Building boom

Dallas comes in at No. 1 in the U.S. for retail construction in 2025

Nearly 7.15 million square feet of space are under construction in DFW.

Get ready for a gigantic cartload of new shopping opportunities in Dallas-Fort Worth. A new report, published by commercial real estate services provider Lee & Associates, says DFW leads more than 60 U.S. retail markets with nearly 7.15 million square feet of space under construction.

To put that in perspective: If the average Walmart supercenter measures 182,000 square feet, the nearly 7.15 million-square-foot total would work out to 39 new supercenters being built in the region.

The amount of retail space going up in DFW represents 15 percent of all retail space under construction in the more than 60 U.S. markets tracked by Lee & Associates.

According to the report, the Dallas-Fort Worth industrial market remains on a path of growth, with vacancy rates continuing to trend below 10 percent, reflecting sustained demand for space.

This quarter, nearly 7 million square feet of new industrial space was delivered, more than doubling the volume from the first quarter — highlighting a steady upward trend.

“After some crushingly slow post-pandemic years, retail construction throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region this year is on pace to hit its highest point since 2017,” Bisnow reported.

What’s behind the surge in retail construction? Population growth. Data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows DFW was the country’s third-fastest-growing metro from 2023 to 2024, based on the number of new residents.

DFW is by far the most active U.S. market for new retail space. (Just look at how many grocery stores are being built in the area.)

Houston and Austin aren’t too far behind Dallas-Fort Worth, though.

The second-ranked Houston area has nearly 3.9 million square feet of retail space under construction, according to the report, and the third-ranked Austin area has more than 3.4 million square feet of retail space being built.

Houston was the second-fastest-growing metro from 2023 to 2024, according to the Census Bureau, and Austin landed at No. 13.

Workplace accolades

6 Dallas retailers and restaurants make Time's best private companies list

Half Price Books presents Dallas Antiquarian Book Fair

Photo courtesy of Half Price Books

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Six Dallas-area brands in the retail, restaurant and hotel industries appear in Time magazine’s first-ever ranking of the best privately owned companies in the U.S.

At No. 69, the highest-ranked DFW-based brand among retail, restaurant and hotel companies on the list is Farmers Branch-based eyewear retailer Eyemart Express, which operates more than 270 stores nationwide. VSP Vision acquired Eyemart Express last year. Optometrist Dr. Doug Barnes founded Eyemart Express in 1990.

“Like VSP, Eyemart Express is a doctor-founded organization with similar values and a shared commitment to expanding access to affordable, high-quality eye care and eyewear to as many people as possible,” Michael Guyette, president and CEO of VP Vision, said last year.

Guyette is an alumnus of the University of North Texas in Denton.

Time teamed up with data provider Statista to launch the inaugural ranking of the country’s 500 best private companies. Rankings are based on employee satisfaction surveys along with a company’s impact on society, knowledge, health, and the environment.

Other DFW companies on the list are:

No. 127 Half Price Books, the Dallas-based bookstore chain.
No. 160 The Container Store, based in Coppell. Bed Bath & Beyond recently acquired The Container Store, which sells home organization products, for about $150 million.
No. 162 Uncle Julio’s, the Irving-based Mexican restaurant chain.
No. 377 Mary Kay, an Addison-based seller of cosmetics, skin care products, and body care products.
No. 439 TRT Holdings, the Dallas-based owner of the Omni Hotels & Resorts chain.

While not based in DFW, these businesses on the list should be familiar to Texans:

No. 75 H-E-B, the San Antonio-based grocery chain.
No. 141 Visionworks, the San Antonio-based chain of eyewear stores.
No. 165 Taco Cabana, the San Antonio-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain.
No. 198 Buc-ee’s, the Lake Jackson-based operator of mega-convenience stores.
No. 285 Blue Bell Creameries, the Brenham-based ice cream company.
No. 418 Whataburger, the San Antonio-based fast-food restaurant chain.
No. 447 Joe’s Crab Shack, the Houston-based seafood restaurant chain.
No. 491 Tailored Brands, the Houston-based owner of the Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank and K&G Fashion Superstore menswear chains.

Building boom

Dallas comes in at No. 1 in the U.S. for retail construction in 2025

Workplace accolades

6 Dallas retailers and restaurants make Time's best private companies list

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