Retail wrap: 5 restaurant chains opening new spots in greater Houston

Grub Burger Bar will take over the former Jerry Built Homegrown Burgers space at 10403 Katy Freeway in the Memorial area in August. Anderson Smith and Connor Lynch of Capital Retail Properties are representing the neighborhood burger spot in its expansion in the Houston market. The chain was founded in College Station in 2012. Grub Burger Bar also leased a new 4,000-square-foot location in Katy Green, on Interstate 10 at Greenhouse Road, in a Wile Interests expansion project slated to open in early spring 2019. The chain has a location in The Woodlands.

Weitzman has been retained by DDR Corp. to provide leasing services for Willowbrook Plaza, a 392,542-square-foot center at 17355 Tomball Parkway at Gessner Road across from Willowbrook Mall. James Namken, Kyle Knight and Brett Levinson with Weitzman are handling the assignment. The center includes AMC Theatres, Bed Bath & Beyond, Buybuy Baby, Bel Furniture, World Market, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Babin’s Seafood House and other tenants. Spaces as large as 18,000 square feet are available.

Capital Retail Properties has tapped local artists A.J. Rose and David Maldonado to give an urban edge to its new Shops at Spring Village at 2209 Spring Stuebner Road in Spring. The artists have completed a 16-foot-by-40-foot mural inspired by the woven quilts of the Atakapa tribe that once inhabited the area. Rose and Maldonado, who work together as Imaginary Friends & Co., aim to reflect the community through their collaborations.

Amegy Bank has reopened its Kingwood-Lake Houston Parkway branch at 2595 W. Lake Houston Parkway. The branch, which was damaged during Hurricane Harvey, incorporates the bank’s latest design elements.

Slowpokes plans to open a cafe and bar at Kirby Grove, 2925 Richmond. Partners Juan Carlos Rubiralta and Mazen Baltagi have signed a 1,833-square-foot lease for the restaurant, which will have patio seating fronting Levy Park. Opening is planned in fall 2018, nearly two years after the original opened in Garden Oaks. Kirby Grove is a development of Midway Cos.

Pokéworks plans to open at 2630 Pearland Parkway in Pearland in October and at 1041 Bay Area Blvd. in Webster in December. Founded in 2015 in New York, Pokéworks now has 19 locations including the Heights and Montrose in Houston.

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant will open its second Houston-area location on Monday. Owned by Food Concepts International, the restaurant is at 2505 South Gulf Freeway in League City.

Little Caesars has leased 1,650 square feet at the Shops on Garth Road, 5623 Garth Road, Baytown. Stephen Pheigaru and Matt McKinnerney represented the landlord, Hunington Properties.

Aldi is holding a hiring fair Monday for its upcoming Huntsville store on Monday at the Hampton Inn, 120 Ravenwood Village.

Mathnasium of Morton Ranch has leased 1,190 square feet in Grand Morton Town Center at the Grand Parkway and Morton Ranch Road in Katy. Josh Friedlander and Rebecca Le represented the landlord, NewQuest Properties. Garrett Aries of ESR Commercial represented the tenant.

katherine.feser@chron.com

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