Leading global development and construction firm Skanska announces that it has reached a lease agreement with District 7 Restaurants to open District 7 Memorial, a new 2,200-square-foot eatery at West Memorial Place, Houston’s first LEED® Platinum campus, located in the Energy Corridor.
Established in Houston in 2003 by owners Babak and Shelley Elham, District 7 is best known for its fresh take on urban American cuisine. The brand operates seven other locations across midtown and Downtown Houston – District 7 Grills, The District on Main, Cellar 7, Table 7 Bistro and District Tacos & Pizzas. While the West Memorial Place location will offer the same menu as The District on Main, including homemade sauces and hand-tossed pizzas, the new eatery will offer smoothies to cater to the area’s office tenants and residents – something new and different from the other locations. Situated on the ground floor of West Memorial Place II, the new restaurant features a generous outdoor patio and lounge area adjacent to the Terry Hershey Park hike and bike trails.
The restaurant is currently in its soft opening phase and will celebrate the grand opening November 6 and 7 featuring complimentary wine, beer and a variety of delectable bites from 4PM to 8PM.
“We are delighted to work with District 7 to bring a brand-new full-service restaurant to our West Memorial Place campus. Their strong Houston roots and delicious take on urban American cuisine make them an ideal addition to the Energy Corridor community,” said Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development. “Whether you are a tenant at West Memorial Place or a resident living in the Energy Corridor, District 7 Memorial has something for all to enjoy. We look forward to the opening of their newest location, a delicious amenity offering picturesque views of Terry Hershey Park.”
District 7 Memorial will be open seven days a week serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Along with its family and pet-friendly environment, the restaurant boasts a full bar with daily happy hour specials, indoor and outdoor seating, including an outdoor lounge area with comfortable sofas, games and complimentary Wi-Fi. Private event services and catering are also available.
“For 17 years, District 7 restaurants have been mainstays in Downtown and Midtown Houston. We saw the opportunity to expand into the Energy Corridor with a new location that offers the same delicious fare with sweeping views of Terry Hershey Park,” said District 7 co-owner Shelley Elham. “We are excited to final be able to share District 7 Memorial with the community and look forward to celebrating our grand opening in November.”
Located at 15375 Memorial Drive, the development includes two LEED Platinum certified Class-A office buildings - West Memorial Place I measuring 331,000 square feet, and West Memorial Place II measuring 385,000 square feet. The buildings consume 30 percent less energy than typical baseline buildings.
Directly adjacent to Terry Hershey Park and its many miles of hike and bike trails, West Memorial Place is advantageously positioned among large companies in the Energy Corridor. In addition to a full-service restaurant, the campus boasts top-of-the-line amenities including a fitness center fitted with locker rooms and showers, on-site food offerings through Fooda, car wash services and a one-of-a-kind bike share program allowing tenants easy access to the connecting park trails before and after work or on breaks. In 2017, the campus also became the fifth Enterprise CarShare location in the Energy Corridor, making it easier and more rewarding for tenants to utilize alternative transportation rather than their own personal vehicles.
Skanska’s other Houston-area projects include the Bank of America Tower development, a 35-story, 754,000-square-foot office tower located on a prime block in Houston’s Central Business District. Reflecting Skanska’s commitment to sustainability, Bank of America Tower is the first LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell certified project in the United States.
Skanska has built and restored local landmarks in Houston for decades ranging from historic renovations like San Jacinto Memorial Building on the Houston Community College campus, to the new construction of world-class sports facilities including NRG Stadium, and invaluable healthcare resources like the expansion of LBJ General Hospital’s emergency department. Skanska continues to leverage its local knowledge and global expertise to shape the region’s commercial, healthcare, sports and entertainment facilities.
JLL represented Skanska and District 7 in the transaction.