Zoes Kitchen anticipates serving diners in January
By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News
With most of its tenants slated to open in the first half of 2018, the newest retail center in Four Points — 2222 Station — is set to add a myriad of neighborhood services to the River Place community and beyond.
La Vie Nail Spa opened last week, marking the site’s first tenant to commence business, said Simon Lee, chief financial officer for the Valdosta, Georgia-based C. Lee Family Corporation and the project’s developer.
Gideon Math & Reading Center is anticipated to open at the end of December and Zoes Kitchen is looking to serve its first meals either Jan. 15 or Jan. 18, he said.
“The biggest thing that we’ve done with leasing is signing up a major restaurateur for the southern endcap of the building, which is Zoes Kitchen,” said Robby Eaves, senior vice president of Retail Solutions, the project’s leasing company.
The approximate 19,000-square-foot development, located at 10815 RM 2222 at the front of River Place, has been under construction for the past year.
Along with La Vie, Zoes Kitchen, Gideon, 2222 Station will house ATI Physical Therapy; Howdy Donuts; Me So Poke (formerly Poke Haus); and Tea Haus.
“The other (tenants) are still waiting for the permit to get approved or are about to break ground on the property (buildout space),” Lee said.
“The mix of tenants is going to be high-end neighborhood services, with the combination to draw people from outside the neighborhood,” Eaves said. “We want this to be a destination for people who live within a one-mile radius and we want this to be a destination for people who live three and four miles from it, just because of the mix.”
“It’s an active lifestyle out there,” Eaves said of the Four Points community. “Zoes Kitchen will fare much better than a (fast, fried food restaurant) would. The fresh and healthy concept like (Zoe’s) does very well in these demographics and really fits the profile of the community that surrounds it.”
Lee said his company chose the Four Points location for its center because it is “a very fast growing area (with) strong demographics.”
Set on five acres, Lee broke ground on 2222 Station in September 2016.
The project’s two remaining spaces — including a 5,093-square-foot space on the center’s endcap and a 1,427-square-foot space in its interior — have together already drawn the interest of a home goods retailer, body sculpting/cryotherapy service, clothing boutique vendor and a yoga/Pilates studio owner, Eaves said. The larger endcap space can be divided further to allow for more tenants, he said.
The 2222 Station center is the first development for the C. Lee Family Corporation in the Austin area, and Lee said he and his partners are “looking at two other ventures in the area.”
“Hopefully, we’ll get a lot of support from the community to support our tenants,” Lee said. “It will make a big difference for the project. I want this to be a success for the area.”
Staffing 2222 Station
The West Austin Chamber of Commerce aims to address area issues including employer concerns involving staffing options for local businesses.
With the creation of at least eight new businesses at 2222 Station, Chamber President Morgan Briscoe said a new group — comprised of Austin city officials, including District 6 Councilman Jimmy Flannigan, selected business professionals and residents — is prepared to take on this challenge.
“Business signage and employee/staffing (are) areas that we plan to address as part of this group,” Briscoe said. “We also are planning to work with area leaders and partner organizations to address a variety of business training in 2018 — from students and hourly workers to salaried staff.”
The Four Points Task Force, a joint effort between the West Austin Chamber and the city of Austin, held its inaugural meeting Dec. 6. The group’s stated purpose is to identify needs and opportunities for change in the Four Points area and align them with the city of Austin’s strategic plan, a document to guide the city’s future development.
Got Poke?
When restaurants Me So Poke (formerly Poke Haus) and Tea Haus open at 2222 Station this spring/summer, Four Points residents will have the opportunity to dine on varieties of an Asian-inspired fish dish (Me So Poke) and imbibe hand-crafted drinks (Tea Haus), said Matthew Wang, a partner in Haus Restaurant Group that owns the River Place eateries as well as two Northwest Austin sister locations — 101 by Tea Haus on Airport Boulevard and Tea Haus on Anderson Lane.
“Poke is a traditional Hawaiian cuisine that is basically sashimi, or fresh cut fish served raw,” Wang said.
A poke bowl begins with the fish, either tuna or salmon, as the primary protein, he said. The customer picks the fish flavoring including a savory-sweet soy sauce marinade, miso flavoring, mango flavoring or spicy. A bowl base—brown rice, white rice, kale or salad—is added. Last, the bowl is topped with an accoutrement such as pickled seaweed or cucumber.
“It’s kind of like Chipotle (Mexican Grill) in a way, where you can go in there every single day but you can make different types of combinations,” Wang said. “What’s great about poke is not only is it really healthy but it’s flavorful and a great grab-and-go if you’re in a rush.”
The price of the poke dishes will depend on the bowl size ordered, “but if I was on Yelp, the price would be a one dollar sign,” he said.
Tea Haus will serve hand-crafted, specialty drinks including lemonades, coffees, pressed juices and, of course, teas. The shop will also offer pastries and “the award-winning Basil Fried Chicken,” Wang said.
Wang is also slated to open Tea Haus and Me So Poke restaurants in the shopping center adjacent to H Mart, a Korean grocery and food court at the corner of Lakeline Boulevard and Hwy. 183. Although the center is expected to open in January, Wang said he anticipates his stores opening mid-year.
Submitted by Leslee Bassman
