Cafe Annie Closing/Moving?

[jbraynolds]

Supposedly the owner of the Fashion Square shopping center where Cafe Annie is located is developing the entire area to a pair of high-rises and everybody is out, from Eatzi's down to Cafe Annie. Anybody else hear about this?

[fifi]

I haven't heard anything definitive but it wouldn't surprise me. Fashion Square has been a problem property since it was opened. Problem meaning that it never quite made enough money versus the huge investment. This story has come up before. Maybe this time they really will develop something that will give a return on investment. That is mighty expensive real estate.

I would be surprised if you didn't see Cafe Annie open somewhere else. I can't imagine Del Grande closing his flagship and the place that made him famous.

[Lone Star]

I wouldn't be surprised either. I always thought it was a strange place for Annie's anyway. I don't think it would hurt them at all to move, but hopefully they would stay in the uptown area and not downtown. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but could see them putting some high rises there. As above, that is some pricey real estate!

[fifi]

I would like to see something distinctive and stand alone like what he did with Rio Ranch. Not the same architecture, of course, just that level of wow. Cafe Annie needs a home equal to its stature.

I haven't been there in about a year, either. But everytime I have been the food definitely had a big wow factor.

[jscarbor]

Ive always been on the fence with CA. I have never been blown away but have had good meals in the past. My guess is the old Saks 5th center was also sold, its been on the market for years now and Americas and Hunan could be moving as well. High density development is the only thing that works on this property. If I were to guess I could see these properties selling close to $100 per foot. Which would make the HISD 12 acre property a relative bargain at the $50-60 per foot I seem to have heard that it might be selling for.

[FoodMan]

Cafe Annie's Berryhill leaves to start South Carolina eatery

[jscarbor]

There is a story in the HBJ this week about the purchase of fasion square by E Wulfe and the possibilities of CA moving or staying.