Texas Border Business
By David A. Díaz
As originally published by Texas Border Business newsprint edition November 2016.
The October 18, 2016 groundbreaking of the multi-million dollar Bob’s Steak and Chop House, which is being built at The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, also drew attention to the ongoing development of a major “entertainment corridor” in South Texas that is designed to create jobs and improve the quality of life for the city, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has announced.
Businesspeople and political and community leaders participated in the mid-morning celebration, which represented the official unveiling for the 5-restaurant plaza that will be anchored by the nationally-ranked Bob’s Steak and Chop House. It was announced that four additional restaurants will be announced at a later date.
Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Richard Molina; Peter J. Higgins, Vice President/Director of Leasing of First Hartford Realty; Agustín García, Jr., Executive Director, Edinburg EDC; and John Toic, President, First Hartford Realty were present.
The ceremony highlighted what will eventually be a 40,000 sq ft showpiece restaurant plaza; Bob’s Steak and Chop House will occupy 9,000 sq ft.
“The entertainment corridor that has been created here made us recognize The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley needed to join in the entertainment concept,” said Higgins Vice President/Director of Leasing of First Hartford Realty. “To that end, we believe we have partnered with the best steakhouse in Texas, and want to participate in their growth of our initial licensees here at The Shoppes.”
The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, more popularly known as “The Shoppes”, is located at 591 E. Trenton Road in Edinburg, right off U.S. Expressway 281, a 6-lane highway which has become part of U.S. Interstate Highway 69.
The Shoppes, which is built on 130 acres of prime real estate, currently boasts around 450,000 sq ft of retail shops and related facilities, with plans to eventually grow to about one million square-feet in size.
Higgins pointed out that The Shoppes and Bob’s Steak and Chop House are perfectly located to draw business from at least three major entertainment venues now under construction along U.S. Expressway 281/IH 69:
- H-E-B Park, which features a soccer-specific,9,700-seat stadium that will serve as home for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the United Soccer League;
- The IMAX Theatre, which will be part of the existing Carmike 20 Cinemas; and
- Bert Ogden Arena, the 8,700-seat, 189,000 sq ft enclosed venue; will be home to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a professional basketball team associated with the D-League of the National Basketball Association.
“Bert Ogden Arena, which not only will be a sports venue, but a year-round entertainment venue as well, managed by Live Nation, and the Vipers, a professional basketball team will operate out of Bert Ogden Arena. In addition, we will have H-E-B Park just up the way, housing another professional sports team in soccer,” Higgins explained.
“People have asked me several times recently, ‘Why Edinburg, Texas?’ ” Higgins continued. “Well, I’ll tell you why. It is a tremendous growth environment. If you look at the city itself with its growth, a (planned) County Courthouse, several world-class hotels, the nationally-ranked University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the two arenas that are coming shortly right adjacent to our site.”
City of Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Richard Molina praised First Hartford Realty, the Mayor and fellow members of the Edinburg City Council, the Board of Directors of the Edinburg EDC, and other commercial, business and residential developers for believing in Edinburg.
Molina also gave credit to citizens for their roles in setting high standards for their elected leadership.
“We feel pressure; there is a sense of urgency sometimes, for the Mayor and the Council, for us to produce. Anytime you catch us at Walmart or H-E-B shopping with our families, we are always approached, ‘When are you guys going to make a play, when are you going to do something?’” said Molina, who was representing Mayor Richard García, an attorney by profession who was in court and could not make the groundbreaking.
“You know, it takes a team effort, and it comes down to relationships, the relationships that we have with First Hartford, first and foremost. Edinburg EDC Executive Director Agustín “Gus” García, over the past couple of years, has established a relationship with First Hartford,” Molina added. “Gus, excellent job, buddy. We are proud of you and we are glad to have you on our team.”
Edinburg Councilmember Homer Jasso, Jr. said, “I would like to read this letter from Bill Lenox, who is the owner of Bob’s Steak and Chop House. He was unable to be here, but he did ask me to read his letter to you: “To the City of Edinburg. I want to say how sorry I am that I could not be with you today. I have serious lower back issues that are preventing me from traveling. We at Bob’s Steak and Chop House are very excited to have a Bob’s Steak and Chop House going to Edinburg, Texas. We have had several opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley and chose Edinburg because of our faith in Peter Higgins, his team, and the mayor and the city officials of Edinburg. Their optimistic desire for a Bob’s was hard to resist.”
“Gus García in particular helped us construct a business framework that satisfied us all. We are confident that Peter Higgins will build a spectacular facility that will represent our brand and the City of Edinburg for years to come, one that we will all be proud of. I personally look forward to many fun dinners at the Edinburg Bob’s, and I am counting the days to the opening.”
“Being a sports fan, the proximity to our new sports arena and stadium is an added benefit. Edinburg is on course for a tremendous growth, and we at Bob’s Steak and Chop House are thrilled to be a part of it. We are prepared to do all we can to ensure its success. I would like to thank you again for placing your faith in our brand. We will not let you down. Sincerely, Bill Lenox”. ”
John Toic, President of First Hartford Realty said, “It is very gratifying to join you here. Not too long ago, when we sat here in front of an audience with the huge sorghum fields behind us. It is so gratifying that during the Great Recession in the U. S., from 2007 to 2009, we began this shopping center project that has come up out of the ground and has been as successful as it has been.” He continued, “Now, we are looking forward to the next signing wave starting off with Bob’s Steak and Chop House.”
The great news for investors is that new construction in Edinburg approaches $180 million from Jan.-Sept. 2016. According to reports from the Edinburg EDC, more people continue to move into Edinburg, based on the latest year-to-date figures which show that between January and September 2016, more than $108 million in new homes and multi-family residences were approved for construction.
Also year-to-date, Jan.-Sept. 2016, construction and related building activities for all categories have approached the $180 million level, based on information collected by the city’s Code Enforcement Department.
The increasing number of residents in Edinburg is reflected in the most recent population estimates by the U.S. Census Department, which show the city has grown more than 13 percent between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2015.
It is important to note, that the federal agency reports that Edinburg’s estimated population as of July 1, 2015 was 84,497, compared with 74,541 in April 1, 2010, representing a growth of 13.4 percent.
First Hartford Realty Corporation, headquartered in Connecticut, is engaged in the acquisition, development, and management of land and properties, and is the developer of The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley. TBB
