With announcements this summer of two new businesses coming to Grogans Mill Village Center, changes are underway at the complex that saw its anchor store, Randalls, depart in early 2020.
Leasing agents with SVN J. Beard Real Estate, one of the companies leasing space in the center, said there are unique challenges to leasing the oldest village center in The Woodlands, but they remain optimistic and have recently filled several spaces.Alex Au-Yeung, chef and owner of the Katy-based Phat Eatery, announced in June that he will open a location at the center in early 2023.
“It is not easy to find great real estate in The Woodlands, but we have found the perfect spot with room to do the menu I have always wanted,” Au-Yeung said in an email.
Heather Brockus, owner of Artisan Culture, which is set to open Sept. 22, said she wanted to relocate to the area from her previous building on Sawdust Road because of the foot traffic and the safety of the location for walkers and bikers.
Bruce Cunningham, a former president of the Grogans Mill Village Association, said residents would like to see the anchor space filled, which has been empty since the Randalls closed in February 2020.“What we would love to have is a small grocery store like an Aldi or a Sprouts,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham noted smaller stores, such as Aldi and Sprouts, are often around 18,000-20,000 square feet, and the former Randalls location is 57,000 square feet.
Jeff Beard, owner of SVN J. Beard Real Estate, said the missing anchor makes leasing the shopping center difficult.“By definition, that [anchor] is the draw to the shopping center,” Beard said. “Those are the biggest hurdles to filling the space.”
Looking to the future, Beard said he would love to see a comprehensive plan to redevelop the shopping center.“I joined The Woodlands in 1997, and [Grogans Mill] was one of the first projects I helped lease ... For me, it would be full circle. I would love to see the project redone and redeveloped,” Beard said.
Vanessa Holt contributed to this report.
Editor's note: The image on this story was updated to transfer the information and source to the caption. Bruce Cunningham's title was updated to reflect that he was formerly president of the Grogans Mill Village Association.
