NewQuest Properties is adding two new buildings onto Katy Grand, one of which will house the third location in Greater Houston for Gloria's Latin Cuisine and the first live music venue in the 100,000-sf project.

Gloria's will occupy 5,500 sf of an 11,800-sf building at the corner of Mercantile Parkway and Grand Circle Boulevard in Katy Grand, located at the junction of Interstate 10 and Grand Parkway/TX 99 in Houston's rapidly expanding western suburbs. NewQuest's new building will deliver in May along with a 16,900-sf structure on the opposite side of the development's interior road. Sun Builders of Houston is the general contractor.

Gloria's Latin Cuisine is eyeing a grand opening in September. The Dallas-based restaurateur also is planning to feature live music on select nights, a first for the NewQuest project.

Gloria's Latin Cuisine has 20 locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, with some locales transforming on weekends into a dance club as musicians and DJs throw down the hottest tracks to create a vibrant Latin nightlife experience. In addition to Katy Grand, the popular chain also has restaurants in Houston's Midtown and Friendswood's Baybrook Mall. Rene Rodriguez III of Nan & Co. Properties is Gloria's tenant representative.

"Gloria's is a strong addition to Katy Grand's experience as a premier dining and entertainment center. There are not a lot of true Latin restaurants in this region," says Rebecca Le, senior vice president with the Houston-based brokerage firm. She and Heather Nguyen, development partner, are the project's leasing team.

Anchored by a 19-screen Cinemark Theater, Katy Grand has established itself as the primary destination for culinary adventures, experiential retail and entertainment in west Houston. It seems that a new tenant is opening doors every few months. Coming online in the next few days will be Kura Revolving Sushi Bar.

Adding to Katy Grand's stellar dynamics is dual freeway visibility and a six-level Metro parking garage with 1,727 spaces. In the latest stats, Metro ridership is up 28% at Katy Grand, which is situated along the preferred daily commute for hundreds of thousands en route to major employment centers like the Energy Corridor and downtown Houston.

SOUTH TEXAS SALES

Premier Construction & Development LLC has purchased a 1.38-acre tract at the intersection of Shadow Creek Parkway and Kingsley Drive, Pearland, from A-S 143 SC Ranch LP. Brad LyBrand and Brad Elmore of NewQuest Properties represented the seller in the direct deal.

LTH Builders Fund II LLC has purchased a 0.29-acre tract (12,632 sf) in the Heights at 1510 Laird St., Houston, from Roy and Rachelle Gerges Varnon. Chris Dray of NewQuest Properties represented the seller. Piran Ghods-Esphahani of Loftech Homes LLC represented the buyer.

SOUTH TEXAS LEASES

Gloria's Latin Cuisine has leased 5,500 sf of retail space in Katy Grand, located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Grand Parkway/TX 99, in Katy, from A-S 98 NEC Grand Parkway-IH 10W LP. Rebecca Le and Heather Nguyen of NewQuest Properties represented the landlord. Rene Rodriguez III of Nan & Co. Properties represented the tenant.

NewQuest Properties, founded in 2001, is a privately owned, full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in development, land brokerage, leasing, tenant representation, investment sales and property management services. Headquartered in Houston, NewQuest owns a portfolio encompassing more than 60 retail and mixed-use projects valued at $2.2 billion and provides leasing services for more than 12 million square feet of commercial space in Texas, Louisiana and throughout the U.S.