Houston Retail Space Has Ties to Chedraui Family: Part One

Click here to see “Part 2” of this post

A small shopping center in Houston is owned by a Texas corporation tied to Alfredo Chedraui Obeso and Antonio Chedraui Obeso. This is the first in a series of posts taking a closer look at this Chedraui-linked commercial property and the company that owns it.

The shopping center, located at 2301 Fulton Street in Houston TX, has been owned by Fulton Square, Inc. since 2003.

Fulton Square, Inc. was incorporated in April 2003. The initial board of directors consisted of only one director, Alan Shelby, who had been the final registered agent for the Chedraui-Slim investment partnership 17.2, Ltd. six years earlier (in 1997).

Chedraui names on the deed for Fulton Square’s purchase of the shopping center.

In May 2003, Pedro Benitez, as the Vice President of Fulton Square, Inc., signed the deed for Fulton Square’s purchase of the shopping center. Benitez had worked for Grupo Comercial Chedraui and its predecessors since 1984 and became Director of Real Estate Operations and Administration for Chedraui in 2006.

The names of Antonio Chedraui and Alfredo Chedraui were typed above “Fulton Square, Inc.” on a page of the deed that was signed by the mortgage lender but neither Chedraui provided a signature. We do not know what day the deed was prepared.

Fulton Square, Inc. made its first Franchise Tax Public Information Report to Texas on April 27, 2004. Alan Shelby was listed as President of Fulton Square, Inc., with Pedro Benitez as Vice President, and Joe F. Wheat as Secretary/Treasurer. No corporation or limited liability company owned more than 10% of Fulton Square. This remained the same on each annual filing thereafter through the most recent filing, dated 2/22/2016.

Another officer was added to the most recent filing (made 2/22/2016), named Carlos de la Garza. His title was written as“VP Develop,” which we believe stands for the common real estate title “Vice President of Development.”

Documents:

Articles of Incorporation
2003 Deed
2004 Franchise Tax Public Information Report
2016 Franchise Tax Public Information Report