Churrascos Coming to Memorial City; El Tiempo Likely Heading to Webster

In a press release issued today, the Cordua Group announced that it would open their fourth location of South American steakhouse Churrascos in the Gateway Memorial City development. Churrascos will join confirmed tenant Valone's, the steakhouse from Tony's chef Grant Gordon and general manager Scott Sulma and likely tenant a Houston version of Vegas chef Bradley Ogden's Hops & Harvest. Set to open in Decmeber, the 8,400sq ft restaurant will feature an open kitchen, a large horseshoe-shaped bar in its center, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Elsewhere, the Galveston Daily News reports that upscale fajitas emporium El Tiempo Cantina is looking to open a location in Webster. A spokesperson called the report "a bit premature," but said that the restaurant is likely to open a 10,000sq ft, sixth location at the former Old Big Ben Tavern on I-45. El Tiempo will know more about when they expect to open after they complete the deal and have time to assess the space.

Reached for comment, owner Michael Cordua explains he made the decision to open a new location based on the "dynamic" growth in the Energy Corridor. He decided to join the Gateway development because it is an "iconic location with great freeway visibility." One aspect of the restaurant he called attention to is the decision to hire MBH Architects; the company's other projects include designing Apple stores and locations for P.F. Chang's. "We don't tend to do cookie cutters," Cordua said. The family's dramatic designs allow their restaurants to "put the best foot forward" and "give people more than they expect." That commitment to under-promise and over-deliver has helped Churrascos reach its 25 year anniversary.

· El Tiempo Cantina Planning Area Eatery [Galveston Daily News via Swamplot]
· Churrascos [Official Site]
· El Tiempo Cantina [Official Site]

At the opening of Churrascos Sugar Land [Chris P/Yelp]