Despite a recent report issued by the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce announcing plans for several new businesses to open their doors in Tomball, the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) says times are still tough for new businesses.

The Chamber announced plans last week for two new dining establishments and a few other commercial businesses to open in Tomball in the next few months.

Among those are two hamburger restaurants, Burger Fresh and Five Guy’s Burgers and Fries. The Chamber says Burger Fresh will take the place of the spot formerly occupied by Dairy Queen on Main Street, while Five Guy’s will locate into the spot vacated in Tomball Marketplace when Hollywood Video closed for business earlier this year.

The Chamber also said it is “rumored” that a Verizon Wireless store will occupy the other half of the facility.

Also in the works is a Service King Collision Repair Center that is set to take over the location formerly occupied by the Jimmy Copeland dealership. Going in at the corner of Sycamore and Houston Streets is an Armor Alarms office and showroom.

However, despite the announcements, Tomball EDC Director Betty Reinbeck said times are still tough for new businesses.

“It’s still slow, even with the types of industries with which we work,” Reinbeck said. “People are just not stepping out there and investing their money.”

The EDC deals primarily with light industrial and commercial retailers, working to bring new and existing companies into Tomball in order to increase the city’s tax base and create new jobs.

The Chamber update included details of two such companies, Creacom and Fab Corp, Inc., opening facilities in Tomball, both of which have been in the works for several months.

Combined, the two companies will bring as many as 100 new jobs to Tomball.

As was the case last year when it is generally believed the economic recession was at its worst, retail development is stagnant in Tomball.

For more than a year, Tomball Marketplace has been in talks with Ross Dress for Less to open a store along SH 249. But the site remains vacant. Reinbeck explained that in many cases, such retailers engage in contracts with the stipulation to open their doors only when other retailers open for business within the center.

The update stated that Weingarten Realty, the developers for Tomball Marketplace, have been in talks with Marshall’s and Best Buy, an oft-requested big box store by Tomball shoppers. The Chamber stated “both have negotiated leases but no lease with either company has been signed.”

That trend is something that Reinbeck and the EDC have seen much of the past two years.

“At the last step they back off,” she said. “It’s the economy, it’s the uncertainty about what’s going to happen.”

However, things could be looking up. There are signs the economic doldrums are nearing an end, in some spots across the country the job market is starting to improve. Reinbeck expects Tomball business to pick up the pace starting next year.

“They (new businesses) will probably start getting more serious in 2011. I hear that quite a bit from the retail community,” she said. “But, I have hope. Because there are some people coming in and talking to us.”

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed