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A wave of new businesses and eateries are opening up across South Texas, including H-E-B’s popular True Texas BBQ.<\/p>\n
TrongNguyen\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Business is booming in South Texas. From the border at Laredo, over to Corpus Christi, and down south to the Rio Grande Valley<\/a>, there are a whole bunch of new places to shop or grab a bite to eat. Here\u2019s everything that\u2019s on the way in deep South Texas.<\/p>\n Laredo\u2019s first Barnes & Noble to open soon<\/p>\n The biggest border city in South Texas is about to get its first-ever major bookstore once Barnes & Noble<\/a> opens its doors at the\u00a0Mal Del Norte in Laredo. The country\u2019s largest bookseller is setting up shop in a nearly 20,000-square-foot store space that was once home to a Forever 21 fast fashion store.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n While construction was expected to be completed in June, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation<\/a> (TDLR) filing, the store isn\u2019t open just yet. But store leaders are starting to prepare for that first day, announcing in an Instagram post on Monday<\/a>, August 3 that they are seeking new hires.<\/p>\n A new chicken tender restaurant chain is eyeing a major expansion in Texas. Orlando, Florida-based\u00a0Huey Magoo’s is set to build restaurants in Harlingen, Laredo, North Dallas, and the Houston metroplex in 2026.<\/p>\n Courtesy Huey Magoo’s<\/p>\n Huey Magoo\u2019s to open in Laredo, Harlingen<\/p>\n Orlando, Florida-based chicken tender chain,\u00a0Huey Magoo\u2019s Chicken Tenders<\/a>, is planning several locations across deep South Texas, including one location in Laredo<\/a> and another in Harlingen, according to TDLR filings. Other Huey Magoo\u2019s restaurants are slated for Brownsville and McAllen, as well, according to trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n NFL star-backed burger joint\u00a0coming to the Rio Grande Valley<\/p>\n A Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based burger chain called\u00a0Smalls Sliders<\/a> will be opening at least four restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley. Smalls Sliders was founded by Brandon Landry, the same man who founded Walk-On\u2019s Sports Bistreaux, and has the backing of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. The franchise specializes in serving bite-sized burgers called sliders inside restaurants built out of shipping containers. The first one is slated to open in Brownsville, with three other locations to follow in Harlingen and McAllen.<\/p>\n Construction is ongoing at the site of a future Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store in Brownsville. The store is expected to open in 2027.<\/p>\n Courtesy City of Brownsville<\/p>\n Sprouts and Natural Grocers coming to the Valley<\/p>\n Construction is currently underway in the Valley\u2019s oldest and largest city, which will get its first-ever Sprouts Farmers Market<\/a> grocery store. The $10 million project in Brownsville is slated to open in August 2027 at a bustling retail center called North Towne Plaza,\u00a0located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and Ruben M. Torres Boulevard.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A few dozen miles away, Natural Grocers<\/a> \u2014 an organic grocery chain headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado \u2014 is planning its first-ever store in South McAllen. Natural Grocers is investing at least $840,000<\/a> to transform a building that once housed a trampoline park and a discount apparel store a block away from McAllen City Hall into a store that offers USDA-certified organic produce.<\/p>\n An Olive Garden restaurant is under construction immediately north of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas, as seen on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.<\/p>\n Dina Ar\u00e9valo<\/p>\n Edinburg to get its\u00a0first\u00a0Olive Garden<\/p>\n Construction is almost complete on\u00a0Edinburg\u2019s very first Olive Garden restaurant<\/a>, which is located in the heart of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley shopping center at Interstate 2 and Trenton Road. The fast-casual Italian restaurant chain joins a number of other national brands that have opened up at the popular retail center in recent months, including Bath & Body Works, dd\u2019s DISCOUNTS, and James Avery. No ETA on the unlimited breadsticks yet, but construction crews have already installed Olive Garden\u2019s iconic signs outside the building.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Pork ribs, sausage and queso poblano sausage at True Texas BBQ.<\/p>\n Peter L. Scamardo II\/MySA<\/p>\n H-E-B\u2019s True Texas BBQ coming to Corpus Christi<\/p>\n In another first,\u00a0H-E-B is planning to open its first-ever True Texas BBQ<\/a> in-store restaurant in the Coastal Bend. The restaurant is part of a massive $32.3 million overhaul of the H-E-B plus! located at the corner of Staples Street and Saratoga Boulevard in Corpus Christi. Once the renovations are complete, the store will boast both a True Texas BBQ and a South Flo Pizza.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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