On behalf of Moody National Companies, Jackson Walker partner Michael K. Kuhn assisted in the negotiation of a new lease with Masraff’s.
Owned and operated by Tony and Russell Masraff, the contemporary upscale restaurant has resided on Post Oak Boulevard for nearly 10 years. The new lease will relocate Masraff’s to Moody National’s Hedwig Village project at 9655 Katy Freeway, which previously housed Toys“R”Us near the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Bunker Hill Road. The six-story mixed-use development, known as Village Towers, is under construction and scheduled to open later this year.
In addition to Masraff’s, Michael helped negotiate restaurant leases with fellow Moody National projects Texadelphia and Treebeards, two recognized local restaurant chains.
Over his 40-year career, Michael has developed a particular niche for negotiating restaurant leases on behalf of landlords. Among the high-profile restaurant leases that Michael has handled are Tony Vallone’s restaurant, Tony’s, relocating from Post Oak Boulevard to Greenway Plaza; Pappas Bros Steakhouse downtown at Houston Center; Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille’s original location on Bay Area Boulevard in Clear Lake; Hopdoddy’s Rice Village location; and the new Politan Row food hall at Rice Village. Aside from practicing real estate in the Houston area, Michael is routinely involved with restaurant leases across the country, from Top Pot Doughnuts & Coffee in Seattle, Washington, to the acclaimed Haymaker Restaurant in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.
With this wealth of experience, Michael understands the unique issues confronting landlords in retail centers and the special needs of restaurants. The host of issues abounding in restaurant leases – installation of kitchen systems, venting of kitchen odors, grease trap, valet parking, signage, and concerns over the dining experience – coupled with the need to balance all these issues with the concerns of adjacent tenants and neighboring landowners, combine to create a challenging negotiation process. Michael’s skill set allows him to identify, address, and resolve these issues in collaboration with his clients in an efficient and proactive manner.
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Since Jackson Walker’s founding in 1887, our attorneys have represented some of the most influential companies and business leaders in the world. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With more than 400 attorneys across seven offices, we are the fourth-largest law firm in the state and have been recognized by Law360 as a “Texas Powerhouse” and an “elite law firm” that regularly provides counsel to industry-leading clients on highly complex transactions ranging from millions to billions. To explore the Firm’s experience assisting clients with buying, selling, developing, and operating properties, visit the Real Estate practice page.
