ONE PARK PLACE CONTINUES REINVENTION OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON: FINGER LANDS AWARD-WINNING PHOENICIA SPECIALTY FOODS
CONTACT: Mark D. Sullivan / Jeremy C. Little
On the Mark Communications
713-978-5050
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ONE PARK PLACE CONTINUES REINVENTION OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON:
FINGER LANDS AWARD-WINNING PHOENICIA SPECIALTY FOODS
A 28,000-SQUARE-FOOT FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKET AT ONE PARK PLACE
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 3, 2010 – Developer Marvy Finger, who built One Park Place – the first luxury residential high rise built in downtown Houston in over 40 years – has leased space to local favorite and nationally recognized Phoenicia Specialty Foods, accentuating downtown residentsʼ quality living experience. Phoenicia Specialty Foods will open a one-of-a-kind 28,000-square-foot international gourmet food market on the ground floor of One Park Place in December of this year.
“We are thrilled to offer this unrivaled shopping and dining experience to our residents at One Park Place and to the surrounding downtown residential and business communities,” says Marvy Finger, president and CEO of the Finger Companies. “Having developed apartment homes in Houston for over fifty years, I feel that Phoenicia Specialty Foods is without a doubt the most unique amenity I have ever been able to offer our valued residents.”Zohrab “Bob” Tcholakian and his wife Arpi, Lebanese immigrants of Armenian descent, founded the family-owned and operated Phoenicia Specialty Foods located on Westheimer near Kirkwood in 1992. The market has grown from a small restaurant and importer of international foods to a 55,000-square-foot behemoth that is as much a tourist destination as it is an everyday grocery store. Phoenicia lures customers from near and far with over 6,000 products representing 50 different countries worldwide. Phoeniciaʼs loyal clientele are attracted to its offering of gourmet foods at down-to-earth prices.
“Phoenicia serves the diverse demographics of Houston,” says Zohrab and Arpiʼs daughter Ann-Marie. “The Phoenicians were known in the ancient world for ship building and the transport and preservation of food, hence the name. We have a grouping of products that no one else carries.” In addition to a mountain of local accolades including coveted “Best Of” listings from the Houston Press and Swamplot.com, Phoenicia was recognized by Saveur magazine in 2009 as one of their ten favorite supermarkets in the nation and concluded that “the best are independently owned or belong to small chains that are deeply rooted in their communities”.
Not lost on downtownʼs top decision-makers is the immense significance of the deal struck between One Park Place and Phoenicia. “I am glad to see the signing of a lease for a full service grocery store will be part of One Park Place, the first newly constructed downtown residential project in recent years,” says Houston Mayor Annise Parker.”Having this necessary amenity will make the area more attractive as a residential choice. My hat is off to the Tcholakian’s for realizing the potential.”“Itʼs a great product for the location,” echoes Bob Eury, Executive Director of the Houston Downtown Management District. “Phoenicia Specialty Foods is a homegrown Houston business that reflects the incredible diversity of our community. I canʼt imagine a better fit for downtown.”
Like the flagship West Houston location, the One Park Place Phoenicia Specialty Foods location will be packed to the gills with imports while concurrently catering to downtownʼs growing residential population and business dining set with everyday standards like fresh meat and seafood, produce, milk, artisan breads and pastries, cheeses, fine wine,
beer, coffee, and house wares. “Weʼre focusing on more prepared foods and catering, along with everyday household needs,” says Haig Tcholakian, Zohrab and Arpiʼs youngest son. “The majority of our shelf products will be available in the downtown store, but weʼll add more consumer-type products to be more convenient for people who live downtown.”
In addition to the retail space, One Park Placeʼs Phoenicia is designed to appeal to walkup diners, downtown residents and office workers. “”Weʼre allotting additional space for dining,” says Raffi Tcholakian, the Tcholakianʼs eldest son. “It will be a place to hang out, eat, and drink wine and beer, but it will also be open and easy to navigate for those who need to get in and out.” Phoeniciaʼs in-store café will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Weʼre expecting a lot of morning and lunch traffic,” he says. “But weʼre going to make it very inviting for dinner, too.”
About The Finger Companies
Since 1958, The Finger Companies has built a reputation as the nation’s leading independent developer of luxury multi-family properties. These include numerous communities in Houston, Texas, the company’s headquarters, as well as developments in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and other cities in Texas. Finger’s newest project is the 37-story One Park Place in downtown Houston. For more information please visit online at www.oneparkplacehouston.com.
About Phoenicia Specialty Foods
Phoenicia Specialty Foods specializes in imported foods from around the world including France, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Germany, Lebanon, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, Syria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Russia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Armenia, Brazil, & Sweden. In addition to imported foods, Phoenicia Specialty Foods carries standards like fresh meat and seafood, produce, milk, artisan breads and pastries, cheeses, fine wine, beer, coffee, and house wares. For more information, please visit online at www.phoeniciafoods.com.
