McALLEN – Some $100 million in new restaurants, hotels and stores have opened their doors on McAllen’s southwest side or are planning to soon as the city expands its retail and commercial footprint in the Convention Center-Anzalduas Bridge corridor.
The Embassy Suites Convention Center Hotel, the McAllen Performing Arts Center, various new shopping centers and unique restaurants – local and chain – such as Kokos, Los Asados, RGV Cupcakes, Blue Onion, Rodizio Grill, Salt Grass Steakhouse, Tilted Kilt, Zoe’s Kitchen and Starbucks among many others have set up shop on the city’s west side. Mostly located along West Expressway 83 (Interstate 2), the new attractions cement McAllen as the region’s restaurant hub and serve booming residential and high-traffic areas.
“These tens of millions in investment in McAllen means that locally-owned and national businesses believe that the city is a dynamic, viable place for growth,” Mayor Darling said. “These unique restaurants, stores and hotels add to McAllen’s diverse offerings and keep McAllen as the hub for retail in South Texas and Northern Mexico.”
Mayor Darling added that developing McAllen’s west side has been a longtime strategic goal for the city and not only will grow the retail base, but serve residents in the Sharyland area and visitors using the Anzalduas Bridge corridor.
Mayor Darling and the City Commission, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and local business leaders applauded the successes of the city’s economic development efforts at a news conference. McAllen has attracted numerous nationally recognized retailers to the southwest side of the city and the area has been distinguished as a hub for economic innovation and growth.
>>> Watch a video on McAllen dynamic retail market: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlnMn6PtvlA
As the regional leader in retail, McAllen generates about $60 million in annual local sales tax receipts – four times as much as the next busiest city in Hidalgo County. Those funds are leveraged to provide City residents more services and amenities such as new libraries, hike-and-bike trails and street improvement projects.
The new developments demonstrate the appeal of the area, which will soon feature a $20 million, six-story Embassy Suites Hotel. The budding retail developments are also situated near the $45 million McAllen Performing Arts Center that will become another signature facility and host everything from Broadway productions to local recitals.
“Our city has an outstanding set of attributes that appeal to major retailers, and we’re seeing a great response when it comes to new developments. We are laying the groundwork for an even more dynamic year in 2015,” said Rebecca Olaguibel, Retail and Business Development Director for McAllen.
In February, the Simon Property Group broke ground on a $2.1 million project between Best Buy and Barnes & Noble that added another 392,000-square-feet for development. Conveniently located off the highway, all of these retail areas are easily accessible to major roadways, international bridges and McAllen International Airport.
To see the news conference click link: http://bit.ly/1oqpXs1
