Behind a paywall, but rumors are swirling it may be Costco.
I have said it for years that this site is the prime location for one. Waco will be dumb to not make this happen. Sam's on the north side (which is always crowded); Costco on the south.

https://wacotrib.com/news/local/business/mike-copeland-more-costco-rumors-live-bait-delivery-glass-plant-prospects-salvation-army-leadership/article_50fb986c-37cc-11ef-9080-d7abc0c8a8e8.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

has to be a costco, or even further shot, an IKEA.

they are opening around 4 stores a month. Wouldn't shock me one bit.

Another day, another Costco rumor. This one places a Costco at the northeast corner of the Interstate 35 and South Loop 340 cloverleaf interchange. Local Realtor Bland Cromwell has marketed the 256-acre site many, many years, his last deal placing it with a developer in North Dallas.

Asked specifically about Costco, Cromwell said he is party to a non-disclosure agreement and, therefore, could not identify any prospect. But he couched his non-disclosure this way: "I've been involved with this property more than 20 years. It's exciting to see something put to bed.

The plan always has been to have a big-box retailer on the site. We've had a lot of positive activity with a lot of good retail names. You can have a conversation, and you can have papers, but until it is under contract and closed … It's a great corner. If any companies want to come to town, that is where they will go.

"But I can't comment on anyone specifically."

The site's potential is not lost on the city of Waco, which labeled it the Waco 35/6 Development Project. Walker Partners received a $274,700 contract from Waco to conduct site surveying, flood modeling and environmental and geotechnical investigations, which are progressing, City Strategic Initiatives Director Tom Balk said in an interview Monday.

yes

baylorguy09 said:

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Behind a paywall, but rumors are swirling it may be Costco.
I have said it for years that this site is the prime location for one. Waco will be dumb to not make this happen. Sam's on the north side (which is always crowded); Costco on the south.

https://wacotrib.com/news/local/business/mike-copeland-more-costco-rumors-live-bait-delivery-glass-plant-prospects-salvation-army-leadership/article_50fb986c-37cc-11ef-9080-d7abc0c8a8e8.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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It's been more or less 'confirmed' by several people who would certainly know in the Waco Forum on other threads that it is happening.

Secret Sources say YES.

bankerbear said:

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I mentioned this was happening earlier this year in another thread.

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any more specifics you know or can tease? You expect this around 2026?

I looked into it and it takes around 100 days to build one. Seems the planning and commitment phase is the longest out of all of this.

bankerbear said:

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I mentioned this was happening earlier this year in another thread.

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southtexasbear said:

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BaylorGuy314 said:

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Also, HEB recently closed on land at Hewitt Drive/I-35 intersection. Now, they may not build for 10-15 years but they did close on it.

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China Spring and 19th Street says hello

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The new Costco/Walmart stores are going to force HEB's hand to build a new site in that east Hewitt area before china spring ever sees a new store. Very maddening.

What corner of that intersection? I know they've built a few subdivisions with a couple of commercial spots on Hewitt Drive close to the interstate recently but last time I drove through there it seemed like there wouldn't be much room for an HEB there.

trey3216 said:

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southtexasbear said:

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BaylorGuy314 said:

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Also, HEB recently closed on land at Hewitt Drive/I-35 intersection. Now, they may not build for 10-15 years but they did close on it.

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China Spring and 19th Street says hello

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Waiting on another grocer to make a terrible investment, and HEB will swoop in and slaughter them. That's their business model.


HEB owns property in many metro areas. In dfw, they let Kroger announce they were going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars revitalizing their stores in the region. They'd owned the property for 15+ years, then they built their stores that will absolutely destroy nearby high-grossing Kroger stores. Kroger will have to analyze whether they want to continue the war in those areas by supporting their lower revenue stores. It's absolutely brilliant, cutthroat business that is borderline military tactics.

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happened right here in Keller lol. New heb is maybe 2 months old now. Large Kroger across the street just finished full reno in last couple months and is now a ghost town lol

Southwest corner (southbound side) of Hewitt Drive/I-35 intersection, yes. Across from the new RV dealership on southeast side.

I had actually heard of Target rumors at Hewitt Drive and IH-35 prior to Covid. No doubt Hewitt to Lorena on IH-35 will be developed within the next 25 years.

Yogi said:

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I had actually heard of Target rumors at Hewitt Drive and IH-35 prior to Covid. No doubt Hewitt to Lorena on IH-35 will be developed within the next 25 years.

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It won't even take that long. Give it 5 years.

The stretch from the Hewitt Dr exit on 35 to the first of 2 Lorena exits is only about 2 miles.

HEB did officially announce an HEB at 35 and Hewitt Dr a couple of days ago just as an update. The story was behind a pay wall. I did not pay to read the details. It could have in fact been they officially announced they bought land there. I can't imagine announcing that and not building though.

Just a land purchase and, as the article says, they tend to hold land for awhile. They've had the plot at 18th and Lake Shore for a decade plus with no sign of building soon.

Coke Bear said:

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UrsinusInfction said:

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Just a land purchase and, as the article says, they tend to hold land for awhile. They've had the plot at 18th and Lake Shore for a decade plus with no sign of building soon.

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True. I moved to Hewitt in the 6th grade (1982 - I'm old). I remember bus #72 driving me to the junior high across 84 where the Walgreens is today.

I remember there being a sign near the intercession of of Hewitt Dr and Old McGregor Rd stating future home of HEB. That sign remained in that field for 9 years until HEB built there in '91.

I bought the first 6-pack of beer that morning (Miller Genuine Draft) and drove to my morning class at MCC. Drank one in the parking lot just to celebrate. Weird thing to do at 21 years old.

Long story short. I wouldn't hold my breath on them building anytime this decade.

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You are couple years ahead of me, but remember how great it seemed having the Jack in the Box go up right before HEB did?

Prior to that, there really was a divide between old Hewitt and old Woodway. You had Hewitt to the east, then Midway High School (now the middle school), a bunch of pasture and industrial area, and then Woodway when you got to 84 and Estates Drive began.

The only other things out there in the 80's were the old KC Hall and pool, which sat where Extraco Bank is now, and then in the mid 80's, Crossroads West finally came in.

That was pretty much it. If I wanted to have lunch in the Hewitt area back then, I think Bill & Bob's Burgers had a location where the Pizza Hut is today in Hewitt. I remember that shopping center well: United Super, Winn's, Eckerd's, Bill & Bob's Burgers, and the laundromat. There was nothing in the "Hewitt Mall" at that time.

My guess is that HEB plans on building on IH-35 and Hewitt Drive. It would be the closest HEB to Hewitt, Robinson, Lorena, and Spring Valley - and it would be much easier for folks from Bruceville-Eddy and Troy to get to compared to the nearest HEB of consequence in Temple.

I doubt they will wait very long on I35 property.

I have to add that I was a teenager in the 80s in Woodway who drove by that site of the HEB in Woodway every day from 81-84. Then again in starting in 89 until when construction started. I do not recall a sign out there saying future site of HEB even as late as 89. I would be curious to know when they did buy that property however not curious enough to research it at the deed records. I don't think they typically buy land to build on 10 years later.

I would note I did get past the pay wall for about 5 seconds and noticed they bought 37 acres at Hewitt Dr and 35. That is a huge size for an HEB. For context just a crude measuring on google earth I came up with the Woodway HEB taking up about 17 acres in all. What they have planned at the HD/35 site sounds like something similar to the HEB on 35 near Kyle. Makes me think they are anticipating huge Kyle like sudden growth and development to pop up on 35 in that region.

PartyBear said:

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I doubt they will wait very long on I35 property.

I have to add that I was a teenager in the 80s in Woodway who drove by that site of the HEB in Woodway every day from 81-84. Then again in starting in 89 until when construction started. I do not recall a sign out there saying future site of HEB even as late as 89. I would be curious to know when they did buy that property however not curious enough to research it at the deed records. I don't think they typically buy land to build on 10 years later.

I would note I did get past the pay wall for about 5 seconds and noticed they bought 37 acres at Hewitt Dr and 35. That is a huge size for an HEB. For context just a crude measuring on google earth I came up with the Woodway HEB taking up about 17 acres in all. What they have planned at the HD/35 site sounds like something similar to the HEB on 35 near Kyle. Makes me think they are anticipating huge Kyle like sudden growth and development to pop up on 35 in that region.

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Actually there was a sign out on that HEB land in Woodway in the late 80's. I don't remember it being there five years, but I remember there being a barren pasture there with parts of an old fence and that sign. Around 1991, HEB built new stores in Woodway (now replaced with HEB Plus) and on South Valley Mills Drive across from Floyd Casey Stadium (now Harmony Academy).

HEB may have that acreage as an investment as well. Back in the early 2,000's some friends and I thought about going in together and purchasing some land along IH-35 just north of Selma, Texas. We should have done it. We would have made a killing off the purchase for commercial development.

Never understood why the average person would pay money to be allowed to shop somewhere.

montypython said:

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Never understood why the average person would pay money to be allowed to shop somewhere.

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You're paying for access to the stock which is often a lower price than other retailers as well as they carry exclusive items both including their own brands & items from other companies that only sell that product through costco.

You save way more than the yearly fee very easily. I've probably made back my membership fee just in buying 40 packs of water bottles for tailgating alone

T-REX said:

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montypython said:

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Never understood why the average person would pay money to be allowed to shop somewhere.

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You're paying for access to the stock which is often a lower price than other retailers as well as they carry exclusive items both including their own brands & items from other companies that only sell that product through costco.

You save way more than the yearly fee very easily. I've probably made back my membership fee just in buying 40 packs of water bottles for tailgating alone

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Usually most workplaces cover your membership as well.

T-REX said:

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montypython said:

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Never understood why the average person would pay money to be allowed to shop somewhere.

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You're paying for access to the stock which is often a lower price than other retailers as well as they carry exclusive items both including their own brands & items from other companies that only sell that product through costco.

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You are forgetting one of the most important (and unsaid) sells points of a Costco type establishment.

Having to pay a price upfront keeps out the "Walmart types" in America and their class dysfunction.

Its similar to why people pay out the nose for gated neighborhoods and private schools.

In the America of the future everything will require you to pay upfront for the pleasure of normality

Redbrickbear said:

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T-REX said:

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montypython said:

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Never understood why the average person would pay money to be allowed to shop somewhere.

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You're paying for access to the stock which is often a lower price than other retailers as well as they carry exclusive items both including their own brands & items from other companies that only sell that product through costco.

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You are forgetting one of the most important (and unsaid) sells points of a Costco type establishment.

Having to pay a price upfront keeps out the "Walmart types" in America and their class dysfunction.

Its similar to why people pay out the nose for gated neighborhoods and private schools.

In the America of the future everything will require you to pay upfront for the pleasure of normality

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i proudly don't shop at walmart