Retail coach reports restaurant, quick-serve and hotel leads for White House
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Summary
EDC staff told the board the retail coach is preparing for ICSC in February and pursuing several prospects — casual dining, quick-serve beverage concepts, a fast-casual chain, and renewed hotel interest; the coach added a staff member to increase follow-ups and the board discussed incubator/shared-kitchen models.
EDC staff reported a broad set of retail prospects and outreach plans at the White House Economic Development Corporation meeting on Nov. 13, 2025. The retail coach is preparing to attend the ICSC Red River conference in February in San Antonio and is scheduling calls and meetings with prospective tenants.
Speaker 1 said the coach is pursuing a mix of prospects including a casual-dining local chain, a quick-serve beverage concept currently reviewing site options, a fast-casual restaurant reconsidering expansion, and renewed outreach by a corporate hotel development team. "They will begin preparing in December, making phone calls, getting meetings set up," Speaker 1 said, adding the coach has brought on an additional team member, "Carly," to assist with follow-up and outreach.
Board members raised questions about what formats would fit the local market. Speaker 4 asked whether a "quick serve beverage" meant coffee or something similar; Speaker 1 confirmed that many of the prospects under review were coffee/tea or similar quick-serve beverage concepts. The board also discussed sit-down casual-dining options, with Speaker 4 describing the elevated dine-in format as "more like a Chili's or Applebee's."
The group discussed alternative formats for smaller markets, including an entertainment-focused shared-space model that Speaker 1 described as similar to a test-kitchen or food/entertainment hub: "smaller restaurants, start up restaurants could share a space, maybe share prep and kitchen," Speaker 1 said. Board members compared that model to revitalized downtown districts in larger cities that combine dining, local performers and shared dining areas.
Speaker 1 warned some prospective tenants are taking longer to decide, reflecting current market caution, and noted a specific site had been "about $200,000 more" than one prospect wanted to pay. The board agreed to continue monitoring these leads and to leverage planned nearby expansions to attract tenants.
The retail-coach update did not include any formal action by the board beyond discussion and direction for staff follow-up. The EDC also discussed materials and a site/map board for use in outreach to prospects at conferences.
