Despite its moniker of the “City of Homes,” Bellaire has its own downtown area with a burgeoning dining scene on the city’s west side. The Bellaire Triangle—a section of the city situated between Chimney Rock Road, Bissonnet Street and Bellaire Boulevard—was developed in 1959 as one of the first shopping centers in town.
The property is owned by MC Management and Development, a real estate company founded in 1958 by the Meyer family who have a history of property development across southwest Houston.
Like many of the city’s neighbors, Bellaire’s retail and office spaces are largely spread out with a significant area dedicated to parking. Now, developers are embarking on a multiphase renovation plan set to begin before the end of 2022 that will entail installing public art, restoring the center’s open-air arcade and exposing brick wall that was part of the original design.
“We have approached this project with history in mind. The new design will expose many of the Triangle’s original architectural elements, including steel columns, brick parapet walls and bright accent colors, all of which were typical of the ’50s era,” MC Management Leasing Director Dan Meyer said in a statement.
The triangle is home to more than two dozen businesses across four buildings, including eight restaurants, two of which, Aya Sushi and CounterCommon, opened in 2022.
The center features four buildings spread out over four acres and providing about 70,000 square feet of space in total, according to information from MC Management. Officials tasked with leasing the site said they are hopeful the renovations will assist in filling the remaining vacant spots—which include a pair of 4,000-square-foot spaces—and that interest in the site has already seen an increase since the plans were announced.
Changes in store
In August, MC Management announced its partnership with Shop Companies, a Dallas-based real estate firm that will manage new leases on the Triangle property.
Starting in late 2022, the Bellaire Triangle will undergo its largest structural renovation since its initial development, according to Shop officials.
Among the largest changes to the shopping center is the reconfiguration of the open-air arcade, a walkway between the Triangle’s two largest buildings leading between Bellaire Boulevard and Bissonnet Street.
The arcade will provide additional seating for diners with the goal of encouraging patrons to spend time walking around the gallery of shops, officials said. Developers are also installing new lights to help keep the area active during the evening hours.
Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg said the project targets an area he and many longtime Bellaire residents spent time at as children.
“Like many of our residents, I’m very excited to see the center updated and upgraded, and have really been enjoying several of the new tenants that have come in recently, along with the existing tenants that have been part of our community for years,” Friedberg said.
Several aspects of the proposed renovations carry different permitting requirements, Friedberg said, adding that he looks forward to public discussion and input.
Amanda Hale—owner of Yoga Tres in the Bellaire Triangle, which opened in 2021—said developers with MC Management came by prior to the renovation announcement to solicit business owner feedback. Hale said she is excited about the potential the renovations will have to bring new life into the center.
“That space has been needing it for a while, and I’m grateful they are trying to get it together,” Hale said. “I know it will help boost our business even more, allowing that whole block to look more updated.”
Future outlooks
Lindsey McKean, a commercial broker with Shop Companies, said interest in the open spaces at the site has been “astronomical” since the renovations were announced.
“We specialize in retaining, reinvigorating and really just trying to make this project more relevant in the Bellaire trade area,” she said. “We have had a lot of activity since the day we stepped foot on this project.”
McKean said her team is targeting more restaurant choices to go along with those already at the site, including Blood Brothers BBQ and Aya Sushi. They are also looking to bring on a few service-type users to fill voids, she said.
“You’ll probably see something really cool dessert-wise that will activate the green space there—something for kids and families,” she said.
The construction will be phased to minimize impact to tenants, McKean confirmed. Some tenants are likely to be moved as part of the process to suites that fit their needs better, she said. Other tenants whose leases are up in the next two to three years may leave as a result of rent adjustments, but conversations on what that could look like are in the early stages, McKean said.
Other activity in Bellaire’s commercial area is also in the works. Officials with the Houston Methodist Hospital System have pitched the development of a new medical office building that would take the place of a former Randall’s across Bissonnet Street at 5130 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire.
Architects working on the project presented some design options to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission in September that ranged from a concept that was as tall as four stories at some points to a concept with two stories of medical office building on top of one story of parking.
As the city deliberates the application, officials said public input will be crucial in deciding how to move forward.
Meanwhile, Friedberg said he was excited for what the future holds.
“I appreciate the Meyers’ reinvestment in the center and their partnership in continuing to advance our commercial revitalization efforts,” he said.
