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Keller staff reports new businesses, development activity and restaurant-week timeline
Summary
City staff provided an economic update: five businesses opened in January, several incentivized projects are moving forward, a sports campus site plan was approved, and staff outlined a restaurant-week timeline for late July into early August.
City economic development staff reported operational updates at the Keller Economic Development Board meeting, including new business openings, permitting activity, incentivized projects, site interest from brokers and a schedule for a city restaurant week promotion.
Staff listed five businesses that opened in January: Grizzly Brothers Gutters; Typewriter Justice; Redemptive Sports; Pediatric Eye Specialists; and WellMed (which is now operational in the former El Paseo building). Staff also reported 13 certificates of occupancy issued year to date and a building permit under review for a long‑tracked user named HTO. Lone Star Cafe has received a certificate of occupancy and Penguin Patch received a temporary certificate of occupancy for its warehouse portion; Houghton Horns, the incentivized performance hall, is open and preparing a concert season.
The City Sports Campus (site plan) was approved at city council and is advancing in the Sports Park as an incentivized project. Staff said restaurant‑week planning is underway: meetings with restaurateurs continue and the city plans to run Restaurant Week the last week of July into the first days of August (July 28–August 3), with outreach to restaurants beginning April 1 and public promotion starting May 1.
Economic development staff also described outreach at ICSC Red River in January, where brokers expressed interest in several redevelopment sites including the Big Lots lease opportunity, the GEDS site and the Petco site. Staff reported the Big Lots lease situation is tied to liquidation and third‑party lease transactions; multiple family entertainment users have expressed interest. Staff said they will follow up with brokers about Town Center Lane and other sites.
Staff noted ongoing marketing (Keller Foodie features on Fridays) and a restaurant/retail survey that remains open; as of the meeting staff reported roughly 683 responses and planned to present results at the next board meeting. Staff also noted that staff member Melanie completed a basic economic development course in Waco.
