Hospitality group signs lease at historic Montrose property for upscale Japanese restaurant

A new tenant has signed on to a 1920s former church building on Westheimer Road that has also been the home of restaurants such as Mark's American Cuisine and One Fifth.

Officials with the Houston-based hospitality firm Gitano Capital announced Dec. 19 they had signed a lease at 1658 Westheimer Road, Houston, near the Dunlavy Road intersection and across the street from the vintage clothing store Pavement.

Gitano is also the group behind Ojo de Agua, which opened in the River Oaks District in April.

A name was not given for the forthcoming concept, but officials said in a Dec. 19 news release that it would feature upscale Japanese food and would be "spearheaded by a world-class roster of chefs and mixologists." The eatery is slated to open in 2025 with more details on the concept and staff to come.

In a statement, Gitano Capital Co-founder Patricio Quiroz said he was looking to build on the legacy of eateries that have occupied the space.

“The building itself is an innate part of the fabric of the broader Montrose neighborhood that surrounds it," Quiroz said. "We feel that Montrose—one of the city’s most eclectic and vibrant nexuses—is the ideal setting for us to unveil an original culinary offering to the city of Houston."

• Coming in 2025
• 1658 Westheimer Road, Houston
• A phone number or website is not yet available.