Former Houston’s site in East Memphis slated for $25 million mixed-use offices, retail, and restaurant

A landmark corner transitions from single-tenant dining to a multi-use commercial project

A long-vacant corner in East Memphis is set for a substantial redevelopment: the former Houston’s restaurant site at Poplar Avenue and South Mendenhall Road is being cleared for a $25 million mixed-use project combining office, retail and a new full-service restaurant. The plan covers the former Houston’s parcel and the adjacent First Horizon building site, consolidating two properties into a single, master-planned destination scheduled to open in late 2027.

The developers leading the project are Gill Properties and Horn Ventures. Demolition of the former restaurant structure is already underway, marking the visible start of a project that aims to reposition a prominent corridor location for a broader set of tenants than the prior single-restaurant use.

Project size, uses and a named restaurant concept

Plans call for a two-story building of roughly 50,000 square feet, split evenly between office and retail. The program includes approximately 25,000 square feet of office space and approximately 25,000 square feet of retail space. In addition, the development is planned to include a 6,300-square-foot restaurant branded as “The Tradition,” designed for about 170 seats.

Parking is a central component of the plan, with approximately 60 underground spaces and more than 130 surface spaces envisioned. In East Memphis, where most shopping and office trips remain car-dependent, parking counts can strongly influence tenant interest, peak-hour circulation, and overall site functionality.

Design and delivery team

The development team includes architects and engineers identified for the project’s next phases. The architectural work is being led by LRK, with civil engineering by Rockfield Engineering and landscape architecture by Mark Levy. Leasing is planned to be handled in-house by Gill Properties.

Project renderings circulated to date are presented as preliminary and not the final architectural direction.

Why the redevelopment matters for Poplar and Mendenhall

Beyond replacing a closed restaurant, the project changes the site’s function in the local commercial ecosystem. A mixed-use layout introduces multiple revenue streams—office leases, retail storefronts and restaurant sales—while spreading occupancy risk across different tenant categories. It also reactivates a well-known corner with daylong activity: office traffic in the morning and afternoon, retail throughout the day, and restaurant demand in the evening.

Key facts at a glance

• Location: 4990 and 5000 Poplar Avenue, at Poplar Avenue and South Mendenhall Road
• Estimated investment: $25 million
• Building plan: two stories, approximately 50,000 square feet
• Space mix: ~25,000 square feet office, ~25,000 square feet retail
• Restaurant: “The Tradition,” ~6,300 square feet, ~170 seats
• Parking: ~60 underground spaces plus 130+ surface spaces
• Target opening: late 2027