feeling green

Coffee, gelato, and 'chops' coming to new Memorial-area development

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato is one of five new tenants coming to Greenside.

Courtesy of Tifa Chocolate & Gelato

A wellness-focused new development near Memorial City Mall has announced five new tenants. Greenside, the new project from Memorial City owner MetroNational and Houston’s Radom Capital (Montrose Collective, M-K-T Heights, etc), has completed construction, which means the tenants can begin building their spaces with an eye towards opening later this year.

The new tenants are:

Merit Coffee, a San Antonio-based coffee shop known for its comfortable spaces and creative drinks
Tifa Chocolate & Gelato, a franchised sweets shop that makes its gelato fresh daily
Epic Cycles, a bike shop that will relocate from CityCentre
Swish Dental, a practice with locations throughout Houston, Austin, and San Antonio
Original ChopShop, a healthy eating concept known for its protein bowls, salads (“chops”), sandwiches, fresh juices, and more.

They join previously-announced tenants Honest Mary’s, Leemoo, Hiatius, Solidcore, and Pizzana. Various media reports indicate that ChòpnBlọk, the West African concept that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide and just won Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, may also be headed to the development, but a representative declined CultureMap’s request to comment.

MetroNational and Radom first announced Greenside in 2024. They’ve retained the Texas-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture to transform a group of industrial warehouses into 35,000-square-feet of new businesses.

“These tenants expand on Greenside’s long-term vision to transform former industrial buildings into a vibrant, community-focused destination,” said Barton Kelly, principal at Radom Capital. “We look forward to sharing additional tenants and community updates in the coming months.”

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wasting away

3,500-home community for 'active adults' approved for Galveston Bay tract

Residents of a Latitude Margaritaville community riding golf carts.

Photo courtesy of Minto Communities

The parrothead ethos lives on.

Jimmy Buffett may be gone, but the Parrothead ethos of chilling on the water lives on. Minto Communities announced this week that they would be opening Latitude Margaritaville Galveston Bay, a 3,500-home active adult community aimed at residents 55 years and older. Opening of the sales center and model park is targeted for first quarter 2028. This will be the first Latitude Margaritaville community in Texas.

“This is an exciting milestone for Minto as we expand into Texas and introduce Latitude Margaritaville to the Greater Houston market,” said Minto Communities executive Dutch Neuweiler. “We appreciate the thoughtful engagement and support of Texas City officials throughout this process and share their vision for creating a community that will have a positive impact well beyond its boundaries. With its location on Galveston Bay and access to everything the surrounding area has to offer, we believe this is an exceptional setting those interested in the iconic lifestyle our communities provide.”

The Latitude Margaritaville brand of communities launched in 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida as part of the late singer's massive brand corporation dedicated to easy living, music, beaches, and food. Aimed at retired adults, they offer access to polls, lounges, theaters, spas, and work centers on top of prioritizing ocean views from the homes.

There should be no shortage of ways to see the water in the Galveston Bay community. The 1,318-acre property is located between State Highways 3 and 146, north of the Emmett F. Lowry Expressway and extending toward Moses Bayou. Texas City Commission has approved the Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Development Agreement (DA).

“Margaritaville has a strong commitment to Texas, and Galveston Bay is a perfect place to bring the Latitude Margaritaville lifestyle to life,” said Jim Wiseman, president of development at Margaritaville. “There’s something special about life along the Gulf — the water, the energy, the music, and that unmistakable sense that you’re never too far from a good time. Together with Minto and Texas City, we’re creating more than a community. We’re creating a place where neighbors become friends, every day feels a little more like vacation, and the Margaritaville state of mind comes naturally. We very much appreciate the positive vote and look forward to the road ahead.”

Minto Communities says the development will create 1,742 permanent jobs and generate $68.8 million in annual labor income in Galveston County. No pricing information has been provided yet, but prospective residents can find more information at LatitudeMargaritaville.com.