallas-st/?do=findComment&comment=680966

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/32925-the-driscoll-high-rise-river-oaks-shopping-center-developments/?do=findComment&comment=680967

 

 

@Urbannizer @Triton if possible, please merge this with the ongoing topic for The River Oaks Shopping Center:

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/32925-the-driscoll-high-rise-river-oaks-shopping-center-developments/

 

Edited July 28, 2023 by IntheKnowHouston

[hindesky]

The back of the River Oaks theatre.

 

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 11/14/2022 at 3:24 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

It looks like Vandelay Hospitality has pushed the opening of Hudson House back further.

Instead of opening this year, this was updated on the Houston location page sometime between August and November:

"Your favorite neighborhood spot set to open Spring/Summer 2023"


Hudson House is one of several new additions coming to River Oaks Shopping Center. The restaurant is located at 1964 West Gray St / 1964 W Gray St.


https://www.hudsonhousehp.com/location/houston-tx-coming-soon-copy/

Papercity provides an update on Hudson House today. Hudson House is one of several new additions coming to River Oaks Shopping Center. The restaurant is located at 1964 West Gray St / 1964 W Gray St.


Below is an excerpt from the article:

"Construction delays — care of a change of ownership at River Oaks Shopping Center and plans for an aesthetic revamp of its façade — left Hudson House simmering on the back burner. But its Dallas parent company Vandelay Hospitality Group... reveals that Houston’s own Hudson House will finally swing open its doors... in a matter weeks."



As for the design:

"This is a Northeastern-inspired restaurant with a nautical vibe...That means tastefully decorated with wood-paneled walls, blue-and-white Chinese-style ginger-jar lamps and cozy banquettes in a rich nautical navy blue. The decor is a collaboration between Vandelay’s in-house design team and Dallas-based firm Foxcroft Studio."

https://www.papercitymag.com/restaurants/hudson-house-river-oaks-restaurant-drakes-hollywood-steakhouse-opening-plans/

[IntheKnowHouston]

An electrical permit was pulled today for the River Oaks Theater and it's dining component Leo's. Both are located in the River Oaks Shopping Center at 2009 W Gray St, Ste A.

Leo's a fine dining restaurant concept from Houston's Culinary Khancepts.




 

Edited September 27, 2023 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

A SX plan review fee permit was pulled yesterday for 1971 W Gray St, Suite E-09. A forthcoming restaurant named Cocody is located in the River Oaks Shopping Center unit.

[hindesky]