The South Texas business climate is booming, and a big part of that success comes from the City of McAllen. With new million-dollar planned developments, more educational opportunities and new restaurants attracting more visitors, the city is a big name player in the Rio Grande Valley.
Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster’s rumors have been building for years. After three years of discussion, residents and visitors will now be able to experience all of the games and delicious food of the 30,000 square foot entertainment venue that’s set to open in April. Dave & Buster’s will add 300 jobs to McAllen and cement the city as the region’s entertainment hub. This longtime strategic goal will not only grow the retail base, it will also serve international visitors all across the Rio Grande Valley.
More than 100 million new restaurants, hotels, and stores have already located near the McAllen Convention Center, which includes the Embassy Suites Hotel, La Quinta Inns & Suites, Zoe’s Kitchen, Corner Bakery, Starbucks, Chipotle and more.
Texas A&M
Slated to be an extension of Texas A&M in College Station, this 60,000 square foot facility will offer degrees in the colleges of engineering, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, which will be taught by Texas A&M faculty. Other colleges, such as agriculture and life sciences, education and liberal arts, will also offer basic courses linked to these degrees. The new stand-alone university campus is planned to anchor the new 2,571-acre master planned community Tres Lagos, and is expected to be up and running by Fall of 2018.
Tres Lagos will offer a multimillion-dollar community center featuring swimming and fitness facilities, sports courts, soccer fields and over 100 acres of lakes to enjoy paddleboats, swimming and fishing. In the heart of the Tres Lagos development, there will be Island Town Center, featuring a variety of great restaurants and shops. Throughout the project, there will be over 1.5 million square-feet of commercial and retail space. There are also planned sites for all levels of schools, including IDEA Tres Lagos for grades K through12, opening in August of 2017.
La Plaza Mall Renovation
With a new parking garage and the demolition of Sears, La Plaza Mall is paving the way for a 245,000 square foot expansion wing that will accommodate 50 new specialty stores, four junior anchors and an exciting dining plaza with six first-to-market restaurants that will feature a grand terrace. Scheduled to open in Fall of 2017, parent company Simon will also be upgrading the interior and exterior of the existing structure with new entrances, flooring, LED lighting, skylights, upgraded restrooms, luxury seating and landscaping to enhance the look and feel of the property.
Big Events
- McAllen Holiday Parade – Attracting over 250,000 residents and visitors from all over the nation, the McAllen Holiday Parade is the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas.
- McAllen Marathon – A Boston-qualifier marathon, this event has attracted thousands of runners with flat plains and perfect weather.
- McAllen Convention Center and Performing Arts Center – With numerous conventions planned for 2017 and Broadway shows at the new Performing Arts Center, McAllen has opened the region up to new, one-of-a-kind performances and audiences.
Contributing to the Region’s Success
McAllen is just one of the many cities in the Rio Grande Valley. Pharr, Mission and Edinburg have also made huge strides in business, expansions and developments. Together, the McAllen – Mission – Edinburg area has been named the fifth largest metropolitan statistical area in Texas, surpassing El Paso, Killeen-Temple and Beaumont.
In 2015, retail sales in the region reached $11.8 billion and are expected to reach $25 billion by 2030. This region ranks third nationwide in job growth since the recession and has the lowest cost of living in the country. With a population of over 1 million, the region will undeniably grow further thanks to future developments, a population growth and retail opportunities.
The Alamo Advantage
Minutes away from McAllen, Edinburg and Mission is Alamo. The city invites visitors from all over the world to its small business attractions, quaint places to retire and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Alamo also serves as an international gateway to cities like Nuevo Progreso and Tamaulipas, and international trading and commerce increase when Winter Texans arrive. Discover the Alamo advantage for your business by calling the city’s EDC at 956.787.6622 today!