Austin Retail Mid Year 2010 Market Report

As of mid year 2010, Austin’s retail market had a slight increase in occupied space vs year end 2009 according to Weitzman/Cencor’s Mid Year 2010 Retail Report. This made Austin the only major Texas metro that experienced an increase in occupancy during the first 6 months of 2010.  Retail occupancy increased from 91.5% to 92%.

Most affecting this uptick in occupancy is the absorption of big box vacancies including:

• Bed Bath & Beyond filling in the Circuit City at Arboretum Crossing
• Sam Moon opening at the old Circuit City at Arbor Walk
• Austin Community College at the previous Highland Mall’s Dillard’s

New retail store openings in 2010 include:

• A new Dillard’s and;
• Gold Star Cinema at the Domain;
• Sprouts at Great Hills Station.

New Austin restaurants in 2010 include:

• Maggiano’s and Gloria’s at The Domain;
• Uchiko and Tacodeli at 4200 N. Lamar;
• Cafe Express at the former La Madeliene on N. Lamar;
• Qdoba at Great Hills Market;
• Los Cucos at former El Arroyo location near the Galleria;
• Snap Kitchen at The Triangle and at Sixth St & Lamar;
• My Fit Foods at four different locations;
• Maudies Tex Mex and Gumbo’s at the Shops at the Galleria;
• Kerbey Lane Cafe has opened at a former Village Inn location on William Cannon;
• Spicy Pickle has opened three area locations.

New 2010 Retail projects include:

• New phase of The Domain;
• New Walmart at Northcross;
• Two (2) new HEB’s with one at East Riverside and one in Dripping Springs;
• Stone Hill Town Center in Pflugerville;
• The Lakes at Tech Ridge.