ART-LOVING INTERIOR designer Garrett Hunter and architect Michael Landrum have opened Tienda X (1420 W. Alabama St.) in the Museum District. The yogastudio- turned-design-shop focuses on 20th-century modernist pieces, artisanmade furniture, and rarified antiques. Works from Pierre Jeanneret and Afra Scarpa are displayed alongside artifacts dating as far back as the Ming Dynasty. Hunter and Landrum recently launched their own in-house collection of furniture and lighting which currently includes a line of statement-making floor lamps and steel custom commissions.
Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success
Jun. 18, 2022
How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!
Whom do you credit? I credit my mom’s prayers. And, to his credit, in the words of Snoop Dog, “I want to thank me; For showing up every day with a plan. Me for caring about my employees. Me for caring about my customers; Me for caring about my community.”
I am truly thankful to have my siblings work with me. I surround myself with great people and therefore great things happen. I want to credit luck, hard work, dedication, good planning, prayers, and believing and having faith in the vision of Exclusive Furniture — “Where Low Prices Live!”
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? I am constantly learning. You should be learning something new every day as there are new lessons. Some more advice: Don’t take things lightly and don’t underestimate or overestimate people. Judge people on their performance. This includes employees, vendors, and contracted people. Make sure you do your due diligence. “You can only expect what you inspect, or something will fall through the cracks.” Don’t dwell on your setbacks, instead use your setbacks as a learning session so as not to repeat pitfalls again. And, don’t worry, you will always have setbacks to learn from; you will just have fewer if you learn from the past.
It seems to me that luck has a lot to do with success, and the harder I work the luckier I get.
What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about? I am excited to open the new Exclusive Furniture Spring location in June! This will be my 8th location. Not bad for a guy who started out in 1998 with one 2,000-square-foot store. Proud to be where I am today. Now my smallest store is 12,000 square feet. Our 8th location is 61,000 square feet! I am excited about expanding into more Texas locations and continue the brand and culture of Exclusive Furniture.
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EXPERIENTIAL, OR “VIBE,” dining has been trending for a few years now in Houston, from restaurateurs who assume that diners want more than just a meal. Well, they all just got some stiff competition with the opening of Toca Madera in the Pavilion at The Allen.
A product of international hospitality group Nobel 33, which has locations in Los Angeles, Scottsdale and Las Vegas, this is the group’s first Texas restaurant. The company plans to open Meduza Mediterrania in H-Town later this fall.
The sexy 14,000-square-foot import aims to transport guests to a Mexico City supper club with moody lighting, bold furnishings and art, plus a dramatic bird’s nest patio with hanging Spanish moss and a ceiling of wisteria vines. Get ready: its dining room, open kitchen, and bar area beat with an electric-like atmosphere, and the live entertainment — think hot fire dancers and cleavage-y energy galore — will keep you on your toes. (If this is your jam, consider a membership. Perks include members-only menu items, wine and access to a private speakeasy.)
Sink into a velvet banquette and let the drink and food ordering begin. You might just forget how loud the music is after a few sips of a specialty margarita (the Ghost Rider is presented with a little fire bling). Dip perfectly fried plantain chips into guacamole garnished with pomegranate seeds; the beautifully presented sashimi Mexico, atop cucumber and buttery avocado, is another cool choice. There’s also a designated taco menu.
Although night owls might come for cocktails and small shareable plates, there’s a full roster of entrees. Since it is a steakhouse, consider one of the many beef entrees ranging from petite-but-mighty filets to the massive 40-ounce tomahawk steak presented flaming on a hook. Take your pick from prime American-sourced wagyu and Black Angus or Japanese wagyu.
Fresh seafood is plentiful and just as impressive. Houston Executive Chef Christian Brennan oversees the kitchen, which leans on sustainably caught seafood and organic ingredients. Don’t miss the giant Mayan prawns served with cilantro lime rice and citrus cabbage or splurgy Mariscos tower stacked with spanking fresh king crab and lobster tail, jumbo prawns, and oysters on ice. Like the vibe, food is a show here — and it’s not just a pretty face.
A Fire Dancer
Crispy A5 Wagyu Tacos (photo by Alonso Parra)
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IS A HEALTHY, balanced real estate market finally here? Per HAR data, the answer is ... kind of? Inventory is at the highest level since 2011, prices are holding steady, and the city and metro area continue to grow in population. Having lost population after Harvey and Covid, the city welcomes significant yet sustainable growth — and a housing market that can handle it.
50%
The share of Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Woodlands under contract in its first week to market, according to Howard Hughes Holdings. It speaks to the trend of branded luxury condominiums; St. Regis also has a community in the works.
5
The number of months that it would take to sell all of the townhomes and condominiums currently on the market if things continued moving at the same pace, and no new listings were to hit. This June 2024 figure is the highest since September 2012, per HAR.
40
The percent of households in the Houston region that can afford a median-priced home with a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, per HAR. This figure was 42 percent in 2023.
23,800
The number of building permits for single-family homes issued in the Houston metro area so far in 2024, a 16 percent increase from one year ago, per the National Association of Home Builders. Texas leads the nation in number of permits issued.
80%
The percentage of multifamily units currently under construction that are located on the western side of the Houston metro area, per Yardi Matrix. The Cinco Ranch community has both the largest project — Resia Ten Oaks — and the biggest slice of the pie (11 percent).
Explore Houston's hottest neighborhoods here or the top real estate trends here.
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