Friday, Oct. 03, 2008

New Businesses Continue to Take Up Shop in Southlake

Southlake Demographics Still Attracting Entrepreneurs

By Nicholas Sakelaris

Staff Writer

When Five Guys Burgers and Fries wanted to open locations in North Texas, their first choices were the Galleria Mall in Dallas and Southlake Town Square, said Joe Durand, director of operations for the restaurant.

"The demographics in the area are fantastic," said Durand, who opened the Southlake store on Aug. 26.

That’s what they all say, right?

Right. But not as many are taking the leap that Five Guys did this year.

This store joins 43 other new businesses that have opened in Southlake since January. In 2007, a whopping 127 businesses opened their doors in town.

Rickey Dudley, who co-owns The Wine Loft, said his business is a good fit for Southlake, and has done well.

But he acknowledged that people will spend less on dining. "I think it affects everyone," he said.

Dudley said that he and his partner, Michael Peck, want to open five or six more locations throughout the Metroplex, but have put those on hold until the economy recovers.

The business opened in May, at 1512 E. Southlake Boulevard in Southlake Town Square.

Meanwhile, membership is still booming at the Southlake Chamber of Commerce where 86 new members have joined since January, said Giovanna Phillips, president/chief operating officer for the chamber. Phillips is anything but pessimistic.

"Everyone wants to be in Southlake. They want to be local because they want access to our residents, " she said.According to Southlake Economic Development Director Greg Last, the average household income here is $150,000, the average house is valued at $472,844 and major highways and roads, Texas 114 and Southlake Boulevard, draw in outside visitors like a magnet.

"It is known as a shopping destination," Phillips said.

For DeAnn DelTufo’s Jump Zone franchise, children are the focus of her business venture. The Flower Mound resident looked for two years to find the perfect place to locate.

She tried Flower Mound, Coppell, Highland Village and Grapevine, but couldn’t find a building with high enough ceilings other than in an industrial zone.

Enter 280 Sports, a new building on Commerce Street in Southlake that’s geared toward children and sports.

Even more businesses are undoubtedly on the horizon for Southlake.

The Southlake City Council has yet to approve zoning for the Carillon project, but the developer has plans for several hundred thousand square feet of retail, office and restaurants as well as houses planned on 285 acres between North White Chapel Boulevard and North Carroll Avenue north of Texas 114.

Infrastructure and traffic problems, both a function of the town’s rapid growth, have posed a recent sticking point for neighbors of the large development.

Last said his department provides detailed demographic information, traffic counts and other data for not only Southlake but adjacent communities.

"We also have demographics on the whole 10-city region," Last said. "Big retailers [want to] serve more than just Southlake."

Last said he was not worried by the slowdown.

"In this economy," Last said, "44 businesses is exciting, I think."

To stay competitive, Southlake offers tax abatements and developer’s agreements that must be approved by the City Council, Last said.

The latest agreement provided a "mutual benefit" for the city by bringing in Central Market and other retailers at The Shops at Southlake, he noted.

Soon the city plans to hire a marketing and tourism coordinator to promote the city’s hotel and conventions as well as shopping, Last said. The $64,456 salary will be funded by the city’s hotel occupancy tax. Last said he hopes to have someone hired by early 2009.

For a complete list of businesses that have opened this year in Southlake, see this spreadsheet (Excel document).