Retail space brings restaurants to McAllen

MCALLEN – Four large shopping plazas are being built between Ware and Taylor roads on Expy. 83, bringing with them restaurants including four chains without a presence in the Rio Grande Valley — as well as more shops, a hotel and business offices.

Citrus Grove will offer 28,225 sf of retail space and 21,444 sf of office space, said Pablo Kuri, one of the partners on the project. The plaza is set to open in October, with the new restaurants expected to open after that.

Restaurants coming to this plaza include:

• El papalote, a Monterrey-based Mexican grill;
• Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, and
• Rodizio Grill, a Utah-based Brazilian-themed steakhouse.

Centennial Plaza — a 33,000-sf facility across the expressway — will have retail outlets and business offices and is set for completion this fall, according to Pilar Kamel, the manager of the property.

The Egg and I, a breakfast and lunch eatery, and China Sea Buffet already are open in a plaza owned by Ginther Group east of the intersection of Taylor Rd. and the eastbound frontage road.

Construction on Beef O’Brady’s, a family sports restaurant, is underway, and Mambo Seafood will open by 2013, the land’s developer said. A new 100-room Hawthorn Suites motel is going up next door.

A new medical plaza will open next door on the northeast corner of Taylor and the expressway.