BROWNWOOD, Texas — A nearly $10 million retail development on West Commerce is approaching its planned opening window, with all five Shops on Commerce stores expected to be open by early October, according to an update shared with the Brownwood Municipal Development District board.
Deputy City Manager Ray Tipton gave the update during the board’s Tuesday meeting. He said the primary construction work is expected to finish at the end of August, although individual store opening dates have not been announced.
Stores nearing opening
The Shops on Commerce, located at 537 W. Commerce, will bring approximately 41,000 square feet of new retail space to Brownwood. The development is planned to include Ross, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Bath & Body Works and James Avery Artisan Jewelry.
Two of the businesses could open within days of the Aug. 18 update. The city has issued certificates of occupancy to Bath & Body Works and Five Below, a step indicating that both stores were getting close to opening.
“The Shops on Commerce are almost done. I don’t have specific dates on any of them, but everything should be open by early October. That’s what they’re shooting for right now. The primary construction will be done at the end of this month.”
Tipton also reported that improvements at Riverside Park are nearing completion. The new playscape’s interior work is finished and most of the equipment is in place, but an exterior sidewalk loop remains to be completed before the play area can open.
Riverside Park work continues
The park project includes a pair of sidewalk loops around the playscape. A new walking-trail extension at the front of Riverside Park is also almost complete, along with additional sidewalk work.
Some of the new sidewalk was expected to be ready for use Wednesday, Aug. 26, when Brownwood High School was scheduled to host its cross-country meet at Riverside Park. The update did not provide a separate opening date for the playscape.
“There’s going to be a couple of sidewalk loops on it, and the interior’s done, but they’ve still got to do the exterior one. Once they do that they can open it, but the equipment itself is pretty much in place.”
Housing addition reaches utility phase
Tipton also provided a construction update on the Trafalgar Homes Indian Creek addition. Four slabs have been poured and framing has begun on two buildings. The next phase is utility installation.
The updates were presented during the Brownwood Municipal Development District Board of Directors’ Tuesday meeting. The early-October retail target remains an expectation rather than a schedule with specific store-by-store opening dates.
