CP Group Lands Largest Restaurant Lease of the Year in Houston

Houston restaurateur Mack McDonald is set to open an upscale dining concept, Mack Allen’s, in the renovated 5POP high-rise just west of River Oaks.

The restaurant will occupy 16,000 square feet on the ground floor of the 28-story building on Post Oak Parkway, formerly known as Five Post Oak Park, making it the largest restaurant lease in the area this year , Bisnow reported.

David Littwitz of Littwitz Investments represented McDonald in the lease negotiations, while Transwestern brokers represented the landlord, CP Group.

This will be Mack Allen’s second location. Construction underway for the first, in Woodlands. Both are expected to open next year. Mack Allen’s venture follows McDonald’s successful New Orleans-inspired Rouxpour chain.

The flight to quality trend has been most evident in the office sector, as companies flock to renovated, amenity-packed properties in light of the remote working era. However, the McDonald’s lease shows that new or renovated buildings can also attract ground-floor retailers and restaurants.

CP Group and Rialto Capital have invested $12 million in capital improvements since acquiring the building in 2021. Recent renovations include improvements to the lobby and common areas, the addition of Blackwater Roasting’s 5CUP Café , a concierge service and the construction of specific suites within the framework of the CP. workCLaces program, four of which have been leased in the last six months.

The ground floor space previously housed a gym, title company, bank and sandwich shop. Looking for 7,000 to 8,000 square feet, McDonald ended up with double the space due to the building’s location. Littwitz discovered 5POP through discussions with Transwestern, noting its proximity to River Oaks, Uptown, the Galleria and the St. Regis Houston.

The project has been in the works since last summer, with Montgomery Roth Architecture & Interior Design defining the concept. Mack Allen’s will feature a private landscaped park, bakery/takeout section and 4,000 square feet of private dining space.

Office tenants include financial firm UBS, accounting firm Weaver and law firm Thompson Coe. Littwitz emphasized the benefit for these companies of entertaining their customers internally.

“It will be a huge benefit to their business to be able to entertain their customers on this level in their building,” Littwitz told the outlet. “The restaurant will work hard to attract customers from adjacent zip codes, which represent some of the highest incomes in the Houston metro area.”

—Quinn Donoghue