Katherine Feser, Staff writer
April 6, 2023Updated: April 7, 2023 8:55 a.m.
Fuller Realty has landed a major tenant at its West Memorial Place office campus in the Energy Corridor. MODEC, a global supplier and operator of offshore production systems, and SOFEC, a MODEC company specializing in mooring and fluid transfer systems for the offshore energy industry, signed a long-term lease for 116,161 square feet in West Memorial Place I at 15375 Memorial Drive. Houston-based Fuller Realty purchased the West Memorial Place campus from developer Skanska last year. Johnny Kight, Stewart Smith and Aaron Ander of Fuller Realty represented the landlord. David Carter and Jay Kyle of Colliers represented the tenant. Developed in 2015, the two-building campus is adjacent to hike-and-bike trails at Terry Hershey Park and has a full-service restaurant and bar, tenant conference center, gyms and other amenities. MODEC and SOFEC will relocate its Houston office to four full floors in West Memorial Place I in late 2024, according to Kight.
Goree Architects, a Houston-based architecture firm founded in 1963, signed a long-term, 21,400-square-foot lease expansion to double the size of its Sage Plaza headquarters at 5151 San Felipe in the Galleria area. Anthony Squillante and Collin Roach of Avison Young represented the tenant. Jessica Ochoa of CBRE represented the landlord, BlackRock. The 25-story building was renovated in 2019 with amenities such as a hotel-style lobby, coffee bar, fitness center, 85-person auditorium and outdoor lounge area.
“When we originally helped Goree Architects lease the 17th floor of Sage Plaza in 2020, the company moved from Bellaire to the Galleria so that it could upgrade facilities in an effort to attract and retain top area talent,” Roach said in an announcement. “Since that time, the firm has grown substantially across all of its service lines, and we were able to negotiate an expansion just one floor down to accommodate this growth.”
Houston-based NewQuest Properties signed several tenants for West on West, a 90,000-square-foot shopping center redevelopment at 12220 Westheimer Road. Formerly known as Pavilion Center, the property sits on 10 acres between South Dairy Ashford and South Kirkwood in west Houston. Asian grocer 99 Ranch Market will anchor the center with a 33,029-square-foot store for its fourth Houston location in late 2023. Gen Korean BBQ House leased 6,212 square feet for its third Houston location. Teso Life, a Japanese retailer, will occupy a 13,340-square-foot space for its entry to Houston in late 2023 or early 2024. Heather Nguyen of NewQuest is overseeing the redevelopment and tenant recruitment.
“The NewQuest Properties team travels globally to scout and recruit concepts and are particularly focused on the culinary space, where the goal is to identify the kind of fresh, interesting offerings that get the foodie community excited," Nguyen said in an announcement. "We are also aiming for the ‘wow factor’ – elements that create a memorable experience every time you visit. This direction influenced the name in a very literal way. The resulting W-O-W acronym is so fitting for what’s in store for guests from a food, fashion and fun factor.”
Ocean Edge Services leased 19,755 square feet at 8430 N. Sam Houston Parkway West. Travis Land of Partners Real Estate represented the landlord, 8430 North Belt, in the transaction. Will Austin with Bridge Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant.
The space that previously housed The Branch brewpub on Long Point Drive will soon be home to a second location for La Cruderia Mexican restaurant. David J. Littwitz of Littwitz Investments represented La Cruderia Spring Branch LLC in leasing the 3,069-square-foot building at 7710 Long Point Drive in Spring Branch. La Cruderia's original location is at 8394 Bellaire in southwest Houston. Simon Ha of Braun Enterprises represented the landlord, 7710 Long Point Realty. The restaurant will have a full bar, large covered patio and drive-thru. Opening is planned in late summer.
Sweetgreen, a counter-service salad restaurant, is now open in Uptown Park at 1141 Uptown Park Blvd. It is the chain's seventh location in Houston since entering the market in 2019. The 2,891-square-foot location has banquette seating for 19 diners inside and 20 on the patio.
Starbucks signed a ground lease with NewQuest Properties for about a half-acre site to develop a 2,200-square-foot building at FM 1960 West and Veterans Memorial Drive in Northchase Plaza. Nick Ramsey and Kevin Sims of NewQuest Properties represented the landlord. Ryan Chandler and Lasater Miller of the Retail Connection represented the tenant.
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