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For Peter Licata, President of TPC Real Estate Corporation, working with the City of Tomball & TEDC is so nice – he’s done it twice. In April 2022, Licata opened The Field – a fully-leased office/coworking space unique to Tomball that now features a waiting list. Located just steps away on Graham Drive and sharing a parking lot with The Field, The Yard retail center will welcome its first tenants this summer
Not only is TPC Real Estate Corporation a family business, Peter says The Yard project is perfect for his family’s background. His father Mark and sister Devin each have vast experience in the hospitality and entrepreneurship industries. Utilizing Peter’s passion for helping restaurant owners achieve success through commercial real estate, TPC plans to target dining and service-oriented businesses for the 15,500 square foot building located at 1417 Graham Drive.
“Now it’s a matter of which ones are the best fit and which will work together well,” Licata said. “We care deeply about Tomball and we hope The Yard is a memorable place for people to come back to time and time again, so we want to select the best options for this community.”
Licata says “great restaurants that people would love to have in Tomball” will occupy the end caps of the building. The space’s other retail tenants will strike a perfect balance to serve the purpose of catering to local families seeking a one stop shop to end the nonstop rush.
“We have a dentist considering moving in, so Mom and Dad could drop off the kids and go to the fitness studio or get her nails done at the salon,” Licata suggested. “And then afterwards, they can all go grab dinner or ice cream in the same building. This can be a spot where everybody gets to each have their thing without buzzing from place to place trying to coordinate. You couldn't dream it up better as a developer.”
After The Field received a business improvement grant to aid in its successful reimagination and renovation, The Yard also secured incentives from the Tomball Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to help cover costs of the construction of infrastructure necessary for the 1.7-acre project. Licata praises the TEDC for the efforts it makes to assist developers – a move he notes trickles down to a community benefit.
“Without the TEDC’s help, we would have to charge much higher rent,” Licata shared. “If that were the case, do we get the quality tenants we need for the community or are we just having to shove people in there because the rents are too high? TEDC does an unbelievable job of understanding what's going to make Tomball appreciate a project and their help allows us to attract that good, quality tenant.”
Licata also says having the TEDC help cover a portion of the construction costs toward TPC Real Estate Corporation’s $3 million investment allowed his team to purchase nicer awnings for the property and enhance the surrounding landscaping.
After a successful restoration of the building housing The Field and as The Yard is set to open, Licata is primed for even more projects in Tomball. He says the city’s people and their collaborative spirit are what keep him coming back.
“The people feel like family here,” Licata admitted. “There are certain cities in the Houston area I won’t name where it’s just a headache to work with them. You couldn’t pay me to go do a project there. But here in Tomball, the EDC and the Chamber are unbelievably professional at what they do and they're very good at it, too.”
A family-like feel has Licata’s family business delighted to open a family-focused retail center in Tomball.