Houston-based Midway, the privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, today announced Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, Lick Honest Ice Creams and URBN Dental will open in the first phase of its East River development. Additional tenants confirmed for Phase I include office space for Method Architecture and TEAL, as well as a new event venue and rooftop bar from the owners of The Astorian. Construction is underway on the project’s first phase and is slated for completion in 2023.
“On the heels of the recent groundbreaking, we are thrilled to announce these additional businesses that East River Phase I will introduce to the area,” said Lacee Jacobs, Vice President of Strategic Leasing and Advisory. “From innovative and globally competitive companies to cutting-edge local dining and service concepts, Midway is committed to curating a dynamic mix that enhances the surrounding community. Many of these tenants will introduce services that are currently not available in the vicinity, and we look forward to announcing more offerings that will amplify the neighborhood as leasing momentum continues.”
Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries will occupy a 4,000square-foot space in The Depot (the ground level of the garage). A new concept by local James Beard Award nominated Chef, Jonny Rhodes. The self-sustainable boutique bodega will sell locally sourced seafoods and meats, produce, freshly baked bread, cheese and specialty condiments. Rhodes, who earned national acclaim for his “neo-soul food” tasting menu as owner/chef of the former Restaurant Indigo, grew up down the street from the East River site. With his new venture, his goal is to provide farmers market quality foods at an accessible price, in a community where quality foods are scarce. Rhodes’ farm, Food Fight Farms in Cleveland, Texas, will be the store’s primary purveyor, providing handmade, pre-packaged items for ultimate shopper convenience. Bringing a new level of hospitality to the grocery business, Rhodes envisions a "Green Circle" concept where the store front would accept “returns” on fruits and vegetables purchased in-store only, offering patrons coupons for produce items they don’t end up using to be composted and added back into the soil at Food Fight Farms. For avid home chefs and loyal shoppers, Broham Grocery will also offer a membership option, granting discounts, coupons, farm tours and exclusive access to exotic foods, as well as specialty products from around the world.
Lick Honest Ice Creams will open in a 1,124 square-foot space in East River 1 (Building C). Originating from Austin, Lick was brought to life by Co-Founders, Anthony Sobotik and Chad Palmatier’s desire to offer “honest ice creams” to savvy palates. The pair crafts artisanal ice creams with peak-season ingredients sourced responsibly from local farmers and food artisans that are soy-free, palm oil-free, preservative-free, and just plain and simple delicious. Everything from the sauces, syrups, cookies, cakes and marshmallows are also made by hand in Lick’s kitchen – all in an effort to serve up the freshest, cleanest, most honest ice creams possible. In tandem with its commitment to sustainability, Lick Honest Ice Creams only uses compostable cups, spoons and napkins in its shops.
Houston’s premiere BPA-Free, BisGMA-free, eco-friendly, and green conscious dental office—URBN Dental—will open in a 2,612square-foot space in The Depot (the ground level of the garage). The local cosmetic dental practice provides a wide variety of services for all ages, including Invisalign®, dental implants and dentures, emergency dentalcare, cosmetic dentistry, and general preventative dentistry. Dedicated to providing the most advanced and minimally invasive treatments possible, URBN Dental’s team of experienced dentists utilize state-of-the-art low radiation technology; digital imaging; digital scanning; and the highest-quality dental laboratories, dental materials, and cement. URBN’s modern and artfully designed offices redefine the dental office experience to inspire relaxation and comfort. Patients enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary beverages and snacks, TVs in treatment rooms and warm aromatherapy towelettes. URBN Dental currently has two dental offices in Houston — URBN Dental Uptown River Oaks and URBN Dental Midtown, with plans to open Montrose and Heights locations in 2022.
East River’s 150-acre redevelopment site is the largest in Houston’s urban core, with over one-million square feet of new construction extending 60 city blocks. Located on approximately 26 acres at the intersection of Jensen Drive and Clinton Drive, East River Phase I is comprised of The Laura, a five-story, modern-industrial multifamily community of 360 apartment homes; approximately250,000 square feet of office space designed to fit a wide variety of business needs; and an additional 110,000 square feet of retail at the ground floor of the office buildings, garage, and freestanding plaza and bayou pavilions that will fuse commerce and culture with restaurant, hospitality, retail, medical, and entertainment forming spaces. At the heart of the first phase will be more than13,000 square feet of plaza greenspace with a full calendar of activations including events and live music. Located on the Buffalo Bayou hike and bike trails, East River will also be connected to nearly 500 miles of bike lanes.
