Olmito development follows growing population, traffic

BROWNSVILLE — The developer behind a new strip mall at the intersection of Old Highway 77 and FM 1732 in Olmito chose the location because the time was right — traffic is continually increasing in the area.
The new 16-suite development, dubbed “North Plaza,” has already leased space to Cricket wireless, Imagination Station Academy, Los Portales Meat Market and Wing Barn. The developer is the Terreas Group. A spokesman said a pre-existing Stripes convenience store at the intersection, just west of U.S. 77/83 Expressway, is one of the busiest in Cameron County.
The few businesses in the area draw from Rancho Viejo and new residential developments such as the Villa de Los Pinos subdivision. Nearby Border Patrol and Cameron County Sheriff’s Department stations also are a source of customers.
Terreas broke ground on North Plaza early last year and is in the final stages of completion. The company also developed the space occupied by an adjacent Subway restaurant. FM 1732 is also known as Anacua Street.
“There’s a strong need in the northern part of Brownsville,” said the spokesman.
Terreas also rehabilitated the 72,000-square-foot Boca Chica Plaza on Boca Chica Boulevard. Tenants there include Gold’s Gym Express, LFD Furniture and Wing Barn’s first location.
Another Terreas strip mall, the 42,000-square-foot Via Del Mar, counts Rent-A-Center, Wing Stop, Comet Cleaners and Cricket among its tenants.
Pitaya Plaza, on Alton Gloor in front of the Westlake subdivision, hasn’t broken ground yet but should be open this year, said the spokesman. Terreas is also poised to sign a contract with Starbucks for a development on Morrison Road, he said.
Wing Barn owner Bobby Saenz, meanwhile, has a good feeling about North Plaza considering the growth in the area.
“I feel like a lot of the people there don’t have choices,” he said. “The city’s moving that way. It’s the future. I see lot of potential there, and if we can establish ourselves early on in the game I think we’ll be there for a long time.”