tilman's big buy

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta buys River Oaks development for a reported $450 million

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta has added one of Houston’s most prominent mixed-use developments to his real estate portfolio by purchasing River Oaks District.

The almost 14-acre property, which is located on Westheimer just east of 610, is home to luxury retail boutiques, upscale restaurants, high-end apartments, and office space. In total, it offers more than 300,000-square-feet of retail, over 67,000-square-feet of office space, and 279 apartment units.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed in press materials, but the Houston Chronicle reports that the Rockets owner paid $450 million for the property. JPMorgan Asset Management purchased the property for $550 million in 2016, the paper notes.

Since it opened in 2015, River Oaks District has become one of Houston’s top shopping and dining destinations. Its roster of luxury stores includes Hermes, Cartier, Rolex, Dior, Patek Phillip, and Harry Winston. It's also home to some of the city’s most popular restaurants, including Steak 48, Loch Bar, Toulouse, and Spanish restaurant MAD, which won Best New Restaurant in the 2020 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

River Oaks District is only about a mile from The Post Oak, Fertitta’s hotel, restaurant, and office complex on the West Loop that’s also home to Rolls Royce dealership Post Oak Motor Cars. It’s the only hotel in Houston to earn a 5-star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide.

“Adding River Oaks District to our Post Oak Hotel family of offerings seamlessly complements the curated experience we have created for the luxury-seeking consumer,” Fertitta said in a statement. “This is the perfect moment in time to add this premier mixed-use development to our luxury portfolio, creating incredible cross-promotional opportunities and elevating the standard for luxury dining and shopping for Houstonians and international travelers alike.”

Fertitta has been on a bit of a real estate shopping spree. In 2022, he purchased the 30-acre Montage Laguna Beach Resort Hotel in Southern California for a reported $660 million. Taken together, the Billion Dollar Buyer has dropped more than $1.1 billion expanding his real estate holdings since 2022.

River Oaks District completed a series of renovations, including the addition of a pocket park that stretches from Westcreek Lane on the district’s western side to its eastern boundary. Fertitta has plans for further changes, promising to “elevate the development to new heights” by attracting even more prominent retail and restaurant tenants.

Commercial real estate and investment management company JLL Capital Markets represented the seller and procured the buyer, Fertitta Entertainment, Inc, according to a release.

"Fertitta Entertainment is acquiring one of the most highly sought-after, trophy mixed-use assets in the U.S., and we are thrilled to have facilitated this transaction,” JLL executive Barry Brown said. “River Oaks District represents an exceptional investment opportunity with its prime location within Houston, as well as its premier luxury offerings. We congratulate Fertitta Entertainment on the acquisition of this distinguished property and look forward to see the continued evolution in the years to come."

Photo by Shannon O'Hara

The development added a pocket park in 2022.

celebrities business

be well

3 hot wellness studios move swiftly into new Heights development

Courtesy of Radom Capital

The Swift BLDG is expected to open in late 2026.

A new mixed-use development in the Heights has announced its next round of tenants. Three wellness businesses are coming to The Swift BLDG, Houston developers Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners’ project in the historic Swift & Company Packing Plant that’s located near the Heights Hike & Bike Trail.

They are:

SweatHouz, a contrast therapy studio
Strong Pilates Studio
The Skin Clinic, a Houston-based aesthetics and skincare destination

Scheduled to open in winter 2026, SweatHouz will offer infrared saunas, cold plunges, and other protocols to improve a person’s well-being. The protocols are focused on areas such as athletic recovery, reducing stress, improving circulation, mental health, and longevity. In addition, it will offer a beauty bar equipped with Dyson hot tolls and a beverage station stocked with different waters.

Building on the success of its Katy location that opened last year, Strong Pilates Studio will occupy 2,500 square feet in the Swift BLDG. Using Rowformer and Bikeformer machines, customers have the opportunity to take classes in Strong Body, Strong Loaded, and Strong Pilates-Only. It’s expected to open in the fall.

“Our method blends strength, cardio, and reformer-based training into one, delivering real results in just 45 minutes. This isn’t just Pilates — it’s a new standard for fitness in Houston. And a community that sweats together stays strong,” franchisee Mona Hussein-Zaki said in a statement.

Currently located in M-K-T, the Skin Clinic will more than double its footprint by relocated to the Swift BLDG. The clinic’s services focus on skin health and rejuvenation. It also expected to open in the fall.

“The response from this community has been incredible, and Swift gives us the room to grow into what our patients have been asking for: more space, more services, and the same patient-centered care that got us here." founder Kelli Nwuli said.

All three businesses join previously announced tenants such as Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, premium juice bar Leemoo, Merit Coffee, and Houston Tex-Mex staple Escalante’s.

On track to open to the public in fall 2026, The Swift BLDG will offer more than 30,000 square feet of office space along with 30,000 square feet of restaurant and retail tenants. The two companies previously partnered on M-K-T, the Heights mixed-use development that’s near the Swift project. Radom is known for a number of other Houston developments, including the Montrose Collective and the historic Tower Theater property and its adjacent buildings.

openings the-heights