Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is about to serve its last pork chop in River Oaks. The restaurant plans to close its River Oaks Shopping Center location on Jan. 24, ending the run of one of the chain’s most high-profile Houston outposts after what management describes as a contractual dispute with the shopping center landlord. The company says employees will not be left in the lurch, with affected staff offered positions at other Perry’s locations around the city.
In a Facebook post announcing the shutdown, Perry’s management cited “a contractual dispute” with the River Oaks Shopping Center landlord and confirmed the restaurant’s final day of service would be Jan. 24, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The note called the company “deeply disappointed” and stressed that every staff member would be offered an equivalent role at one of seven other Perry’s locations in the greater Houston area. According to the Chronicle, this will be the first time a Perry’s location has closed in the brand’s history.
A River Oaks Mainstay Since 2019
The River Oaks restaurant opened in 2019 as Perry’s first location inside the Loop and quickly drew attention for its wall of windows, Bar 79 and the chain’s signature tableside pork chop. With a second-floor dining room and private spaces that seat roughly 300 guests, the River Oaks outpost was designed to feel like a flagship within the shopping center, according to Houstonia Magazine. The build-out featured a prominent wine closet and an elevated main dining room, helping turn the space into a go-to destination for birthdays, anniversaries and business dinners.
Perry’s Reach And History
Perry’s traces its roots back to a neighborhood butcher shop opened in 1979 before evolving into full-service restaurants in the 1980s and 1990s, eventually growing into a national brand, according to Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. In the Houston area, the company still lists locations in Baybrook, Champions, Katy, Memorial City, Sugar Land and The Woodlands among its active restaurants. The brand also has a new location planned in Gilbert, Arizona this year, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Ripple Effects For River Oaks
Perry’s exit will free up one of the more visible and sizable restaurant spaces in the multi-block River Oaks Shopping Center, a long-standing retail anchor in the neighborhood. Property details for the center highlight its mix of national and local tenants and note that owners often reposition larger spaces when they hit the market, according to SHOP Companies. With that kind of tenant mix and a high-profile corner coming available, landlords and brokers are expected to field quick interest once the space is formally marketed.
Staff And Service…