By Jay Socol, Public Communications Director
This is the third edition of “Is This a Thing?” with Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz, who talks about restaurants and retail that are more than just a rumor.
This interview covers a lot of ground — all throughout College Station.
Click below to listen. If Soundcloud doesn’t play in your older version of Internet Explorer, click here to hear to the audio file from your system.
00:00 – Opening.
01:57 — Home Depot shopping center: New arrivals, and status of vacant space.
02:47 — Pappadeaux: Yes, it’s still coming…
04:03 — University Town Center: Plans for 70K square feet behind Abuelo’s, etc. Status update.
05:13 — Chimney Hill: Was a thing, then a different thing. Now becoming a third thing. Comments on market forces and on doubling the size of The Republic.
08:30 — Old Albertson’s location. Status update.
10:45 — Embassy Suites: Opening in September.
11:35 — Dunkin’ Donuts: Still a thing, but…at a different location?
12:43 — Century Square: Comments on hotels and restaurant/retail: Porter’s Steakhouse, Piada Italian Street Food, Mo’s Irish Pub, Zoe’s Kitchen, Blaze Pizza, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Berryhill Baja Grill, Hey Sugar Candy Store, Tiff’s Treats, Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream, Star Cinema Grille, Merge Boutique, Orangetheory Fitness, Neighbors ER, and 100 Park.
14:55 — Northgate high-rises: $209M in new value currently under construction = 2,700 new bedrooms. Comments on vehicle volume, retail that could follow, and peak property values.
18:05 — Discussions about best uses for the property near IHOP and The Stack.
19:53 — New HEB at Wellborn Road and FM-2818, and what could be in future phases of the development.
22:10 — Tower Point: Restaurants that are coming.
23:28 — Rumors of a second Target? Status of the southeast corner of Rudder Freeway and W.D. Fitch.
25:30 — New construction near Baylor Scott & White Hospital on Rock Prairie Road.
26:12 — Mercedes/BMW dealership and new hotel development.
26:37 — New Academy store and surrounding pad sites.
27:21 — Old Academy location + status of Gander Mountain.
29:08 — TRYP by Wyndham, Urban Bricks, Altitude Trampoline Park.
32:12 — Status of In-N-Out Burger.
34:08 – BONUS.
About the Blogger
Jay Socol (@jaysocol) is in his eighth year as College Station’s public communications director. A 1991 graduate of Texas A&M. Jay has also been communications director for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, public information officer for the City of Bryan, and news director at several Bryan-College Station area radio stations. A native of Breckenridge, he also serves as president of the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers.
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