Collin County residents will soon have just what they need: more shopping!  Two retail centers being constructed on U.S. Highway 75 in Allen will add over 1 million square feet of stores. If two new shopping centers, with over a million square feet of new stores, don't prove we're in a recession, I don't know what does.  :-)

Ok, seriously... A large part of the Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm shopping center (located on the south-west corner of Bethany and 75) is said to be less than a month away from opening its doors. Two restaurants and a Market Street grocer have already opened to much success (I love P.F. Changs and I'll be trying out the Brio Tuscan Grille tomorrow). Just three miles north, on the east side of U.S. 75 at Stacy Road, the Village at Allen and the Village at Fairview will open this fall with their own strong lineup of major retailers.

Encouraged into Allen, at least in part, by the Allen Economic Development Corporation, these projects are expected to have a major impact on the community while each having their own unique mix of retail tenants. They should not only make Allen a shopping mecca, but also bring many additional jobs, and dollars, (not to mention shoppers) into the community.

The quarter of a billion dollar (yes billion, with a "B") Watters Creek project has been in the works for three years and is finally slated to open in May. It will be the kind of urban, mixed-use development that you may recognize from Uptown, Southlake or Plano's "Shops at Legacy." The first phase of the project has tons of retail space as well as some apartments and office space. Again, no signs of a recession as the retail is already 80% leased and will be home to over 25 restaurants and stores. While landscapers are busy planting and preparing the project's greenbelt and ponds for guests, tenants like The Cheesecake Factory, Borders, Banana Republic, Sephora, Chico's, Ann Taylor Loft and Eddie Bauer are scrambling to get their shops ready too.

A very QUICK drive up the road, Dallas-based MGHerring Group is building the Village at Allen shopping center and the Village at Fairview retail and mixed-use development. The first phase of the Village at Allen, which is scheduled to open on the south-east corner of Stacy and 75 in October, will add another 300,000 square feet of retail to the city. A second phase, set for next spring, will add another 400,000. The Village at Fairview, on the north side of Stacy Road, will add more than 2 million square feet of retail, residential and more... it should start opening around August 2009.

The pre-fab, tilt-wall construction is supposed to go up very quickly and should make the shopping center ready to open in under six months. Tenants at the Village at Allen are said to include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, TJ Maxx, Toys R Us, Chase Bank, Cheddars, Cold Stone Creamery, Mattress Giant, Men's Wearhouse, Nate's Seafood, Olive Garden, Sleep Experts and (what would life be without another) Starbucks. The second phase of retail development that's set for next March should include a Super Target, PetSmart, Hemispheres, Anderson's Furniture, Chair King, Famous Footwear, GameStop and Ritz Camera. (I can't tell you how excited my wife is that we're finally getting a Super Target.)

The Village at Allen will also include a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel with a conference center... and on a related note, have you seen the La Quinta they're building at Exchange and 75? I guess we have to have SOMEplace to put all the shoppers and conference-goers that will be visiting Allen. :-) Finally, the City of Allen will put an event center with over 6,000 seats in the Village at Allen for ice hockey and possibly concerts and a general entertainment venue.

The Village at Allen and Village at Fairview should nicely compliment an already booming Allen Premium Outlets shopping center (perfect for those who just can't get enough shopping). While my wife LOVES to shop, my love for shopping extends about this far: if I can figure out where they're building the Kwik-E-Mart among all this maddness (to stop for a Squishee) I'll be all set... oh wait, I don't shop, I was just watching an episode of a favorite show.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com