2012 brings Alamo Drafthouse and 20 new restaurants to Richardson
January 31, 2013
In 2012, the City of Richardson attracted one of the most sought after retail catalyst projects in the Metroplex when they landed Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s first DFW location. Construction of the seven-screen theater located at Heights Shopping Center on W. Belt Line Road at Central Expressway began with the demolition of a former Pep Boys site.
The announcement was also celebrated with a movie screening in the Heights parking lot on a chilly November night. The event filled the Heights parking lot with more than 1,200 moviegoers who enjoyed food truck fare and bundled up to watch the Tom Hanks movie “The Burbs.” Alamo Drafthouse Cinema-Richardson expects to open in late May and is a key catalyst for continued revitalization of Richardson’s Central Expressway corridor.
Restaurants continue to be the key focus of Richardson’s retail activities, with 20 new and announced restaurant tenants in 2012. The majority of new restaurants leased vacant second generation space and a few others were a result of new space being developed.
The Egg and I Restaurant took new end cap space at 930 E. Campbell, a former manufacturing building that was bought by JAHCO and redeveloped into retail and office space. Other restaurants at the building include Taco Ocho and Bop House Asian Fusion Kitchen.
Several other new restaurants include Sushiko Sushi & Grill on W. Campbell at Collins, Sam’s Seafood and Southern Eatery at Richwood Shopping Center on E. Buckingham at Jupiter, and Palio’s Pizza Cafe at Pavilion East Shopping Center on Coit & Campbell, next to Richardson Bike Mart.
Watch for more restaurant news in the coming months as several new development projects are in the works. For information on Richardson’s retail and restaurant environment, contact Sue Walker, Director, Economic Development at sue@telecomcorridor.com.