Iconic Restaurant Space Gets New Tenant — But Not Until 2025. Here's What to Expect

IT'S ONE OF the most iconic restaurant buildings in town, having once been the home to Mark's American Cuisine and, most recently, Chris Shepherd's groundbreaking rotating concept One Fifth, which closed in January 2022. Now, we know what's next for the cathedral at the corner of Westheimer and Dunlavy.

A new upscale Japanese restaurant from Gitano Capital, the group that brought Ojo de Agua to River Oaks District earlier this year, is slated to open in the century-old building in 2025.

"We could not be more honored to have the opportunity to build upon the storied legacy of the numerous quintessential Houston establishments to occupy 1658 Westheimer over the past several decades,” said Patricio Quiroz, co-founder of Gitano Capital, in a statement. “The building itself is an innate part of the fabric of the broader Montrose neighborhood that surrounds it, and 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.”

The Gitano team promises a "world-class roster of chefs and mixologists" will create innovative Asian fare; details to follow in the coming months. Meanwhile, its Ojo de Agua remains a popular destination for boho-chic, health-minded Mexican fare and fresh-squeezed juices.