Tony and Jeff Vallone to Open New Restaurant in Weingarten’s River Oaks Shopping Center

Weingarten Realty Investors announced that iconic Houston restaurateurs Tony and Jeff Vallone will open a new signature bistro and wine bar at River Oaks Shopping Center in early fall 2009.

The yet-to-be-named Italian restaurant and wine bar will be a highlight of the newly redeveloped northwest corner of the center, located at the intersection of Shepherd and West Gray. Featuring a first-floor dining room and outdoor dining area and a second level wine bar, the restaurateur’s latest venture will offer diners a modern, yet casual, atmosphere and Vallone-quality fare at a moderate price point.

“Vallone’s restaurants are some of the most innovative and beloved in all of Houston. Their name is synonymous with chef-driven dining in the city,” said Patty Bender, Weingarten’s senior vice president. “This will be the third restaurant that Weingarten has opened with Mr. Vallone throughout a 20-year working relationship, and we are thrilled that he has chosen to locate this exciting new restaurant in River Oaks Shopping Center,” she added.

The new restaurant will be under the direction of Florentine chef Francesco Casetta, whose previous engagements include New York’s Café des Artiste and the three star Michelin-rated Dal Pascatore in Italy. Casetta’s menu will combine the best of traditional Italian cuisine with cutting-edge culinary influences. The second floor bar will include a large and smartly-priced wine list as well as a menu of smaller plates. Dishes will emphasize organic ingredients and incorporate seasonal, locally grown produce.

“We want this restaurant to reflect the very best of modern and traditional Italian cooking coming together in one menu—great food made with the best local ingredients, fantastic wines to complement any dish, and all of it shared in good company,” said Vallone.

Designed by renowned architect and long-time Vallone collaborator Shafik Rifaat, the restaurant will feature a trendy and relaxed atmosphere, with a sleek décor and large patio in front for outdoor dining. The wine bar will have its own patio extending onto a balcony overlooking Shepherd Drive. Inside, the wine bar will feature a large fireplace surrounded by couches and lounge-chair seating. The restaurant will seat up to 150 guests and the wine bar will be available to rent out for private parties and events.

“River Oaks Shopping Center is an ideal site for our new restaurant,” said Vallone. “The center is close to downtown, with a diverse mix of established residential neighborhoods nearby. The redeveloped center’s building configuration—including both first- and second-floor patio seating—and unique architectural details will create a gathering place for patrons, and make River Oaks the obvious home for our next venture,” he added.

The redeveloped northwest corner of the River Oaks Shopping Center will offer 60,000 square feet of retail space, anchored by a new Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and a four-story parking garage. The redevelopment will also feature pedestrian-friendly improvements such as outdoor seating areas and will maintain the curved façade and art deco and moderne architectural influences of the center.

About Weingarten Realty

As one of the largest real estate investment trusts listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE:WRI) is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a commercial real estate owner, manager and developer, incorporated in 1948. Focused on delivering solid returns to shareholders, Weingarten is actively developing, acquiring, and intensively managing properties in 23 states that span the United States from coast-to-coast. The Company’s portfolio of 416 properties includes 335 neighborhood and community shopping centers and 81 industrial properties. Including tenant-owned square footage, the Company’s portfolio currently totals more than 74 million square feet under management. Weingarten has one of the most diversified tenant bases of any major REIT in its sector, with the largest of its 5,500 tenants comprising less than 3% of its rental revenues. To learn more about the Company’s operations and growth strategies, please visit http://www.weingarten.com.