Houston-based NewQuest Properties has begun work on a roughly 100,000-square-foot expansion at New Braunfels Town Center at Creekside, the sprawling mixed-use development off I-35 that has become a central draw between Austin and San Antonio.
“Creekside attracts nearly nine million visitors per year. It’s one of the most visited retail developments in the state,” says Kevin Sims, senior vice president and NewQuest’s leasing director, in a news release.
According to the developer, the project will introduce a mix of new retail, dining and fitness options, including a planned 40,000-square-foot facility from EoS Fitness, which is expected to break ground soon. Company officials say the addition fills a long-missing category at Creekside and could bring a significant bump in annual visits once open.
Additional high-profile tenants are also in the pipeline. NewQuest says Chick-fil-A, Portillo’s and Chase Bank are all preparing to begin construction, adding to a roster that already spans more than one million square feet of retail and entertainment space, according to the release.
The expansion also includes the center’s first new multi-tenant retail building in over a decade. That space, just under 10,000 square feet, is already fully leased, with incoming tenants including Chipotle, CAVA, Potbelly, Blo Blow Dry Bar and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt.
The latest additions build on a surge of recent openings at Creekside. In the past few months alone, Topgolf, Texas Roadhouse and Sprouts Farmers Market have all debuted, helping drive traffic at a center that already attracts millions of visitors each year, according to NewQuest.
Leasing at Creekside now sits near full capacity, about 97%, per the developer, with demand continuing to outpace available space. New construction is concentrated near the intersection of FM 306 and Sophie Lane, where several of the incoming tenants will be located.
The continued expansion comes as the surrounding area rapidly grows. Developers point to tens of thousands of existing homes — with thousands more planned — as a key factor fueling retailer interest and sustained foot traffic at Creekside.
“It’s a strong trade area,” Sims said. “Given market demand from rooftops and retailers, NewQuest felt it was time to expand New Braunfels Town Center at Creekside.”