New development would bring another grocery store on 77

A new development on North U.S. Highway 77 between Hedgewood Drive and North Grove Boulevard is in the planning stages with finalizing its planned development (PD) and receiving approval from first the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and then the city council. As proposed, the PD would include a national grocery store, gas station, storage facility and retail shops.

Robert and Braden Horton of Horton TX, a real estate and development company based in Fort Worth, presented their development plan during a recent HOA meeting for the neighborhood directly behind the property.

The main anchor of the development will be a grocery store. After signing an agreement with the Albertsons’ brand, Robert Horton said they plan to place a Tom Thumb in a 60,000 square foot building and a Tom Thumb gas station and 3,000 square foot convenience store on North Highway 77. “That’s (Tom Thumb) subject to change, but right now, that is the direction we are headed,” he said. “They’re (Albertsons) fully committed. The leases are signed, and we’re moving forward with presenting everything to the city for approval.”

Four to five retail shops will be leased out. Depending on the size of space they will need, Robert Horton said each shop will be about 2,000 or 3,000 square feet.

A two-story storage facility will house Store House Storage, a storage company the Hortons own with multiple locations across the metroplex. It will contain only indoor, climate-controlled storage units with full security cameras. The elevation of the retail shops and the storage facility includes some limestone, and the Hortons plan to have consistent building materials and colors throughout the development. A sidewalk will wrap around the entire development, allowing residents from the surrounding neighborhoods to walk to the grocery store or retail stores.

“People can walk up, get what they want and go home,” Robert Horton said. “They can drive in and drive back without ever having to get out on 77.”

To help with the flow of traffic, the Hortons are working with the city and TxDOT to build a traffic light at Hedgewood Drive.

After approvals from the city, the Hortons look to have the first phase open in November 2023.

“We’ll still go through a few iterations during this process to make sure everybody’s concerns are addressed,” Robert Horton said, adding their hope is to bring several sit-down restaurants and a national bank to the land as well. He believes once this phase is under way, they will be able to get those additional developments. Originally published December 20, 2022 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/business/new-development-would-bring-another-grocery-store-on-77/article_7bc0deb2-80b3-11ed-b5db-ff9ebbe0f7f1.html