The site plans for the former "Disco Kroger," once the well-known supermarket in Montrose, are complete.
Southeastern, a developer based in Georgia, plans to build a seven-story, $68 million mid-rise apartment complex, complete with two parking garages, on the site of the former 24-hour Kroger, which was frequented for nearly 40 years by late-night and early-morning shoppers leaving nearby LGBTQ bars and clubs when they closed for the night.
According to an article written by veteran Houston real estate reporter Ralph Bivins, the site was purchased by the Houston office of Swedish construction firm Skanska in 2021 for $27 million.
The art deco details and the pulsating dance music at Houston's "Disco Kroger" made it one-of-a-kind among grocery stores in the United States. When the business finally shut its doors in January of 2021, the boarded-up building was quickly vandalized with the words "RIP Montrose."
Many longstanding Houstonians felt that the total gentrification of an area once recognized as the home of the city's LGBTQ and artistic communities was signaled by the shutdown of the "Disco Kroger."
Over the past decade, new projects in central Houston's bohemian Montrose neighborhood have razed many of the area's long-standing shops and eateries.
Meanwhile, outside of Montrose, developers in Houston want to replicate the vibe of artistic communities like the Heights and the Heights Heights.
According to state records, construction on the 475,000-square-foot residential complex would begin in January 2023 and wrap up in late June 2024.
According to Southeastern, the location is "in the cultural center of Houston called the Montrose district which features the Houston Museum District."
The 330 luxury apartments at 3300 Montrose Boulevard will have amenities like a resort-style pool, cyber lounge with work-from-home spaces, game and club room, virtual golf and sports simulator, outdoor workspaces, outdoor kitchen and grilling areas, and a zen garden, as stated on Southeastern's website.
Mary Senn and Tanya Cianciolo, Southeastern's project managers, did not respond to The Real Deal's requests for comment.
The architect for the project is Davis Carter Scott Design of Tysons, Virginia.
