From sprawling strip malls in Katy to bikeable adaptive reuse projects in the Heights, cranes, concrete and conversions are reshaping where Houstonians will shop and dine.

After years of tight retail vacancies, developers were building 2.8 million square feet of new retail space across the region in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data from real estate firm JLL. That's the first time quarterly retail construction activity has risen in two years.

Among the dozens of new projects underway, these 11 mixed-use and retail projects stand out for their scale and impact on their respective neighborhoods from Fulshear to Friendswood. This guide includes fresh updates gathered in early 2026, including revised timelines, fresh renderings, design changes and newly announced tenants.

We've organized these projects based on size, from largest to smallest. Find out more about retail projects rising in the city of Houston and suburbs below:

Projects in Houston:
Park Eight Place, Chinatown Area
GreenStreet Redevelopment, Downtown Houston
The Swift Bldg, the Heights
Ashford Yard, Briarforest/Eldrige
Greenside, Memorial City

Suburban Houston Projects
Texas Heritage Marketplace, Katy
District West, Richmond
Magnolia Town Center, Magnolia
Elyson Town Center, Katy
Friendswood City Center, Friendswood
Fulshear Centeral, Fulshear

Park Eight Place, Chinatown Area
Location: Just west of Beltway 8 at Rogerdale Road and Bellaire Boulevard
Size: 2 million square feet of mixed-use space, including 200,000 square feet of retail
Timing: Site work underway; building construction expected in early 2027

One of the most ambitious new mixed-use projects underway in the city of Houston is Park Eight Place, a 70-acre project rising near Chinatown in west Houston. Johnson Land Ventures, an affiliate of Johnson Development, is converting a former Halliburton office complex into a 2 million-square-foot pedestrian-friendly project emphasizing walkability.

Although it could take more than a decade to complete, the total project cost for Park Eight Place is expected to approach $2 billion, a Johnson Land spokesperson said in February. The master plan calls for 200,000 square feet of retail space, including 90,000 square feet dedicated to restaurants alone. There are also plans for 842,000 square feet of office; and a 150-key hotel, along with 2,000 residences, including for-sale condominiums and apartment rentals. As the city’s first official “Walkable Place”, the master plan includes 2 miles of walking trails and 6 acres of green space.

What’s New:
The developer is continuing to prepare the site, installing streets and utilities over the next six months. Vertical construction on buildings is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Meanwhile, Johnson is also pursuing permits for a multifamily project. Leasing is also underway for the office and retail portions of the project, but no tenants have been announced yet.


GreenStreet Redevelopment, Downtown Houston
Location: 1201 Fannin Street
Size: 610,000 square feet (Existing space being renovated)
Timing: Project open, initial phase of remodeling completes in summer 2026

A multi-million dollar makeover of GreenStreet is well underway in downtown Houston. Property manager Rebees aims to change how Houstonians interact with the 610,000-square-foot mixed-use complex anchored by the House of Blues. The goal is to bring more vibrancy, fresh retailers, and an enhanced user experience to the complex, which includes 220,000 square feet of retail space and 390,000 square feet of office.

Renovations will include repositioned storefronts, landscaping updates, more patio restaurants, fresh signage, new solar panels and extensive upgrades to common spaces. Additionally, a vacant former 22,000 square-foot Forever 21 store will also be converted into a yet-to-be-determined dining hub, potentially with a rooftop patio.

What’s New:
Existing glass rotundas perched above GreenStreet’s skybridges will soon be revamped with a wall of hanging string lights adorned with floating circular logos. The skybridge itself will be painted with colorful murals. Below, new crosswalks will be added along Fannin and San Jacinto streets. Neon wayfinding will also be installed soon, said Matt Ragan of Rebees.

A turfed lawn within the complex is being converted into an outdoor patio restaurant for an undisclosed tenant. Nearby, work is underway to convert an office lobby into Lila’s, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar concept that will double as a coworking-like tenant lounge.

Eventually GreenStreet will be shrouded in star jasmine vines growing from 300 planters Rebees recently installed. And to improve airflow in outdoor spaces, contractors also installed 50 oversized fans.Meanwhile, virtual reality venue Sandbox VR also recently signed on to a 6,100-square-foot space in the project, with plans to open this summer, Ragan said.


Ashford Yard, Briarforest/Eldrige
Location: Northeast corner of Dairy Ashford and Briar Forest Drive
Size: 86,000 square feet
Timing: Ashford Beer Garden opening this summer; other tenants in early 2027

A former Schlumberger office campus in West Houston is getting transformed into a 12.7-acre complex with retail, apartments and green space. Called Ashford Yard, the master plan includes a series of restaurants overlooking a large outdoor gathering space where yoga, live music and other outdoor activities will be held.

There are also plans for an additional 11,000-square-foot outdoor space shaded by trees serving Ashford Beer Garden, a new concept by the same team behind Katy Beer Garden. Ashford Beer Garden is also planning 10,000 square feet of indoor space with a cocktail lounge.

What’s New:
Ashford Beer Garden plans to open in summer 2026, before the rest of the project is completed, said Matthew Kelley with Market Square Company. Other retailers will likely be opening in the first quarter of 2027.

Close to half of the project has been preleased to tenants including a new wine bar concept called Produttori, developed by the same team behind The Library Wine Room in Houston, Kelley said. Other tenants include Swish Dental, a fitness user, a dessert shop, a café and an entertainment concept, he added.

Separately, an undisclosed third-party developer is also planning a 350-unit apartment complex, but the timing and other details were not immediately available. The project’s master plan also includes a 0.8-acre site that could be used for a quick service restaurant.


The Swift Bldg, the Heights
Location: 621 Waverly Street
Size: 60,000 square feet
Timing: Estimated opening by the end of 2026

The developers behind M-K-T, a hip adaptive reuse project in the Heights, have turned their attention to converting a historic refinery complex into a mixed-use project along the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail. Dubbed the Swift Bldg, the adaptive reuse project will include more than 60,000 square feet of renovated space for retail, small offices and up to six restaurants — all with patios overlooking the popular hike-and-bike trail. 
Escalante’s Mexican and Merit Coffee are among the initial tenants, along with an ice cream shop, a wellness spa and a fitness studio, according to

Radom Capital, which is partnering with Triten Real Estate to develop the Swift. Overall, about 42% of the retail space is leased. All of the office space is fully leased to tenants such as a medical spa and a real estate investment firm.

What’s New:
Contractors are nearing completion on site work and utilities, plus rehabilitation of the older buildings’ windows, roof and doors, according to Radom Capital. Landscaping work is expected to complete this summer, including restoring the greenspace between the trail and the project, similar to what developers did for their M-K-T project next door. Tenants are expected to begin moving into the Swift by the end of the year.


Greenside, Memorial City
Location: 1085 Gessner
Size: 35,000 square feet
Timing: Opening fall 2026

This 35,000-square-foot adaptive reuse project promises to bring even more outdoor-oriented, family-friendly attractions to the Memorial City area. Called Greenside, developers MetroNational and Radom Capital are converting three old warehouses into a modern retail development across Interstate 10 from Memorial City Mall. Greenside’s design includes a central lawn framed by festoon string lighting, large canopy trellises and seating alongside native plants and a children’s play structure.

What’s New:
In February, developers unveiled the first batch of tenants include the fast casual restaurant Honest Mary’s, health food store Leemoo, day spa Hiatus and fitness studio Solidcore. An early construction filing with the state of Texas suggests that Tifa Chocolate and Gelato will occupy a 1,123-square-foot space, but the developers declined to confirm the tenant. Other tenants could include a mix of restaurants, health and wellness operators and boutique retailers that have yet to be announced, developers said.

Radom and MetroNational expect to complete construction on the shell of the buildings this spring, then tenants will spend the next several months building out their interior spaces. Most tenants are expected to move into Greenside this fall.