calling all shutterbugs

Luxury camera brand Leica picks Houston for first Texas store

Photographers will be able to see Leica's full product range at its new store.

Courtesy of Leica

One of the world’s most respected camera brands is coming to Houston. Leica will bring the first Texas location of its store and gallery concept to River Oaks District.

Slated to open next year next to Le Colonial, the Leica Store and Gallery is described in press materials as an “immersive retail concept” that both showcases the brand’s cameras and the work photographers create with them. Towards that end, the store will host exhibitions, educational programming, workshops, and artist talks. Its gallery will provide a museum-style display of photographs taken with Leica equipment.

“Houston is one of America’s most dynamic cultural centers, with a vibrant arts community and an entrepreneurial spirit that makes it a natural home for Leica,” said Mike Giannattasio, president, Leica Camera North America, in a statement. “We look forward to creating a space that not only showcases our products but also brings together photographers, artists, and creators.”

Of course, the store will also sell the full line of Leica cameras, including the M-System, SL-System, and Q cameras, as well as lenses, timepieces, and home cinema products. The German company is known for its craftsmanship, design, and sophisticated technology, making it a favorite among professional photographers.

“We look forward to welcoming Leica to River Oaks District in 2027,” added Robert Bernard, senior real estate manager at Fertitta Entertainment, the company that acquired River Oaks District in 2024. “We are intentional about bringing in brands that elevate the overall experience of the district, and Leica is a perfect reflection of that vision. This unique, art-forward destination celebrates local artists, craftsmanship, and one-of-a-kind experiences alongside the world’s most celebrated luxury brands.”

River Oaks District is an 18-acre development at 4444 Westheimer. It’s home to more than 50 high-end shops and restaurants, including Steak 48, MAD, Hermes, Dior, and Cartier.

openings shopping leica river oaks district

income analysis

This is the salary needed for a single-income family in Texas in 2026

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

The income needed for a single-income household to raise a child in Texas is lower than it was last year.

With childrearing costs in the Lone Star State adding up to tens of thousands of dollars per year, many Texas families are navigating a difficult decision: should both parents work or should one parent stay home to raise the child?

For Texas families that choose the latter, the working parent needs to make nearly $73,000 per year to support their child and the stay-at-home parent, a new income analysis has revealed.

The newly released SmartAsset report used MIT's Living Wage Calculator to estimate the annual living wages needed across all 50 states for a three-person household with two working adults and one child, and a family with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child. Costs included food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, incremental income taxes, and "other necessities."

A Texas household with one working parent needs to make $72,925 to support their stay-at-home counterpart and their child, the study found. That's $1,809 less than what was needed in 2025.

Meanwhile, the combined income needed for a household with one child and both parents working full-time is $85,030.

Texas ranked No. 42 in SmartAsset's ranking of states with the highest minimum income needed to support a family with one working parent, one stay-at-home parent, and one child. That also situates Texas as the 9th most affordable state for single-income families. But there are risks associated with only having one breadwinner in the family.

"A single income family with small children potentially saves in child care costs over a household with two working parents," the report's author wrote. "The main disadvantages are the lost salary and retirement contributions, Social Security earnings history and employer health benefits."

There aren't any specific tax benefits to having a parent stay at home to raise their child full time, but SmartAsset says single-income families can claim a tax credit under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"[S]ingle-income families may claim the Child Tax Credit — up to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2026 ($1,700 refundable) — on the same terms as any other family," the report said.

SmartAsset's latest report only looks at costs on a statewide basis, but the cost to raise a child will also vary greatly depending on the city you live in. Raising a child in Houston might pose a challenge for some families, where the cost for childcare alone adds up to $10,265 and overall costs can surpass $22,000.

For households with two children, there might be additional strains on what a family might consider a "comfortable living." A March 2026 SmartAsset study determined a Houston-based family with two working parents need to make a combined income of $204,672 to have a financially stable life while raising two children.

The top 10 states with the lowest minimum income needed for single-income families are:

Arkansas ($68,869)
Mississippi ($70,054)
Kentucky ($70,179)
West Virginia ($70,283)
North Dakota ($71,219)
Oklahoma ($71,365)
Louisiana ($71,406)
Missouri ($72,862)
Texas ($72,925)
Tennessee ($72,946)

smartasset reports texas family income