Bob on Business: New grocery-based development headed to Argyle 

Grocery is currently a hot retail category, at least in North Texas, according to real estate analysts. 

No surprise then, that Tom Thumb, along with partners Hillwood and Ridgemont Commercial Construction, on Jan. 28 broke ground on a grocery-anchored development located at 1046 Market Way in Argyle. 

Tom Thumb will begin building a 63,000-square-foot store that will include the traditional features of a grocery along with an in-store Starbucks coffee kiosk, a pharmacy, including a drive-thru and grocery pickup. The estimated opening of the store is spring 2026.

“This highly anticipated new location will anchor Harvest Town Center, providing convenient access to a full-service grocer for the residents of Hillwood Communities’ award-winning developments, Harvest and Pecan Square,” said Guy Grivas, vice president of retail at Hillwood, in a news release.

Encore Oilfield Services LLC, a provider of natural gas compression services, has announced it will break ground in early February on its new headquarters near Fairview Road and Interstate 20 in Granbury. 

The move will consolidate the company’s operations currently spread across Granbury into one facility, supporting both its growing manufacturing capabilities and its expanding workforce. Founded in 2008, Encore was initially located in Parker County to serve the natural gas compression market in the Barnett Shale. 

The privately held company was founded in 2008. Since 2020, Encore has been designing and fabricating new gas compressor packages, responding to the growing demand for the company’s products and services. This new headquarters will enable Encore to manufacture larger gas compression packages, significantly increase production capacity, and streamline its operations, according to the company. The new facility will include over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space, with room for expansion.

The $24 million project is expected to add more than 150 new jobs in the new facility, with an initial ramp up of 50 existing employees relocating to Parker County.

“We’ve been working on this for some time, especially since our main shop burned down in 2023, and are very excited to move into a new headquarters and manufacturing facility this year,” said Encore owner and CEO John Simonetti Jr. 

The Parker County Economic Development Council helped Encore secure the site and navigate the permitting process, providing critical resources and support throughout the development. 

The city of Burleson has scored big with the parent company of Paris Baguette, SPC Group of South Korea, which announced it was planning to build a 267,000-square-foot production facility in the city south of Fort Worth as it makes a big push in North America. 

As with most big economic development projects, the company’s name was not revealed until the deal was inked. The code name for the development as it made its way through various government agencies was Project Dough. 

Energy Domain, the Fort Worth company behind Energy Domain Marketplace, has launched its second online platform: Energy Domain Data. This tool offers oil and gas data for investment and operational decision-making. Energy Domain Data offers streamlined access and transparent pricing, according to the company. Energy Domain recently brought Chase Krupa on board as director of business development to manage sales for the new platform.

Public Policy Holding Company, a government relations and public affairs group, has agreed to acquire Southlake-based TrailRunner International LLC, a global communications advisory firm, for $33 million. TrailRunner was founded in 2016 by executive chairman Jim Wilkerson. TrailRunner has offices in New York and Nashville as well as Southlake. 

The acquisition includes TrailRunner Sports, a leading sports advisory practice established as a joint venture with Legends, a live events company. TrailRunner Sports provides strategic business advisory and communications support to global sports clients including leagues, teams, educational institutions, investors, ownership groups and others.

Fort Worth-based Ben E. Keith Foods has started construction on a 707,000-square-foot distribution center in Alachua, Florida. The new state-of-the-art facility will span 148 acres to house one of Florida’s largest and technologically advanced distribution centers.

Upon completion, the project will house the company’s Florida Division headquarters and create over 400 new jobs over the next five years, in addition to the over 230 individuals the company already employs at its Gainesville operations. The project is expected to be complete by fall 2026. 

Do you have something for the Bob on Business column? Email Bob Francis at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. 

Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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