Main Street evolution picks up speed

Restaurant project

The first project from that direction is roughly across the street from City Hall near the intersection with Northwest Highway. Westwood Group Development is seeking approval to demolish the buildings on the east side of Main where Grapevine Optical, a dance studio and other businesses are tenants now.

In their place, a two-story development with retail shops, at least one restaurant and office space are planned, says developer Gary Hazlewood. His Westwood Development Group also was responsible for Grapevine Station at Texan Trail and Northwest Highway and for Westwood Center on Main Street.

"I do anticipate a really unique restaurant in the space with lots of patio seating upstairs and down," he said, adding that he hopes to start construction of the new project, about 40,000 square feet, in the first quarter of 2013.

The next major development to the south is the 7-Eleven planned at the One Star Building, 520 Main St., already the site of Jake's Hamburgers and several new retail shops. Market concept

The convenience store chain's request to the city initially was denied but won 5-1 City Council approval Oct. 16 after complying with requests for historic signage and a market concept. The store will sell more fresh produce and have other market-style features.

"They have done everything we asked them to do," said council member and Mayor Pro Tem Shane Wilbanks.

Business owners who attended the meeting had voiced concerns about the 7-Eleven selling beer and wine, and at the idea in general.

Karen Wolfe, a longtime employee at J.E. Foust and Sons funeral home across the street, said she's still concerned about people carrying beer and wine as they walk down Main Street.

Wilbanks said he doesn't expect that to happen.

"It provides a benefit to Main Street that didn't currently exist," he said. "There are people who live in reasonable proximity who now have a place where they can go for milk and bread, aspirin, a bottle of water."

Developer Anthony Bologna said the store will be 2,000 square feet. "It's not big box."

Besides Jake's, tenants at the One Star Building include Lone Star Stitching, which does silkscreening and custom embroidery; and newer shops, including Grapevine Sugar Shack, which sells shaved ice and ice cream; Deborah Custom Toe Rings; Karma Handicrafts, which sells one-of-a-kind gift items and apparel from Nepal; and Cowheads, which will have eclectic Western relics.

Bologna said he's also looking to develop his adjacent property facing College Street behind home dcor retailer Vignettes with more retail or possibly a restaurant.

The next project to the south is renovation and restoration of J.E. Foust and Son, at 523 Main St. The property, owned by Stewart Enterprises in New Orleans, will undergo big changes over the next nine or 10 months.

Jeremy Weaver, director of operations, said the building — which was the original homestead of the Foust family — will get both structural and cosmetic work, to include removing the brick faade and replacing it with wood siding.

An upstairs patio on the original building likely will be added back. A gazebo already is under construction on one side of the building and a brook-like water feature will be added in front. Braum's, new shops

Finally, the new Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau at 636 South Main St., a big presence with its distinctive clock tower roof, opened in May. Giddens Gallery of Fine Art opened in retail space on the ground floor in September.

A little further afield, after 30 years at 1300 S. Main St., Braum's has purchased property in the 300 block of East Northwest Highway, roughly across from Los Amigos.

Braum's spokeswoman Andie Schwab said the new store will be much larger, with a drive-through and a bigger fresh market area.

Gordon Pulis, director of real estate for Braum's, said the lot has been purchased, but work likely will not start until next year.

Amid all the major projects, new stores have opened in existing buildings.

They include: flooring store Rugs and More at 603 S. Main St.; One Posh Place, a home dcor and gift store, at 317 S. Main St.; a bookstore, For Your Perusal at 411 S. Main St.; and Crowned by Grace, a gifts and apparel shop at 601 S. Main St.

Tate said progress is essential.

"If it was static, it would die. It's constantly improving itself," he said.

"We're doing everything to keep that attitude from developing that we're changing it up, we're destroying it. We're not."

He added, We're working very diligently to preserve what we have and make it bigger and better."