Julie Fuelling

Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Yes, the national economy seems to be in the toilet but, happily, Katy continues to defy dire predictions!

Although many Houston commercial developments have been canceled, Katy will soon be home to a major real estate project, Katy Main Street. The mixed-use project will occupy 86-acres located at the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and Pin Oak Road in Katy. Plans for Katy Main Street were unveiled by Katy’s Economic Development Council.

Occupants will include  entertainment, retail and office space. Specifically, there will be speculative retail space as well as several pad sites for a bank and restaurants.

The anchor store is a high-end grocery store, the name of which is still being kept under wraps. I am thinking maybe Central Grocery or Rice Emporium but keeping my fingers crossed for Whole Foods! What would you like to see?

Commenting on the grocery store, “It’s a very nice, high-end, well-known brand,” says J. Troy Maxwell, a principal with Woodcreek Development Co. Woodcreek and BPI Realty Services Inc. are developing Katy Main Street in a 50-50 partnership.

There will also be a full-service hotel and a convention center. Walgreen’s Co. has leased a space in the first phase of Katy Main Street; this initial portion of the real estate development is being built across the street from Katy Mills Mall.