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Mike Lewis Photography
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Jeffery Washington
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Les Hall
When developer Brian Stebbins first unveiled his vision for Southlake Town Square, the response he heard from prospective retailers most often was, "Good plan, good luck." It's hard to believe what was once a hard sell in the late 1990s continues to be a home run for families and today's most sought-after brands.
Twenty-five years ago this month in March of 1999, the first phase of Southlake Town Square opened to the public. Built on 130 acres of what used to be farmland, the square initially encompassed more than 250,000 square feet of office and retail space. Within its first year, 100% of retail and 80% of office space was occupied. Success was immediate as one in three national retailers also reported their Southlake stores had the best opening-day sales on record.
By 2006, the doors to townhome-style brownstones were opening for the project’s first residents, followed in 2019 by 36 luxury condominiums. Brian’s vision of a walkable, downtown area where people could live, work and play had become a reality.
During its short time, Southlake Town Square has witnessed the birth of e-commerce, the electric car and streaming VR headsets. It survived two recessions and a pandemic and still serves as the foundation from which we continue to enjoy everyday life in an ever-changing economy. No matter your reason for dropping in, there’s something for just about everyone, from a simple cup of coffee and a good book to an Apple Vision Pro or even a Tesla Model X.
As a place to enjoy community and commerce, some might say Southlake Town Square was the original hybrid. Whether you’ve been to every Fourth of July fireworks show and holiday lighting ceremony over the last quarter-century or just one, you already know there’s no place like our town square.