Army Sadeghi and Brandon Duliakas, the team behind Houston’s breakout cocktail lounge Melrose, are preparing to debut their latest concept, 1111, in the heart of Montrose. Located at 1111 Westheimer Rd, the project blends world-class mixology with a Michelin-starred culinary program and internationally inspired design. For Sadeghi, 1111 is the next step in a creative evolution that began with Clarkwood and carried through to Melrose.
“Clarkwood set the tone and defined the DNA when I opened it almost half a decade ago, a luxury boutique style cocktail bar with real volume. Melrose took that same DNA into a bigger setting and proved it could be pulled off at scale without losing standards. That shaped how we approached 1111… And over the last year me and Brandon been through a lot so there’s no ego left, just trust. Thats why the partnership in projects works. Brandon’s got this calm confidence and if he says it’s covered, it’s covered,” Sadeghi told What Now Houston.
The space itself is built as theater, anchored by a 26-foot bar designed like a chef’s line. A lighting installation highlights every pour and garnish, turning cocktails into performance. “1111 is built as theater .. the bar is designed like a chefs line working with a light artifact that makes every pour and garnish part of the show,” Sadeghi said. To achieve this, he and Duliakas worked with a specialized design team from overseas, along with global cocktail consultants and celebrated Houston chef Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemo. Chavez, whose restaurant is among the few in Houston to earn a Michelin star, helped reimagine the food menu with dishes that mirror the artistry of the cocktails.
Sadeghi added, “Each venue has been a step in building my identity as a creator. Cwood set the tone by showing that Houston wanted a stylized cocktail bar done at a luxe level. Melrose pushed that idea into in a larger venue and taught us how to protect standards at scale. 1111 is where those lessons meet design and F&B at a very high level. It’s not just about how the room looks, it’s about how it feels, how it performs, and how every detail comes together. Thats the clearest reflection of me so far.”
Inside, the setting draws inspiration from Mexico City, Oaxaca, and the Riviera Maya, with sculptural seating, curved plaster forms, and a cenote-inspired installation above the bar. Duliakas describes the project as more than a cocktail lounge, saying, “This isn’t just a night out. It’s an invitation to escape into something more refined, more beautiful, more intentional.”
1111 will join neighbors including Drake’s Hollywood, Uchi, and Nando’s within a Radom Capital development on Lower Westheimer. The opening is planned for December 2025.
