With the new construction emerging into the once-small town of Kyle, a whole new wave of retail stores and restaurants are popping up in and around town. We have newer places like Menchies, Playa Bowls, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Texas Roadhouse, and Sprouts Farmers Market. Projects are going up right off I-35 that’s basically being built to become a central hub for the growing city. It’s planned to include hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail and commercial space, plus a long list of recognizable spots like BJ’s Brewhouse, Raising Cane’s, Dave’s Hot Chicken, and shops like Barnes & Noble and TJ Maxx, all in one area where people can actually spend time, not just run errands. Instead of having to drive to San Marcos or to Austin for a good meal or even satisfactory shopping, we’ve got it right here in the very town that once had nothing to offer.
Alarice Richardson, 12: “I’m really excited for all the new businesses to open up, and especially Dave’s Hot Chicken because I’ve never tried it before.”
Overall, while the new arrival of retail and food chains can make the city convenient, it just means a loss to the unique local character with the addition to familiar chain restaurants, as well as putting a struggle on local mom-and-pop shops as they try to compete with the big businesses. and the rise of traffic as everyone moves in. This’ll put our local businesses in jeopardy as they begin to start losing out on money, customers and the steady flow of what they used to have. We’ll lose the feel of what a small town should have been. As more people move in, the prices rise such as rent, land, retail and restaurants. This brings in the traffic as people pass by Kyle, stopping and trying out the new places we have to offer, leaving us with the high price of gas which we aren’t used too.
Kaylee Valdez, 11: “I’ve got some pros and cons about the new businesses because I’m happy that we’re getting new shopping and food places, but I know the traffic will be terrible as we begin to add onto the small city.”
Photos: Kyle Foodies on Facebook
