Another sure sign that Celina, Texas is a boomtown: It's about to get a Walmart Supercenter. The retail giant's first store in the city will open at the Shawnee Trail development on April 29, according to a release.
Announced a year ago, Walmart will serve as the anchor tenant for Shawnee Trail, a 150-acre master-planned mixed-use project at corner of Preston Road and the Collin County Outer Loop.
Walmart Celina promises to be "one of the retailer's most elevated and contemporary store formats yet," the release says, and will include an updated format with a fulfillment center and support for drone delivery. A Walmart fuel station on the site will open before the doors to the store open, on April 15.
Shawnee Trail, led by Trademark Property Company and G-Man Development, a subsidiary of Celina-based Glendenning 1887, will be a mixed-use complex with retail, restaurants, entertainment, office space, parks, and residential components. The first phase of the larger development is scheduled to break ground in 2027.
“Walmart’s opening is the first of many milestones for Shawnee Trail, where we are integrating neighborhood and community-oriented retail into a vibrant mixed-use environment that puts experience at the center,” says Terry Montesi, CEO of Trademark, in the release. “Our development roadmap going forward emphasizes quality design, a focus on the pedestrian, green space, and vibrant placemaking. As we head towards a 2027 groundbreaking, our vision for a best-in-class destination is growing for the Celina community.”
Celina, one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas, has seen rapid residential and commercial expansion in recent years. In fact, according to a recent U.S. Census report, it is once-sleepy suburbs like Celina, Melissa, Anna, and Princeton that are fueling a major population boom in Collin County. It's attracting businesses galore, including DFW's newest Torchy's Tacos, opening Wednesday, April 15.
Trademark and leasing partner Shop Companies are marketing the project, with more than 300,000 square feet of prospective tenants expressing interest, according to the developers.
“Celina’s incredible population growth is giving way to significant demand that is being funneled directly to Shawnee Trail,” says Matthew Kiran, real estate broker at REX Real Estate and Glendenning 1887. “With Walmart’s upcoming opening and the groundbreaking for our mixed use development in sight, Shawnee Trail is now tangible, and retailers are letting us know they want to be a part of this community and unlock the long-term opportunities available here.”
Walmart is at 1771 N. Preston Rd., Celina. A grand opening and ribbon cutting with local officials will take place at Walmart from 7:30-9 pm April 29.