These are exciting times for economic development in Liberty County! With a lot of growth being seen in Texas, the County’s three biggest cities have new businesses coming in that will bring opportunities for consumers and potential employees.
Liberty has two new fast food restaurants being built – Wendy’s and Popeye’s. The Popeye’s will be built on the same property as the previous Popeyes, which was destroyed by fire in 2022. Property near Walmart, located at the intersection of Main Street and the bypass, is currently being cleared for a new car wash. Next to Main Street Nutrition, there will be a new dialysis center joining the strip center.
On the 900 block of Main Street, across from the new restaurant Pueblo’s Kitchen, a food truck court that has been under construction for the last year is nearing completion. According to Chris Jarmon, assistant city manager for the City of Liberty, a pergola roof is being added to the food court property so that diners can enjoy their meals rain or shine. Inside the food court also will be a mini-playground, tables and benches.
Despite its boundaries being limited by the Trinity River to the west and the city of Ames to the east, there is still room to grow in Liberty. Not all new businesses require new properties, and the City of Liberty tries to connect potential businesses with property owners with empty spaces to lease.
“If we know that there is somebody asking about a space and we know an owner who has a space, we will try to put those people in touch with each other. They still have to negotiate prices and maintenance, and all that kind of stuff, and we don’t do that for them, but we can put them together and let them see if they can work out a deal,” said Jarmon.
Dayton will soon see the grand opening of a Starbucks, the first in Liberty County, at the intersection of US 90 and SH 146 S. Adjacent to the new Starbucks will be a new Popeye’s location.
Further to the south on SH 146 and slightly outside of the City of Dayton, ground has been broken on Crystal Lagoon Beach at the new River Ranch development.
According to Dayton City Manager Kim Judge, the lagoon will make it easier for local residents to have a beach-like experience closer to home, and will be a good place for a day trip for those in the Houston area.
Judge said the City of Dayton is working diligently to ensure that infrastructure can handle the growth coming to town.
“One of the things that we want to make sure we have is water and sewer capacity,” said Judge, adding that the City wants to be welcoming to new businesses while also ensuring that the existing community’s needs are met.
“We don’t want the reserves to be taken up or have low water pressure, or anything like that,” Judge said. “So right now with Council, that’s the reason why we’re talking to them about going out for bonds. The reason is we have to make sure that we take care of the necessary infrastructure. We want to make sure that our lift stations can handle the amount of sewer that’s coming to them. We want to make sure that we have enough water wells to pump water to take care of the new developments that are proposed in our existing community.”
When asked if transportation woes are one of the City of Dayton’s biggest challenges, Judge said, “Transportation is going to have to take care of itself. The reason I say that is because all of our major corridors are TxDOT roadways. All we can do is continue to speak to TxDOT and the Houston-Galveston Area Council to get their support in things that assist us in improving our traffic conditions.”
To the north in Cleveland, a new Buzzy Bee Travel Center will soon break ground on the southwest side of the city, along US 59 S and next to East Fork RV Resort. According to Cleveland EDC Director Robert Reynolds, a restaurant will be part of the Buzzy Bee Travel Center.
A short distance to the north, and along US 59 N, construction of a new Denny’s restaurant will soon begin on a property located between Whataburger and Holiday Inn.
Across from Jack in the Box on S. Washington St., a new retail strip is being built, opening the door for several businesses to have a storefront in Cleveland. Additionally, the H-E-B store, located in the Truly Center Shopping Center, is about to begin a major remodel.
Reynolds, Judge and Jarmon all seem to agree that growth is inevitable.
“A lot of people are coming to Texas from other states. You’ve got to embrace what you have, find the good and positive things for your community, and make it work for the city,” said Reynolds.
For the longtime residents of Dayton, Judge realizes it has been tough seeing farm land sold off to make way for industrial, commercial and residential developments.
“Nine years ago I came to Dayton and you could see all the open areas, you could see the amount of land that’s available. We heard people stating, ‘I don’t want Dayton to grow. I want to keep our community as it is.’ I knew it was going to happen and the best thing I can tell our community is embrace the change now. It’s here. It’s going to help Dayton. For our economy, it’s going to do wonders for it,” she said.
Dayton could do something about the traffic, maybe a few more railroad crossings would get traffic off of 90 and not take 30 minutes to get from brookshire brothers to 1008!
What about manufacturer job’s,nothing bout restaurants how we enjoy expensive restaurants if we don’t have a good job,drive all the way to Houston is not fun
More people also means more crowding, crime and poverty. Everything increases, more numbers across the board. Unfortunately this also means more money for the city and county in fees and taxes and that’s the real driving force behind growth. Pockets need to be filled as well otherwise there wouldn’t be any growth.
So let me make sure I understand, Liberty Popeyes burns down therefore Dayton gets the replacement? If that is correct then yet again Liberty can’t get jack squat but mexican food, liquor stores and vape shops.
There is going to be a Popeye at both locations Liberty and Dayton.
What part of “Liberty has two new fast food restaurants being built – Wendy’s and Popeye’s. The Popeye’s will be built on the same property as the previous Popeyes, which was destroyed by fire in 2022.” did you not understand? This is why you should read the ENTIRE article instead of skimming through parts of it.
Oh I can read it. But unlike some of yall I can read THROUGH the b.s. The Wendy’s was agreed upon in Feb/March of 2022. The word on the street was they had until end of 2023 to build it. Haven’t even started it. The Popeyes location hasn’t even been touched. I’d be willing to bet Daytons is open long before Libertys IF, IF we even get another one.
Just my thoughts and opinion. Might be wrong but I doubt it.
They are rebuilding the one in Liberty as well
Dayton will trade you a donut shop for a Mexican restuarant….
I moved to Dayton in 2004 from Baytown, and I’ve seen Baytown explode with growth since that time. I used to live in north Baytown off Garth between I-10 and FM1942 and our small neighborhood (Woodford) was all alone. Now it is solid housing from Baytown to Highlands and hundreds of new small businesses, plus many new large businesses off the new Hwy 99 loop. I’m starting to see the same thing now in Dayton. As more additions are built and more people come the more businesses you will see pop up. Also, I think 99 will attract large industrial businesses in the farmland around it similar to what we are seeing in Baytown.
Liberty still doesn’t have an HEB and all of main is littered with smoke shops. Literally nothing but smoke shops. There shouldn’t be what seems like a trillion of them within the same block. Leave room for actual useful businesses!!
Cleveland Tx needs a water park for adults and kids to cool off in summer
I like that you are getting news out about growth here in our cities, however there are other parts of Liberty county that could stand some help in getting advertising to potential business’s that could be a good investment, while helping both a new business and the consumer, for instant, how about a auto supply store in the area of Hardin or Moss hill area? There are so many of us who are tired of having to drive so far to get a set of spark plugs, brake shoes ,etc. A good store in either location would have a monopoly on a very large customer base’
Willie order parts online you will get them delivered to your front door and save money and gas . I’ve saved $20 to a $100.
As a 30 year tech, I think part stores in the Hardin area would be great. Harbor Freight would be awesome! I order thousands of parts online but they can’t be delivered to my door because LCAD hasn’t bothered to fix the address problem. My physical street address is different on Google maps. Hasn’t been updated in at least 15 years. If you happen to get a home delivery the tweekers will probably steal it first! The police won’t do anything but ask for video if they bothered to show up at all! Can’t get any business at my shop due to the annoying mobile traffic lights that have been set up for nearly 4 months in a construction zone where absolutely NOTHING IS BEING CONSTRUCTED and NEVER see anyone there! Hey, but more unhealthy fast food joints, that’s what we need! Keep em fat and lazy so the sheep can continue to mooch of the government.
While Dayton is continuing to grow, Liberty is sharply declining. Soon there will be nothing here but a liquor store and a loan company.
Hey everybody that said i was wrong and cant read, WHERE IS YOUR POPEYES? It’s being said Liberty is now NOT getting a popeyes since Dayton is getting one. It’s OK I was right.
It’s exciting to hear about new businesses coming to the Cleveland, Dayton, and Liberty areas! Economic growth like this brings fresh energy and opportunities to our communities. I’m curious about the types of businesses opening and how they’ll impact the local job market. Are there any unique or standout establishments we should keep an eye out for? It’s great to see local entrepreneurship thriving, and I’m looking forward to exploring these new spots. What businesses are you all most excited about? Let’s support our local economy and check them out together! 🏬🌟
We need a HEB IN DAYTON TEXAS THE STORES HERE PRICES ARE SO HIGH LIKE SHOPPINGAT A CONVIENIENT STORE