TIMES RECORD NEWS
It’s been roughly 24 years since Parker Square was at 100-percent capacity with a variety of businesses serving Wichita Falls and surrounding communities.
The shopping center at the intersection of Kemp and Kell boulevards is nearing max capacity again, said property management broker Andy Lee in an email Tuesday. A variety of businesses will occupy existing space in Parker Square, he said, including Gold’s Gym in the former Dunlap’s clothing store space, also the location of McClurkans before Dunlap Company purchased it in 1982. Dunlap’s announced in July 2007 its intentions to close the store.
Now, there is new life with the more than 43,000-square-feet space.
“This adds to our entertainment mix as Cinemark and Gold’s Gym create a synergy for a younger audience,” Lee said.
Another venture coming to Wichita Falls on the north end of that building, previously occupied by Pasqual, is Heff’s Burgers.
Steve Holcomb, the franchisee bringing the made-to-order burger joint to town, said he is the franchise owner of another Heff’s Burgers in Sweetwater as well as the Schlotsky’s, also in Sweetwater. He said the business aligns with his Christian values, so he first became the franchise owner of the store there. But, there was an opportunity for expansion, and he chose Wichita Falls for that opportunity.
“I feel very good about Wichita Falls,” he said. “It’s a great demographic with over 100,000 people.”
Holcomb said Brenda Heffernan first began selling homemade hamburgers in Potosi south of Abilene to give her son, who was paralyzed after a car accident, something to do. As the number of orders began to increase, Heffernan decided to open Heff’s Burgers in Abilene.
It was when Heffernan was opening a location in Sweetwater, Holcomb said, that he met the franchise owner, and months later bought the franchise in his hometown.
Heff’s Burgers, he said, has been voted the best in Abilene multiple times. His daughter, Ashley Cardwell, will handle day-to-day operations of the local store.
Lee said the bar space 1,500-square-feet bar space from Pasqual remains available.
Syd Litteken Design Concepts will be the local contractor managing the renovation project for Heff’s.
In other moves at Parker Square, Lee said renovations by Fidelity Bank continue at the former Citibank location. Work also continues on Frank & Joe’s Coffee House in the location previously occupied by Harvest Boutique.
A couple other projects in Wichita Falls has a couple businesses relocating to different parts of town, and one moving in.
Sewn Clothing Gallery in Century Plaza on Maplewood will move next door to Primp & Blow in Parker Square. Owner Sarah Swanson said they will close their Century Plaza location on July 31, and will open the new location in August.
“We’re excited,” she said. “Lot’s of exciting things going on in Wichta Falls with small businesses.”
Lee said another deal he cobrokered with Jonesboro, Arkansas-based Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate will bring Furniture Factory Outlet to Wichita Falls. But, another move has to take place before the discount-furniture store can move in.
Powerhouse Gym on Lawrence Road has plans to move to Century Plaza on Maplewood Avenue, Lee said. Gym manager Jim Barnhill clarified the move through social media.
“The location is the former Tuesday Mornings location, next to Fuzzy’s Taco,” he said. “This location is only temporary, as we are in the process of purchasing property to building a new facility on.”
The move is expected to happen in mid-July, giving Furniture Factory Outlet time for their remodel project with Sept. 1 the target date to open.
By John Ingle of the Times Record News
