[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6266850,"mediaKeyId","3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b","parentId",3084962,"title","Economic development update: new businesses, incentives and Big Lots site interest; Center Stage restaurants still uncertain","audioSeconds",308,"startMs",3652000,"endMs",3960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b&start=3652&end=3960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b/thumbnail_3652000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266850/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Economic-development-update-new-businesses-incentives-and-Big-Lots-site-interest-Center-Stage-restaurants-still-uncertain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266850-3469d9a7e875de4f6392799af648cf36/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147337&Signature=ULXKsXb2cW8PmRH6tySlULdD1z-2yOOr5bREedaVAIedUZPJrKnLjCT1VdyVReel9MfYRxG4YuNMeOVihCs7BDdPJDkjAI3OD9tvkROfRcxyE7oWyUFfxTkxaluljTdwGNPVhDxqMw514GMmxQgw2ppNVKZPmF2vsimmDvbWRjfOab7ZPE4M-IxytywkikI8RlE5DwvaDhFSZu02aRexeyYXaaJd~SA-fEaEh2Av4g-Ca4sQvLTgT0L3epAc~K1cCbLaweCRUdSwGiszAw7Sz4dQz-tNmMFulWz7bMuJu5XmJCRJPL9Lmg5m19H7Px8Hl1zkyC9YUFO6kIuuH7b8Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Keller TX","date","2025-04-22T19:50:12.02Z","article","City staff gave the Economic Development Board an operations update that included business openings, incentive reimbursements, promotional events and commercial property interest while reporting that the Center Stage mixed-use project’s retail/restaurants remain uncertain.

The update: Staff listed four new businesses opened in March and 16 new businesses for the year, naming Triple A Café, Splishin' and Splash Pools (2000 Whitley Road), Sweet Frog (101 Town Center Lane) and Texas Front Porch (255 South Main Street). Staff said Café Medi at 129 Olive Street completed façade improvements under a grant and that finance will issue the reimbursement following final paperwork.

On commercial properties, staff said the former Big Lots site at 1580 Keller Parkway has drawn interest from parties who own the acquired leases and are willing to parcel them for individual tenants; staff noted particular interest from family-entertainment operators. “We’ve seen some interest in that location, and a permit came through,” staff said, adding that temporary utilities work is enabling showings.

Events and promotions: Small Business Week (May) will again use a GooseChase scavenger-hunt app; 36 businesses had signed up. Keller Restaurant Week is scheduled July 28–August 3; registration opened for restaurants in April and public promotion begins in May. Staff also noted ribbon-cutting schedules (Mad Mexican scheduled for April 30) and encouraged board members to attend openings and wear city badges or shirts where possible.

Center Stage project status: Staff said developers continue to include restaurants as part of project plans but city staff have not received submittal plans for the restaurant spaces. Staff reported apartment occupancy above 90 percent and retail tenant finish-out permits in process but no active plan submittals for the restaurants or the proposed office building on Mount Gilead.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the minutes of the March 24, 2025, regular meeting by voice vote; the mover and seconder were not identified on the record and no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Staff will follow up on Big Lots lease-parceling interest and on incentive reimbursements for completed façade work; the board asked to be notified of plan submittals for Center Stage retail/restaurants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Keller Economic Development Board Meeting - April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported four new businesses in March, façade grant progress for Café Medi, interest in the former Big Lots site for family entertainment, upcoming small-business week and a Keller restaurant week; the proposed Center Stage restaurants remain without submitted plans.","taxTitle","Keller, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",54069,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266855,"Keller board launches peer-city assessment; Brentwood, Tenn., cited as model for family-focused growth",825,2623000,3448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b&start=2623&end=3448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b/thumbnail_2623000.jpg","/articles/6266855/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Keller-board-launches-peer-city-assessment-Brentwood-Tenn-cited-as-model-for-family-focused-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266855-cf5204a8b60d84f097647eecabc4b9f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147337&Signature=lMuvpM-Hn0veFomPqFbGnY2tewkoRVpD-Hw0y-N~CWk0Arn7g3F70pDEPT8Z5Yp9TSn90IFluWNG~sksGw2PPVprM7F6QLcuHLBy0wcHvNQ1AKI6N1Ox6gfX-GxiL93LD5BSXp3bnJMkoDAid4ZJw5We9kCZHjIP6RRDpzXZaiFtLBSSyZ2tMUp-ENVPamidzreaM1~1KdaNo-rUcgumTf9TNMPX9PWSLvZrkR5SUm-K-4c9Cg6dsJp4xbCY1LbQG1J7m3W0yGqmevrp7D7heXcRkS~g95VpoJXoHcng4zvPQDws~rRTzQZx51TdrUMRrO89XUcFxgcZNSf~ZotRQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Keller Economic Development Board voted to begin a peer-city assessment initiative to connect with similarly sized communities and learn from their approaches to retail recruitment, office space, zoning and long-term planning.

Board members will each be sent a list of peer cities and encouraged to contact counterparts to ask what worked, what failed and which contacts the cities recommend for further conversation. “What we wanted to show you today is an example of one of these cities,” said the meeting facilitator, who summarized research on Brentwood, Tennessee, and said its demographics and land-use planning resemble Keller’s.

The nut graf: Board leaders said the exercise is intended to surface practical “gold nugget” ideas — specific tactics other cities used successfully — rather than general benchmarking metrics. Brentwood’s officials emphasized schools, long-run land-use discipline and infrastructure investment as the primary draws that attracted retailers and residents.

During the Brentwood example, staff said that Brentwood had focused on Class A office space to attract health-care–related employers and noted redevelopment pressures (older office stock moving from Class A to Class B/C) that created new parking and land-use challenges.

Board members discussed how Brentwood’s proximity to a larger city center and neighboring suburbs may affect retail recruitment; members suggested the city could ask peer contacts about hotel and short-term rental strategies, redevelopment pitfalls and marketing taglines that highlight public-school quality. Tag Green called the Brentwood quote — schools described as “the best private education ... through the public school system” — a compelling tagline worth considering.

Ending: Staff will email the full peer-city list and suggested questions; board members were asked to “call dibs” on cities to contact and to nominate additional questions and local contacts (chambers, managers) to broaden the outreach.","The Economic Development Board agreed to pursue a peer-city network to learn from similar cities’ successes and mistakes, using Brentwood, Tennessee, as an illustrative example for recruitment, long-range planning and infrastructure investment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266860,"Keller introduces Anna Erwin as assistant director of economic development; board outlines priorities",137,742000,879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b&start=742&end=879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3084962-3e13d41ec57485b670d8840df10ebf5b/thumbnail_742000.jpg","/articles/6266860/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Keller-introduces-Anna-Erwin-as-assistant-director-of-economic-development-board-outlines-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266860-05fa09587fa5f3f9e4081fefbcfad6df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147337&Signature=DrFRc2ECoIMUep2YayPCxyr4JOHAfiQjjGEpAzulP189-jq6xHTHCXwheaOLzIEt29SRWGtwa3NhOIt8DBwCQr3Wue38Wpd7htp1HeeuKD~XVx2QUayWeigkfWHGlrwX4PPUbCQudbobBpQteAg6yTbxkYbBKVoCExIXdXoVdiChnt9CqIBnPYzKUMHIj4us7bTLhrMoAAcHEfzyH45MWCSPrL7832wgmu47iwcTTv72hbmiu92XFm8wY3~w4D5vfjdd0y6AmvsjNwu4YTcZ6nOXbxKms5Bs1k45pQBkRZLX82DqNwIinOo2ZXeyaXi7QbJmCIEt7PY7MIGidAEswg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Keller Economic Development Board introduced Anna Erwin as the city’s new assistant director of economic development and used an interactive exercise to surface priorities for business recruitment and downtown vitality.

Board members and staff described Erwin’s background and experience and then discussed what they see as Keller’s biggest opportunities and strengths — ranging from family entertainment and “experiential” attractions to boosting daytime population and maintaining strong schools. “I’m thrilled to be here,” Anna Erwin said, adding that she previously worked on retail recruitment and retention in Grapevine and ran Tarrant County editions of Community Impact News.

The nut graf: The board framed the introduction as a start to an ongoing, interactive outreach process. Members said they want to support retail recruitment and retention while encouraging businesses and events that keep revenue in Keller rather than sending residents to neighboring cities.

Board members offered brief personal introductions and reasons for serving. Justin Teller described himself as “a CPA” and a property owner in Old Town; Kingsley Fragon said he joined the board to contribute after moving to Keller; and Ben Dixon identified himself as “president and CEO of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce.” Several members emphasized small business support and a desire to attract family-oriented entertainment that can host team parties and keep event spending in Keller.

On specific themes, members highlighted: family entertainment and experiential destinations that serve nearby sports complexes; growing the daytime population to support sit-down restaurants; leveraging strong Keller ISD schools as a major draw for families; and using investments in infrastructure and clear long-term planning to attract quality retail and office tenants.

Board members also experimented with a QR-based survey to collect public input during the meeting and agreed to save and revisit the survey results.

Ending: Members said Erwin will meet individually with board members and staff to learn more about local priorities and that the board will use survey input as a basis for future outreach and recruitment work.","The Economic Development Board met to welcome Anna Erwin as the city’s new assistant director of economic development and to begin an interactive discussion of local opportunities and strengths, including family entertainment, daytime population, and retention of restaurants.","actionData","errors"]

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Economic development update: new businesses, incentives and Big Lots site interest; Center Stage restaurants still uncertain

Keller board launches peer-city assessment; Brentwood, Tenn., cited as model for family-focused growth

Keller introduces Anna Erwin as assistant director of economic development; board outlines priorities