Texas Roadhouse plans to relocate to a larger site with better parking within the San Jacinto Marketplace redevelopment, with an anticipated opening in the first quarter of 2027, a developer representative told the Baytown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone boards.
Bruce Wood, property manager for Fidelis Realty Partners, provided the update during the joint meeting of the Baytown Redevelopment Authority and TIRZ boards No. 1 and No. 2 Tuesday.
A video shown at the meeting illustrated rapid construction progress since January, including major buildings nearing completion.
Sam’s Club, a 171,000-square-foot store with a fuel station and six-bay auto and tire center, has made significant headway with underground utilities nearly finished and a slab pour expected soon, Wood said. Dick’s Sporting Goods is mostly enclosed, with glass installation underway and rooftop units in place. Interior work is set to begin once electricity arrives next week.
Tilt-wall panels for EOS Fitness are scheduled for installation within five to seven days. Retail buildings facing Garth Road include Aspen Dental and Einstein Bagels, with additional leasing activity.
Other tenants under construction include Ross Dress for Less, Burlington, Barnes & Noble, Haverty’s Furniture, HomeGoods and Five Below. Several are targeted to open before the 2026 holiday season, between Nov. 1 and Dec. 1, to capture Christmas shopping traffic.
Restaurants include a signed deal for Plucker’s, with Boomer Jacks (a sports bar) and Potbelly Sandwich Shop in negotiations. Bubba’s 33, part of the Texas Roadhouse family, will join the relocated restaurant. Additional sit-down restaurants are planned for Pelican Green, the central gathering area featuring a children’s playground, splash pad, entertainment venue and outdoor seating.
“Pelican Green is going to be the resting area. It’s going to be the meeting place,” Wood said. “It’s going to be that area where parents can rest and kids can play in the splash park.”
Director Michael Emmanuel pressed for more dining options in the massive development.
“This is a massive shopping arena without a place to stop,” he said, later clarifying he meant sit-down restaurants.
Wood noted leasing efforts continue for additional full-service restaurants in the Pelican Green buildings, which will mix retail and dining with no office space.
Director Gina Guillory asked about why Texas Roadhouse wanted to relocate.
“They just want to move,” Wood said. “We wanted to be part of our center.”
Wood explained that the original location’s parking was reduced during development, creating issues that overflow parking previously mitigated. The new site will provide ample parking for customers and employees. The transition is expected to take less than a week, with the existing building’s future use to be determined by its owner, Memorial Northwest Pavilion.
Construction momentum has accelerated despite earlier delays, with vertical builds now prominent. Wood said the project is on track for multiple openings in late 2026 and 2027.
Director Stephen DonCarlos inquired about tracking infrastructure costs for potential reimbursements. Officials agreed to review that in the coming weeks.
