A proposed Central Market in the busy uptown area of Dallas is getting the final go-ahead after a long, drawn-out process.
On Wednesday, the proposed Central Market received approval from the Dallas City Council during a zoning consent agenda vote, which followed a recent approval from the City Plan Commission. With those all-powerful entities behind the plans, construction can now begin.
The market is planned for an active neighborhood in uptown Dallas that has a mix of high-rises and restaurants, and is near the corner of Lemmon and McKinney avenues. It’s set to include a multi-level parking structure, a cooking school that doubles as a community room, and all the regular features of your standard Central Market.
The nearby Whole Foods on McKinney probably isn’t thrilled with the news. Central Market is often cited as H-E-B’s equivalent to Whole Foods, and tends to feature an array of upscale food as well as some favored regular items from H-E-B. It also often includes a dedicated floral department, bakery, sushi bar and various products with the words like “artisanal” and “handcrafted” adding to the often elevated prices.
“For years, Uptown residents have expressed their desire for a Central Market designed to serve their growing neighborhood. We are grateful for the ongoing support and thoughtful input from city leaders and staff throughout this journey,” Mabrie Jackson, the managing director of public affairs for H-E-B/Central Market, told Chron in a statement.
There’s no word yet on the timeline, as actually building one can tend to take as long as the planning process.
“This project has been a long-time in the making, and we are very excited to take this important next step in the building and construction process,” Jackson added, noting more details would come in the weeks and months ahead.
As the Dallas Morning News reports, the upcoming project has been years in the making, initially on hold since 2023 as a result of COVID’s impact on the commercial real estate market. When built, this uptown Dallas spot will add to the handful of Central Markets in the region, with stores around Dallas, Irving, Fort Worth, Plano and other nearby areas.