...for City of Southlake news, business, and community happenings.
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- economic development
Monday, March 27, 2023
This list of future Southlake businesses is provided by the Southlake Department of Economic Development and Tourism to keep you in the know about what businesses are coming into Southlake! We can’t wait for them to open their doors!
Visit www.SelectSouthlake.com for the New Biz List showing recent openings and other business information. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for the latest business news! Contact us by Email if you are a new business coming into town or if you have any questions.
Keep an eye out for the next Coming Soon Quarterly – January 2023!
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/SelectSouthlake
Email: Econdev@cityofsouthlake.com
As businesses serve customers in a modified capacity, it is essential that plans to reopen are made with the intention to keep people safe.
The City of Southlake launched Southlake Safe as a business support initiative that was developed by the Economic Recovery Task Force for businesses to help maintain recommended safety guidelines and best practices to protect their employees and while serving their customers.
Safety and security are a top priority for the City of Southlake, and the Southlake Safe campaign is part of the efforts to maintain the safety of those who live, work and play in this world-class community. The partnership gives business owners an opportunity to show their commitment to providing a safe and clean environment by taking the Southlake Safe Pledge.
Participants who adopt the pledge receive a Southlake Safe Pledge Kit, which includes PPE essentials like a digital thermometer, face masks, hand sanitizer and a Southlake Safe decal to display in their place of business.
These businesses will be listed in the Southlake Safe business directory and receive a recurring spotlight feature that highlights among other participating businesses. This program is also completely free for Southlake businesses to sign up for.
“This is a great way for businesses to show customers and their employees that health and safety is a priority,” Director of Economic Development and Tourism Daniel Cortez said. “We have received a positive response and support for the program from the entire community. All of us are in this new world together doing the best we can to support our community during these challenging times and it’s important for us to work together for a Southlake Safe environment.”
Learn more at www.SouthlakeSafe.com.
It’s time to Shop, Eat, and Enjoy Local as you prepare to celebrate Independence Day with your community and neighborhood. Snap a photo of you supporting a local Southlake business and submit it for a chance to win.
The City of Southlake’s Economic Development & Tourism department is excited to host an Independence Day giveaway to encourage the local community to support Southlake businesses. Locals are encouraged to shop, eat, and enjoy experiences at Southlake businesses in preparation for the 2020 Fireworks event. Locals should snap a photo showing how they’re supporting a Southlake business and send it to VisitInfo@VisitSouthlakeTexas.com (with full name and phone number) for a chance to win. Please remember to follow safety guidelines, including wearing masks where required.
There will be ten winners selected. Prize packages include staycations, gift cards, a VIP Pool Party at Champions Club, and more. Participants must be 18 years or older. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Winners will be announced on Friday, July 10, 2020. Click here for more information.
Daniel Cortez, Deputy Director of Economic Development and Tourism, has been promoted to Director, effective July 1. After the departure of Assistant City Manager Ben Thatcher, Cortez’s history of strong work performance, world-class professionalism and commitment to assist Southlake businesses and residents make him fit for the task to lead the Southlake economic development team.
“Daniel Cortez has many notable accomplishments under his belt,” said Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski. “His energy, creativity, intelligence and strong people skills make him ideal for this role.”
Since 2017, Cortez has worked to implement key recommendations of the 2035 Economic Development Master Plan. He has also created and implemented a commercial site assessment project, resulting in valuable insights into Southlake’s commercial centers. He managed the City’s first Business Climate Survey to understand the local business community’s strengths and challenges, track trends and ensure the City has useful data for business support programs.
“I am humbled at the confidence the City’s leadership has in me. I look forward to continuing to serve our business community with the same tradition of excellence Southlake is known for, with new inspiration and determination to meet the challenges of the future,” Cortez said. “There is truly no place like Southlake. It is my privilege to be part of a great community and I’m excited to strengthen the City’s relationships with local businesses.”
Ortowski also highlights his business retention work, noting that “he has established strong relationships through one-on-one visits and programs he’s created to improve business engagement with the City.”
Southlake youth have also benefited from Cortez’s hard work. Through the Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership (SKIL) program, Cortez has worked with Mayor Hill and Carroll ISD to offer selected students access to local business leaders through educational seminars and internship experiences. Cortez guides the students through the program, which has been in place for three years.
Perhaps Cortez has demonstrated his strongest performance with his work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Untangling the complex and sometimes confusing information related to the various executive orders was a terrific service he was able to provide to our business customers,” noted Ortowski. “He promoted businesses in unique and creative ways. He demonstrated a keen knowledge of the needs of our businesses and worked proactively to provide needed support.”
In his new role, Daniel will be responsible for economic development work, and will oversee the day-to-day activities of the City’s tourism and special events team.
Would you like to know about the new businesses in town? If so, you are going to want to subscribe to the Economic Development New Biz List. The list not only gives you an update about recently opened businesses, but it will also tell you what’s coming to Southlake in the next few months.
Now Open
The summer sizzle has started and Southlake is the spot to fuel up on fresh and exciting flavors. Already home to several uniquely delicious restaurants, Southlake recently added a few more tasty options to satisfy appetites for healthy or exotic dishes.
If the hot weather has you hungry for cool options, check out Coolgreens. The fast-casual restaurant chain offers a chef-inspired menu of signature salads, wraps, bowls, flatbreads and more. Southlake is currently the only location open in Texas. From California Cobb (romaine, egg, avocado, bacon, chicken, blue cheese, grape tomatoes and ranch dressing) and Caprese (spring mix, grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onion, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette) to Asian Crisp (spring mix, Mandarin oranges, crunchy noodles, sliced almonds, edamame, shredded carrots and soy ginger vinaigrette) and more, each signature dish is available as a salad or wrap. With multiple sandwich varieties, quinoa bowls, flatbreads and options for kids, guests will find one element across the menu—healthy, natural and flavorful food that fuels your life. For added convenience, order online and pick up in store. Coolgreens is located at 2211 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 500.
Cool Greens Salmon Club
Craving exotic? Fusion Flavors brings a taste of India to Southlake with fresh ingredients, imported spices and an abundance of menu options, including an expansive offering of vegetarian appetizers and vegetarian main courses. Fusion Flavors serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers catering. Find traditional entrée favorites including Chicken Tikka Masala (grilled boneless chicken cooked in special herbs and spices), Palak Paneer (fresh spinach cooked with cheese cubes in special sauce) and Lamb Curry (lamb cooked in Indian special sauce), among others, as well as several biryani and rice dishes. Save room for Pineapple Pudding or a sweet drink like Mango Milkshake. Fushion Flavors is located at 2001 W. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 119.
F2 – Fusion Flavors Plate Samples
Satisfy your appetite for flavors from the far east at Dragon House. Specializing in Shanghai-style cuisine, Dragon House is open for lunch and dinner, and is available for private events and catering. The restaurant’s chef has 20 years of experience cooking in fine restaurants and has built a vast menu of appetizers, soups, various dim sum, hand-pulled noodle bowls, chef specials (Beijing Style Pork, Honey Walnut Beef, Shrimp and Chicken with Cashew Nuts and more), traditional Chinese dishes (Boiled Fish Fillet with Picked Cabbage, Braised Meat Balls with Boy Choy, Chicken Strips with Mango and more), and traditional Chinese desserts like Steamed Pumpkin with Red Bean Paste and Kung-fu Sesame Ball. A feast for the eyes first, each dish is beautifully presented and can be enjoyed with traditional hot teas, as well as imported beers and more from the bar. Dragon House is located at 2640 E. Southlake Boulevard.
Dragon House Plate Samples
Would you like to know about the new businesses in town? If so, you are going to want to subscribe to the Economic Development New Biz List. The list not only gives you an update about recently opened businesses, but it will also tell you what’s coming to Southlake in the next few months.
In an effort to learn about and build relationships within the Southlake business community, the City of Southlake’s Economic Development & Tourism Department has developed a business engagement program driven by volunteers—Business Buddies.
These invaluable volunteers act on behalf of the City to conduct interviews and site visits with local businesses to demonstrate the City’s support for the business community and to uncover opportunities to improve the local business climate, find benefits for existing businesses, and a means for the City to establish a meaningful and productive relationship with local businesses.
In 2016, the City of Southlake adopted an Economic Development Master Plan, part of which recognized the value that the business community brings to Southlake and recommended strategies for the City to grow those relationships. Thereafter, a formal business engagement program was developed. Since the inception of the Business Buddies program in April 2018, six volunteers have already joined and are actively interviewing businesses. Five additional volunteers recently registered and are awaiting their assignments. There are no requirements for becoming a Business Buddy and anyone who is interested in participating in the program is encouraged to learn more about becoming involved.
After receiving business assignments, typically an initial list of five to ten specifically targeted businesses, Business Buddies establish contact and schedule interviews with the business owner or manager. Equipped with discussion tools and specific interview questions, Business Buddies then open an insightful dialogue with each respective business before reporting back to the City.
“Business Buddies assist the City with creating and maintaining working relationships with the business community and engage with key businesses on local community matters that could be mutually beneficial for the businesses and the City,” stated Deputy Director of Economic Development Daniel Cortez. “We assign the businesses to volunteers to get a wide range of business types within various industries. Most visitors typically think of retail and restaurants when they think of Southlake, but Southlake is also home to several other industries including some light industrial, technology, finance and marketing related businesses. We want to make sure our Southlake business community voices are being heard.”
While many business “visitation” programs are typically comprised of quantitative measures for the community through specific survey questions, Southlake focuses primarily on qualitative information in order to generate actionable strategies and achieve results with the businesses. This allows for improving business conditions and strengthening partnerships, as well as identifying future challenges for the business community.
In order to reach out to the many businesses that call Southlake home, the City is looking to grow the program through its number of volunteers so it can continue to build its relationship with the over 1,800 businesses that are located in Southlake.
For more information or to become a Business Buddy, learn more online or contact the Economic Development & Tourism Department at (817) 748-8039 or econdev@ci.southlake.tx.us.
The northwest corner of State Highway 114 and Kimball Avenue continues to transform into a welcoming gateway to the city. Kimball Park, the 15.5-acre mixed-use commercial development that anchors the area, is already home to Cambria Hotel & Suites and The Offices at Kimball Park. A third building is under construction that will add a restaurant and 4,000 square feet of retail space, including a day spa, to the development this year.
According to Kimball Park developer Jeff Medici, The Offices at Kimball Park – the city’s second stand-alone Class A office building – is 87 percent occupied and new tenants have moved in since the building was completed last summer. There are two remaining restaurant sites for sale and plans are in the works to begin development.
“As the final pieces of Kimball Park near completion, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the entire development – originally envisioned in 2012 – is a home run for the City of Southlake,” Medici stated. “Kimball Park has brought jobs, hotel tax revenue and increased the city’s tax base by more 30 times since the land was purchased five years ago. ”
The Cambria, which is Southlake’s second hotel, has also seen changes since opening its doors in late 2016. A new management team has implemented aggressive sales strategies targeting business travelers, group meetings and social events, while also bringing in locals to its restaurant and lobby bar. In its first year, Cambria received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, Loved By Guest award from Hotels.com, and was voted a top hotel by readers of Society Life.
“We believe the Cambria experience is unique, exciting and offers more sophisticated technology that other hotels don’t have,” said Beverly Brantley, Cambria’s director of sales and marketing. “One of our goals going forward is to continue to engage with the community and draw in residents from the local area with happy hour specials and live entertainment.”
For more information about Kimball Park, contact Medici Development Partners at 817-527-5601.