Restaurant Shakeup
New Asian restaurant jumps on just shuttered space: Prime Post Oak spot doesn't stay empty for long
Details have begun to emerge on the restaurant that will replace Osteria Mazzantini. Although its only been three days since the hyped Galleria-area Italian restaurant closed its doors, a new tenant has already claimed the space.
The still unnamed restaurant will be an upscale Asian fusion concept with a sushi component, according to Paul Coonrod, managing director and partner with Stream Partners. Although the new operators aren't ready to reveal their identity, Coonrod describes them as a "successful local restaurant group." The company also has a chef in mind for the concept, but those details are also still pending.
Renovations on the space are expected to begin next week with an eye towards a May opening.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the space found a new occupant so quickly. Existing restaurant spaces rarely become available on the Post Oak corridor.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the space found a new occupant so quickly. After all, existing restaurant spaces rarely become available on the Post Oak corridor. The area draws both tourists and locals, which means the potential for big profits for the right concept. The number of businesses in the area means that a restaurant there can be busy at both lunch and dinner.
In 2014, the only notable properties to change hands in the area were in Uptown Park, where Songkran Thai Kitchen replaced 1252 Tapas, and inside the Galleria, where South African restaurant Peli Peli will replace the shuttered Gigi's Asian Bistro. Other openings in the area, such as True Food Kitchen and the upcoming Peska Seafood Culture, are coming via new construction, which is significantly more expensive than acquiring a second generation space.
Furthermore, an Asian concept should be a good fit for the area. The only nearby sushi options currently are Uptown Sushi and Ra Sushi in Highland Village. They will soon be joined by Sozo Sushi in BLVD Place II, but the market should be able to accommodate two new concepts if they're well-executed.
