- With its population expanding dramatically month after month, the city is now proudly welcoming one of the largest and most sought-after grocery chains in the nation, signaling a new era of retail convenience for its residents.
Nestled approximately fifty miles north of the bustling metropolis of Dallas, Celina, Texas, stands as a beacon of rapid growth and opportunity. Once a quiet agricultural community, Celina is swiftly transforming into one of the most dynamic and attractive destinations within the entire Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex.
Positioned strategically north of U.S. Highway 380 and adjacent to the thriving town of Prosper, Celina’s strategic location provides residents and businesses with exceptional access to major transportation arteries while retaining its unique small-town charm. The city’s visionary leadership and robust economic development initiatives have propelled it onto the national stage, drawing significant attention from both residential developers and commercial enterprises.
In his comprehensive Fiscal Year 2022 City Manager’s Report, Celina City Manager Jason Laumer underscored the monumental growth, specifically noting an impressive 600,000 square feet of available retail space within the city limits. This substantial inventory signals an open invitation for businesses looking to tap into a burgeoning market.
Laumer highlighted the city’s “very fortunate” position, citing the ongoing expansion of the Dallas North Tollway, which is set to extend an additional 10 miles directly through Celina. This critical infrastructure project, coupled with the continued enhancement of Preston Road—a vital north-south corridor stretching through Prosper and into Frisco—is dramatically improving connectivity and accessibility, further fueling Celina’s ascent as a premier DFW locale.
Celina: The Epicenter of a Commercial Real Estate Boom in North Texas
The allure of Celina, Texas, for commercial retailers is undeniable. City Manager Jason Laumer emphasized that many commercial brands are actively scouting for new, vibrant markets, and Celina perfectly aligns with their criteria. The city boasts an increasingly affluent population with higher average incomes and robust spending power, a demographic keen on having convenient access to quality retail options closer to home, rather than commuting south of U.S. 380.
This burgeoning demand is being met with significant investment, most notably by one of the nation’s largest and most popular retail giants: Costco. The announcement last month that Costco will establish a formidable 160,000-square-foot facility on the southwest corner of Ownsby Parkway and Preston Road marks a pivotal moment for Celina’s retail landscape. This development represents the initial phase of an expansive 105-acre project at this strategic intersection, as confirmed by Matthew Kiran, a distinguished real estate agent with REX Real Estate, a prominent firm established by Rex Glendenning, a name synonymous with development in the region.
Kiran lauded Costco’s strategic vision, noting that the company’s decision underscores its recognition of Celina’s “dynamic growth.” Remarkably, this will be the only Costco in the entire U.S. situated in a city with a population of less than 30,000 people at the time of its announcement. Laumer’s report further substantiates this growth, illustrating an exponential population increase from just 11,645 residents in 2017 to an estimated 29,170 by 2022. When considering the broader service population—which includes areas just outside the city limits—Celina’s reach extended to an impressive 36,213 residents in 2022.
The residential explosion is a primary driver for this commercial interest. “The residential population has exploded,” Kiran affirmed, highlighting that the city approved an astonishing 2,600 to 3,000 residential permits within the current year alone. This surge in housing development creates a robust consumer base that retailers are eager to serve.
The time-honored adage that “retail follows rooftops” is ringing exceptionally true in Celina. Kiran optimistically stated, “Costco is just the first” of several major retailers poised to establish their presence in the city within the next six to twelve months. While specific names remain under wraps, Kiran revealed significant activity on the east side of Preston Road, with strong interest from home improvement stores, fitness centers, and various other retailers. Although the comprehensive leasing plan is not yet public, strong letters of intent indicate that every space in the upcoming developments is accounted for, signifying a robust and diverse retail future for Celina.
City Manager Laumer expressed immense enthusiasm for the arrival of Costco, emphasizing its multifaceted benefits. Beyond providing a beloved shopping destination, the facility is expected to significantly enhance Ownsby Parkway’s role as a crucial east-to-west connection within the city. He also noted that Costco’s existing locations in neighboring Frisco and McKinney are among their highest-performing stores nationwide, expressing high hopes that the new Celina store will offer residents the convenience they desire, encouraging them to shop locally and bolster the city’s economy. “Our residents love Costco,” he declared, reflecting the community’s excitement.
Building a Comprehensive Community: Healthcare and Essential Services Join Celina’s Growth Spurt
The strategic development within Celina extends far beyond the Ownsby Parkway and Preston Road intersection, encompassing several other burgeoning sectors across the city. Jason Laumer pointed to other areas of intense activity, including Frontier Parkway, the meticulously planned Light Farms development, and the vital nexus of Frontier Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway, all of which are attracting “serious” attention from diverse industries.
A landmark announcement in January solidified Celina’s trajectory as a comprehensive, self-sustaining community: the Methodist Health System unveiled plans to construct its newest hospital in Celina. The Board of Directors gave their unanimous approval for this ambitious $200 million facility, a testament to Celina’s growing importance as a regional hub.
The Methodist Health System facility, encompassing a vast 200,000 square feet, is scheduled for a grand opening in 2025. This significant investment is anticipated to initially create more than 220 direct jobs within Celina, offering not only employment opportunities but also critical healthcare services for the rapidly expanding population. The presence of a major hospital is a cornerstone of any thriving community, enhancing quality of life, attracting more families, and supporting the overall economic ecosystem.
Laumer further elaborated on Celina’s impressive scale and future potential, noting that its total land area of 78 square miles actually surpasses that of its southern neighbor, Frisco, which spans 72 square miles. This expansive footprint allows for significant long-term development, with population projections estimating a peak between 300,000 and 400,000 residents at full build-out. This vision of a large, yet meticulously planned city underscores the strategic foresight guiding Celina’s growth.
The ongoing expansion of the Dallas North Tollway plays an indispensable role in this growth narrative, as highlighted by Matthew Kiran. The Tollway’s extension from Glendenning Parkway all the way to the Grayson County-Collin County line will dramatically improve regional connectivity, making Celina even more accessible to the wider DFW metroplex and beyond. This enhanced infrastructure is key to sustaining the incredible influx of new residents and businesses.
Kiran’s estimates reveal a staggering rate of residential migration into Celina, with approximately 700 to 750 new residents choosing to call the city home each month. This continuous influx fuels the demand for more services and amenities. Consequently, the next crucial stages in Celina’s commercial evolution involve the development of more diverse grocery stores—building on the foundation laid by Costco—and comprehensive shopping centers that cater to every need of its growing populace.
The economic impact of the development at Ownsby and Preston is projected to be monumental. Kiran estimates that this single commercial hub could generate an impressive $300 to $350 million annually in retail sales tax, providing substantial revenue for city services and infrastructure. Furthermore, it is expected to create up to 1,400 new jobs, solidifying its status as the largest commercial development ever undertaken in Celina’s history. This project is not merely about retail; it’s about creating a robust economic engine for the entire community.
Adding a layer of historical significance to this groundbreaking development, the land itself—specifically the Ownsby farm situated on the southwest corner of the Ownsby Parkway and Preston Road intersection—boasts a heritage dating back to the 1880s. Both the Ownsby and Moore families, who collectively own the property extending across Preston Road, are recognized as the original landowners of this vital tract.
Kiran aptly characterized the Ownsby and Moore families as “cornerstone founders” of the city, whose legacy is now intricately woven into the fabric of Celina’s future. He further noted their profound role in enabling the “cornerstone of the largest development to come to Celina,” highlighting the enduring impact of their foresight and stewardship. “That land has been very good for Celina,” he reflected, acknowledging the deep roots and profound contributions these families have made to the city’s remarkable journey of growth and prosperity.
As Celina continues its extraordinary transformation, it stands as a prime example of strategic planning, economic vitality, and community engagement. From its booming residential neighborhoods to its burgeoning commercial corridors and expanding healthcare infrastructure, Celina is meticulously crafting its identity as a premier North Texas city, offering an unparalleled quality of life and boundless opportunities for residents and businesses alike.