Downtown leaders praised TIRZ-backed growth at the State of Downtown, while some business owners say nearby construction has hurt traffic and staffing.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Optimism about downtown Corpus Christi’s growth was front and center Thursday night — but so were concerns from business owners feeling the strain of that progress.

At the annual State of Downtown event hosted by the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, local leaders and entrepreneurs highlighted redevelopment efforts supported in part through Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, funding — a public financing tool used to reinvest increased property tax revenue back into designated areas.

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“Don’t underestimate downtown Corpus Christi,” said Hank Harrison, owner of The Exchange. “Don’t underestimate downtown Corpus Christi — believe it. Come hang out in it, see what we’ve done.”

Harrison’s business, The Exchange, is nearing completion of a 10-month, multi-million-dollar renovation project just blocks away from the event.

“Well things took a little longer than we wanted to, but it’s Corpus,” Harrison said. “It did take longer than we planned, but that’s just kind of how it goes. I know that we’re about to launch it as high quality on the best standing we possibly can. In fact, I can tell you, March 3 is when we’re going to open the doors.”

Harrison said he hopes events like the State of Downtown encourage stronger relationships among business owners — even those competing for customers.

“Like a rising tide, this lifts all boats,” he said. “This is us checking on each other from boat to boat. Sometimes the boats are in a race and we’re racing somewhere, but we’re all cheering each other on as we go. And the rising tide lifting all racing boats — I think, if anything, that’s sort of like a playful, competitive nature of how we are in this neighborhood. And that really is what it is. It’s a neighborhood.”

But just a few blocks away, another downtown business owner says that same “tide” has been difficult to navigate.

Hector Cavazos, owner of Rebel Toad Brewing Company, said multiple nearby construction projects — including the renovation of The Exchange next door and the construction of a new Homewood Suites by Hilton Corpus Christi Downtown across the street — have significantly impacted his business.

Cavazos said the Homewood Suites project has been under construction since the summer of 2023.

“It slows down business, walking traffic,” Cavazos said. “It creates a lot of debris and dust and so … blowing this way from the winds.”

He said the prolonged construction has forced him to lay off much of his staff, even as the brewery recently commemorated 10 years in business.

“So it’s not been easy,” Cavazos said. “But we understand progress takes time and we’re trying to get on the other side of it.”

The contrasting perspectives reflect a broader conversation playing out in downtown Corpus Christi: how to balance redevelopment momentum fueled by public incentives with the short-term realities facing small businesses during construction-heavy growth.

As TIRZ-funded projects continue reshaping the area, business owners say the long-term success of downtown will depend not only on new investment, but on whether existing businesses can endure the disruption that comes with it.