Real Estate Rumblings
Tom Ford headed to Houston, Hermès plans new store in River Oaks complex
Dene Oliver, the CEO of San Diego-based development company OliverMcMillan, has confirmed what has been an open secret in luxury retail circles: Tom Ford is headed to Houston.
The designer, who has made a smashing fashion comeback since leaving Gucci in the 2004, will open a store for men and for women in the new River Oaks District mixed-use complex being developed by OliverMcMillan and set to open in 2015.
In addition to the Ford store, Oliver confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that Hermès is planning a two-story, 10,000-square-foot store at the complex just inside the West Loop on Westheimer, between Highland Village and The Galleria.
CultureMap previously reported that Hermès and Ford planned to open stores in the mixed-use complex, along with Roberto Cavalli and a luxury movie theater from Florida-based iPic Entertainment. (Hermès currently operates a store in BLVD Place; Tom Ford has a boutique at Neiman Marcus.)
Oliver also revealed that two restaurants from the Dallas-based Consilient restaurant group, Thirteen Pies and AF+B, will be tenants.
In a press release, the company said the 14-acre development, located at the former site of the 4444 Westheimer apartment complex, will feature 252,000 square feet of premier retail space along with 92,000 square feet of retail office space and 279 contemporary residential units.
Construction on the $550 million project is scheduled to begin on Monday. In addition to Houston, the company is currently developing luxury projects in Atlanta, San Diego, Honolulu, San Francisco, Chicago and Phoenix.