To make it easier to learn about construction and redevelopment activity in North Richland Hills, the Development Services Department created an interactive development map dedicated to current and recent development, public hearings, and street projects.

The Interactive Development Map highlights projects ranging from new commercial and residential developments to redevelopment of existing properties. Once an approved project begins construction, the map is updated to include its location, geographical boundary, and other information such as site plans, subdivision plans, and colorful building renderings. Users can choose from four categories: Public Hearings, Construction Activity, Recently Completed, and Road Construction. The Public Hearings tab provides the first tool of its kind for the city where all active public hearings related to development can be viewed and read in one setting.

North Richland Hills is excited to provide yet another tool where citizens can learn more about their community. 

MAD Concepts Group announces restaurant park development in partnership with the City of North Richland Hills

MAD Concepts Group (MAD NRH, LLC) in collaboration with the City of North Richland Hills and Blue Plate Network, proudly announce a new restaurant park development at the northwest corner of Davis Boulevard and Lola Drive. Pending zoning approval, this project will feature two full-service restaurants, each offering a full bar, spacious outdoor seating, and an inviting "backyard" experience with dedicated play areas for families and children.

The new development will introduce Jakes Burgers, a DFW staple, and Tacos & Avocados, a fresh Mexican food concept, to the North Richland Hills community. These restaurants, ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 square feet each, will provide a dynamic dining atmosphere that blends exceptional food with a lively, social environment. Additionally, a one-acre backyard area will be designed to foster community engagement, offering a welcoming space for gatherings, outdoor entertainment, and casual dining.

About Jakes Burgers

Jakes Burgers, a well-established brand with 12 locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Waco, was founded in 1985 at the corner of Skillman Avenue and Abrams Road in East Dallas. Acquired by MAD Concepts Group in 2021, Jakes has since evolved beyond its roots in burgers and beer. The brand now offers an expanded menu designed to appeal to a broad audience, all while maintaining its commitment to Fresh, Friendly, and Fun dining experiences.

About Tacos & Avocados

Tacos & Avocados, developed by the MAD Concepts team, presents a Mex-Tex culinary experience that fuses traditional Mexican cooking techniques with Texas-inspired flavors. Signature menu items include authentic Birria and Barbacoa, along with Shiner-Braised Brisket Tacos, Fire-Grilled Fajitas, and Queso Blanco. The menu also emphasizes fresh and health-conscious options, such as avocado-based dishes, hummus with vegetables, grilled avocado shrimp cocktail, and Molcajete-style guacamole. Each dish is crafted in a scratch kitchen using only the freshest ingredients.

A Commitment to Community Impact

The development will generate many new jobs and contribute to local economic growth. MAD Concepts has a strong history of community engagement, actively supporting schools and local organizations through fundraising and sponsorship initiatives.

“People visit restaurants for great food, but they return for the service and the experience. We take pride not only in our menu but also in the environments we create. The backyard area in North Richland Hills will serve as a vibrant community hub, bringing people together beyond the dining table.” – Courtney Lindley, the Founder & President of MAD Concepts Group.

Catalyzing Economic Growth Through Strategic Redevelopment

Pending zoning approval, the City is seizing the opportunity to transform the property into a high-quality sit-down restaurant park—a top request from residents. This targeted investment aims to revitalize a mature corridor, positively impact surrounding commercial property, and generate long-term sales and property tax revenue to ease the tax burden on residents. The City’s contribution—funded without using property tax dollars—represents a small share of the total project cost. “This is about purposeful redevelopment,” said Jack McCarty, Mayor of North Richland Hills, TX. “We’re making a small investment to turn an underutilized property into something that delivers amenities citizens have asked for and provides lasting value to our community—economically and culturally”.

A Vision for Community Activation

MAD Concepts’ vision for this project extends beyond dining – it aims to create a year-round community destination. “If this site were simply a park, it would be activated only a few days a year for special events. Instead, we are developing two high-quality restaurants with an engaging yard that will serve as an energized gathering place year-round. We envision the community utilizing this space for family-get-togethers, post-game celebrations, and much more.” – Carter Wilson, Founder, Blue Plate Network.

About MAD Concepts Group

Based in Addison, Texas, MAD Concepts Group, founded by Courtney Lindley and Bob Gregg, currently operates 13 Jakes Burgers and Tacos & Avocados locations, with several new units under development. The company is also expanding into additional restaurant and entertainment ventures while supporting various partners at over 25 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. “We are a family of service-driven professionals focused on operational excellence and strong company culture, ensuring sustained growth and long-term success.” – Bob Gregg, Founder & COO, MAD Concepts Group.

About Blue Plate Network

Founded in 2012 by Carter Wilson, Blue Plate Network is committed to quality over quantity in restaurant real estate development. “Our approach is not about opening as many restaurants as possible but about strategically expanding into the right communities, fostering long-term relationships, and ensuring sustainable success. We believe we have found that opportunity in North Richland Hills.” – Carter Wilson, Founder, Blue Plate Network.

Malibu Jack's North Richland Hills – Texas’ largest indoor theme park – is now open! They've transformed the former “At Home” building located at 8651 Airport Fwy. into a 137,000 sq. ft. adventure-packed destination. From high-speed thrills to unforgettable adventures, every corner is filled with fun for all ages.  - Indoor go-karts - Spinning roller coaster - Jumpin’ Jacks Drop Tower - Zero gravity Whirlpool ride  - Laser tag - Glow golf - Duckpin bowling - 130+ arcade games & virtual reality playground - Bounce Beach for the littlest explorers“Malibu Jack’s is a great addition to North Richland Hills’ growing family-friendly attractions,” said Mayor Jack McCarty. “As Texas’ largest indoor theme park, its central location brings excitement to the DFW area. We’re excited to welcome them and know it will create lasting family memories.”Malibu Jack's is owned and operated by Five Star Parks & Attractions, which owns 27 family entertainment venues across the country. For more information, visit www.malibujacks.net. 

Today, we celebrated the groundbreaking of Apollo USA’s new Texas headquarters at 6321 Browning Court in North Richland Hills. Apollo USA is a promotional products company with over 25 years in the industry. In addition to locations in California, New Jersey, and Illinois, they’re now expanding to Texas with a 70,000+ square-foot office and manufacturing facility that will bring 70 new jobs to our community. We’re glad to welcome Apollo USA to North Richland Hills and look forward to seeing their new facility take shape!

The Economic Development department recently published its city-wide development report, detailing new and upcoming development in NRH. Sections include information on transportation projects, commercial additions, and the growth of our residential community. During the past year, the city welcomed over 90 new businesses, a net increase of 45 businesses, and processed 77 new development applications. This included 226 new single-family starts and over $52 million in capital invested into local commercial property. 

View the entire report at www.nrhed.com/developmentreport.

Peppa Pig Theme Park is now open in North Richland Hills! Located next to NRH₂O Family Water Park, it's the ultimate theme park for little ones with multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows. We are thrilled to welcome this family-friendly amenity to our community.

On Thursday, December 5, the city celebrated the many great businesses in North Richland Hills and their investment in our community at the 32nd Annual Business Appreciation Luncheon. Approximately 240 guests attended the event which included special guest speaker Brian Dameris, Color Analyst for the Dallas Mavericks. Special thanks to the Grand Hall and the following businesses for making the event memorable: Archer Printing and Promo, Blush Floral, Cristina’s Mexican Restaurant and Golden Crown Cookies and Mochi Donuts.

Jason's Deli recently opened in the former Chick-fil-A building at 5131 Rufe Snow Drive. The popular eatery has been one of the city’s most requested restaurants and features a menu of sandwiches, wraps, baked potatoes, pasta, soups, salads, and desserts, as well as catering items such as boxed lunches. The North Richland Hills location features their signature salad bar and free soft serve ice cream station alongside a drive-thru window for those on-the-go.

HTeaO is finally here! Located directly across from Birdville High School at 9021 Mid Cities Blvd., the Texas-based iced tea chain opened its doors on October 11. The store specializes in iced tea, with 26 flavors to choose from, ranging from mint to mango fresco. You can choose from sweet or unsweet tea and any flavors can be combined to try something new. What makes the HTeaO drinks special? The company says the secret is great water – HTeaO uses water purified with a reverse osmosis system, polished with minerals, and brewed with infused tea leaves. Stop by for a drink today. Visit them at www.hteao.com. 

If you are looking for a health-conscious eatery, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is now open in NRH! Located at 5198 Rufe Snow Drive, Ste. 126 on the corner of Dick Lewis Drive and Rufe Snow Drive (next to T-Mobile), they offer a refreshing selection of smoothies, flatbreads, wraps, bowls and more. Learn more by visiting www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com. 

Small business owners and remote workers take notice! A new office and coworking space in NRH designed to enhance productivity and work-life balance is now open. Caddo Office Reimagined recently opened their new location in front of B&B Theatres at 8376 Davis Boulevard. This is Caddo’s ninth location in the DFW area and its first in Tarrant County. Caddo offers flexible office solutions for individuals seeking the convenience of working near home with the professional environment of a traditional office. Offering different membership plans to suit different needs, Caddo’s perks include fast, fiber internet, members-only conference rooms, 24-hour access, private mailboxes, refrigerators, microwaves and coffee machines, plus on-site management. Join the 20 businesses that have already signed up for memberships! Learn more by visiting https://caddooffices.com/locations/north-tarrant-office-spaces/. hashtag

If you know a dedicated soccer player looking to focus on their technical development, Salient Touch Futbol Academy, now open in NRH may be just what they are looking for! Located at 6428 Davis Boulevard, Building 3 by Keyworth Brewing and Absolute Recomp, this is the Futbol Academy’s third location in DFW. The academy offers a flexible menu of technical training sessions for youth, designed to increase a player’s ability to maintain possession, improve their speed of play, and allow them to be more impactful on the field. Learn more about all that the academy offers by visiting www.salienttouch.com.

Starbucks Coffee Company and Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy store recently opened in NRH. Starbucks is located at 6205 Davis Blvd. It is the fourth Starbucks location in NRH offering both dine-in and drive thru service. NRH is happy to have a quality establishment filling a void of coffee options on this stretch of Davis Blvd. Stop by today to enjoy something cold on a HOT Texas day! Visit https://www.starbucks.com/ 

Braum’s opened their second location in NRH at 6800 Loop 820 next to Sweetie Pie's opened today. The other recently opened at 8364 Davis Boulevard in front of B&B Theatres. Treat yourself to their ice cream creations, salads, burgers and more. Plus, enjoy their fresh market that offers meat, produce, and bakery items! Visit https://www.braums.com/

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently published the following article announcing Walmart drone delivery coming to NRH.

Walmart delivery drones will soon start flying in North Richland Hills FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAMBY ELIZABETH CAMPBELLFEBRUARY 27, 2024

If you forgot to buy a rotisserie chicken or suddenly have a craving for ice cream, you can get those products in less than 30 minutes if you live in North Richland Hills. On Monday, North Richland Hills became the first Tarrant County city to allow drones to deliver groceries, medications and other items from Walmart stores at 6401 NE Loop 820 and 9101 North Tarrant Parkway. The City Council unanimously approved the request to allow Wing Aviation to build the landing pads/heliports in the parking lots of the Walmart stores. The pilot program will last a year.

North Richland Hills is the fourth North Texas city to allow the drones, joining Frisco, Little Elm and Lewisville. After the vote, council member Blake Vaughn said this is an exciting opportunity for the city. The drones are a much safer means of delivering items, he said. “I’m very excited about this project. I think it’s a good deal for North Richland Hills,” he said. 

The drones will take off and land from the Walmart stores. Bailey Edwars, government affairs director for Wing Aviation, said the drones, made mostly of Styrofoam, weigh about 11 pounds and can carry around two and a half pounds. The drones will have cameras and sensors to keep them from flying in to trees or other obstacles. After each order is placed, a flight plan will be created so the drones travel different routes when delivering the groceries. The drones can operate within a four- to six-mile radius of the Walmart stores, which means they are close to Colleyville, Keller and Fort Worth.

Ivan Jaime, director of government affairs for Walmart, said the company is always looking at new ways to deliver packages. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is an innovation hub for Walmart, meaning the company uses the market to test new technologies. “We are trying to be responsive to the customers,” he said.

Real estate professionals and employers across the nation have seen a major shift in workspace demand emerging out of the pandemic, trending towards coworking spaces and offices with shorter term leases. 

CBRE’s Head of Occupier Thought Leadership, Julie Whelan told CoStar News, “People have a totally different way of working now. The purpose of the office has changed, and while we continue to think there will be some end state to the return-to-office movement, I don’t think that exists. I absolutely think the need for flexibility will continue in the long term.”

Work schedules that have evolved past the typical 9-to-5 workday have left office tenants rearranging their real estate footprints to accommodate the shifts in how employees work. NRH Economic Development has seen this play out at the local level with a growing interest in shared workspaces in the city. According to Coworker Mag, the coworking industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. due to the consequences of the pandemic and the rise in hybrid work. 

NRH is home to five existing and two additional shared office and workspace concepts including Warespace, NT Suites, TrueSpace, Platinum Music Complex, The Maker Spot, and currently in the works, Caddo Offices and AFT Commercial. Not only do these businesses bring valuable professionals to our community, but some have occupied underutilized space, bringing life and vibrancy to mature properties. In addition, the business concepts promote an entrepreneurial ecosystem which fosters economic growth. 

Warespace (Flex Office/Warehouse), located at 7601 Boulevard 26 at the former Laser Quest site, opened in early 2023, providing small businesses, e-commerce companies, and creative entrepreneurs with small warehouse and office space, plus amenities to help businesses. The facility includes secure Wi-Fi, loading docks, a conference room, kitchen and lounge, warehouse equipment and more. Open 24/7 with flexible lease terms, WareSpace was founded to empower and enable small businesses by allowing them to operate with the same efficiency and advantages as large corporations. Learn more about WareSpace at https://warespace.com/.

NTsuites (Office), a shared space concept for small businesses, opened in 2021. A cross between traditional office suites and private salons, NTsuites offers affordable, individual suites with no term leases. Shared common areas with efficient designs offer small business tenants an opportunity to focus on growing their business. NTSuites was so successful that they expanded the building in 2022 to accommodate additional small businesses. To learn more, visit https://ntsuites.com/north-richland-hills/.

TrueSpace (Office) business center recently opened at 8713 Airport Fwy #310, offering both virtual office services and designated desk rentals. The business also offers a conference room that can be rented on an hourly basis. Visit www.truevirtualoffice.com for details. 

Caddo Offices (Office), under construction in front of B&B Theatres on Davis Boulevard, is a Dallas-based flexible office space firm. The nearly 40,000-square-foot, two-story building will offer flexible office rentals and coworking spaces, three types of membership options, 24/7 access, high-speed internet, on-site management, and a member café. For more information, visit www.caddooffices.com.

AFT Commercial (Office) recently purchased 4925 Davis Blvd, the first building as you exit the ramp off 820 with a grand two-story foyer leading to a range of individual, private lock-up-and-go offices and some multi-office suites for larger teams. The tenant community shares 24/7 access to well-equipped conference facilities, kitchen, and other public area amenities. They have a heart to see local businesses thrive and offer access to various executive suites in professional settings with the intent to see you and your business grow. Find out more at www.AFTCommercial.com.

Platinum Music Complex (Creative), while not your traditional co-working space, is the first notable shared workspace to open in the former City Hall building in 2019. Since then, the complex has become a premier destination for musicians and professionals across Tarrant County to rent rehearsal spaces. Described as the largest rehearsal and recording complex in the United States, Platinum Music boasts a top-quality recording studio, podcast/video space, over 100 rehearsal spaces, music lessons, a concert hall, and even a film set which has served as the backdrop for several Lifetime TV shows. For additional details, visit www.platinummusiccomplex.com.

The Maker Spot (Creative) is a 4,500 square foot makerspace on the second floor of the NRH Library. This community workspace is a place where Library cardholders can visit to create, explore, collaborate, and innovate. Equipment available for use includes 3D printers, a drill press, soldering station, scroll saw, sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, audio production/editing tools and more. Get more info at www.library.nrhtx.com/themakerspot.   

The current shared spaces in NRH have become popular due to their flexibility, collaboration, productivity, and community. This real estate sector is expected to continue growing and it is no surprise that additional coworking spaces have shown interest. The city’s desirable location, proximity to highways, transportation, and abundant, well-educated workforce make North Richland Hills an ideal location for professional office space.

For over 40 years, 7301 NE Loop 820 was home to North Richland Hills’ municipal complex until 2016, when city departments moved to a new location off Boulevard 26 in order to consolidate City Hall, Public Safety and Municipal Court services into one campus. In 2019, the former city facility was sold and occupied by Platinum Music Complex. The 78,000 square foot space has been transformed from a hub for city services into what is described as the largest rehearsal and recording complex in the nation, filled with the sounds of local artists and musicians.

Duane Tyree, owner of Platinum Music, has been in the music industry for over 30 years as a singer/songwriter and he opened his first Platinum Music Complex in Dallas in 2016. When he first toured the former City Hall building, he immediately had a vision for a second location. The former Council Chambers would become a performance stage, offices would be converted into individual practice rooms of various sizes and the jail would remain unchanged, serving as a film set for TV shows and movies. That vision became a reality as the complex has become a premier destination for musicians and professionals across Tarrant County. Platinum Music boasts a top-quality recording studio, podcast/video space, over 100 rehearsal spaces, music lessons, a concert hall, and even a film set which has served as the backdrop for several Lifetime TV shows.

Rehearsal spaces are available for rent by the month, studio space can be rented hourly which comes with a team of experienced engineers, and the concert hall and film set are also available for rent. The facility is well-maintained, open 24/7, and provides top notch security including cutting-edge surveillance cameras and secure, locked doors for each space. In addition, the complex offers music lessons from expert instructors in guitar, drums, voice, and piano.

The facility is one of a kind and anyone who visits can tell that Mr. Tyree has put a lot of hard work and personal touches into the building. From the custom woodwork he built in the studios to the hand painted artwork on the walls, each space was carefully thought out and planned. If you’re ever in the area and would like a tour, give Mr. Tyree a call to set up an appointment and he would love to show you around. For more information, visit www.platinummusiccomplex.com or text 469-735-5313 to schedule a tour.

Peppa Pig visited NRH this morning to kick off the construction of Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth! The new park will be located at the former Mountasia Family Fun Center on Boulevard 26 next to NRH2O Family Water Park. Mayor Trevino and members of the City Council joined Peppa for this morning’s groundbreaking, along with officials from Hasbro, owner of the Peppa Pig brand, and Merlin Entertainments, who will build and operate the park. Opening in 2024, this will be only the second Peppa Pig Theme Park in North America with the other one in Florida. The $26 Million investment by Merlin will bring 100 new full and part-time jobs to North Richland Hills. Hiring will start later this year.

City officials recently joined Centurion American Development Group to break ground for the first phase of the City Point commercial district, which will bring new businesses to the community. City Point is the 52-acre development under construction on Boulevard 26, south of Loop 820, surrounding City Hall. Aside from being home to 2,500 new residents, plans include 60,000 square feet of commercial space as a centerpiece of the development between City Hall and Boulevard 26 along City Point Drive. While specific businesses have not yet been announced, we look forward to welcoming new businesses in the future. For more information and to keep track of business announcements as they become available, visit www.nrhed.com/citypoint. To view a video of the groundbreaking ceremony, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFqmlQ0U4kE.

Big things are coming to the former Mountasia Family Fun Center on Boulevard 26, next to NRH2O Family Water Park! The 14-acre site will be redeveloped to make way for a standalone Peppa Pig Theme Park. Designed to be the ultimate theme park experience for little ones, the park will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows, all based on instantly recognizable locations from the globally popular television series. 

Opening in 2024, this will be only the second Peppa Pig Theme Park in North America with the other one in Florida. Peppa Pig Theme Parks are a partnership between Hasbro, owner of the Peppa Pig brand, and Merlin Entertainments which operates more than 140 attractions in 25 countries, including LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE® Aquariums. They also operate the smaller, indoor Peppa Pig World of Play inside Grapevine Mills Mall. 

North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino said the company’s newest attraction is a great fit for our community. “North Richland Hills is known for its family-friendly amenities and activities--we could not be more thrilled to add Peppa Pig Theme Park to the mix. This will be a great addition to our community. Conveniently located next door to NRH2O Family Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park will bring more energy to an area already known as a destination for family fun. I’m certain it will provide unforgettable entertainment that keeps families coming back again and again.”

To get a sneak peek at what the Peppa Pig Theme Park will have to offer, sign up for the Peppa Pig Theme Park emails https://www.peppapigthemepark.com/dallas-ft-worth/. 

See the full press release from Merlin Entertainments and Hasbro, Inc. below.  

NORTH AMERICA’S SECOND PEPPA PIG THEME PARK TO OPEN IN NORTH TEXAS IN 2024

Merlin Entertainments Brings Partnership with Hasbro to Life Again to Create a Playful Place Perfect for a First Theme Park Experience

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX (March 7, 2023) — Starting in 2024, families will be able to enter the playful world of Peppa Pig for an unforgettable day of adventure at North America’s second Peppa Pig Theme Park set to open in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

Designed to be the ultimate theme park experience for little ones, this all-new standalone theme park located in North Richland Hills will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows, all based on instantly recognizable locations from the globally popular brand. Families will meet Peppa and her friends as they snort, giggle and play to build their first theme park memories together.

Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based entertainment with brands including LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE® Aquariums, has a licensing agreement with global branded entertainment leader Hasbro, owner of the Peppa Pig brand, to build and operate Peppa Pig attractions, targeted at the preschool market, as part of its broader strategy to engage in partnerships with some of the world’s most popular brands.

“Merlin’s platform and reach continues to grow in the U.S. as we build on the success of the world’s first standalone Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida. Given the incredible success of our LEGOLAND® Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium in Grapevine, TX, the North Richland Hills community was a natural next step in our expansion and rollout,” said Chief Executive Officer of Merlin Entertainments Scott O’Neil. “Merlin is the definitive partner of choice for brands engaging children, holding the research, care, experience and interest in bringing iconic brands to life through location-based attractions. Thank you to our friends at Hasbro for partnering with us to bring the playful world of Peppa Pig to this vibrant community.”

“The success of the Peppa Pig Theme Park has been phenomenal, and we are excited to embark on the journey again with our friends at Merlin to bring another park to the city of North Richland Hills, TX,” said Matt Proulx, Vice President Location Based Entertainment at Hasbro.   Adding another Peppa Pig Theme Park for fans to experience continues our Blueprint 2.0 strategy of offering more meaningful ways for families to engage with our brands.  We cannot wait for more guests to create lifelong memories with Peppa and her friends.”

“North Richland Hills is known for its family-friendly amenities and activities and we could not be more thrilled to add Peppa Pig Theme Park to the mix. This will be a great addition to our community,” said North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino. “Conveniently located next door to NRH2O Family Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park will bring more energy to an area already known as a destination for family fun. I’m certain it will provide unforgettable entertainment that keeps families coming back again and again.”

Fans and parents of future “little piggies” can be among the first to hear new details and get a sneak peek at all the new park will have to offer by signing up for the Peppa Pig Theme Park emails at  https://www.peppapigthemepark.com/dallas-ft-worth/.   

Oink, oink!

##

About Merlin Entertainments

Merlin Entertainments is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. As Europe's number one and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin operates more than 140 attractions, 23 hotels and 6 holiday villages in 25 countries spanning four continents. Merlin’s purpose is to deliver memorable experiences to its millions of guests around the world, through its iconic brands and multiple attraction formats, and the commitment and passion of its employees.  See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information and follow on Twitter @MerlinEntsNews.

About Hasbro 

Hasbro is a global branded entertainment leader whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through gaming, consumer products and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands.

Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit www.corporate.hasbro.com.

North Richland Hills is experiencing reinvestment in commercial property surrounding the City Point development. In October 2021, LFP Properties Inc. acquired a 39-year-old 15,000 sf Class B office building at 4109 City Point Drive based on its close proximity to City Point and Medical City North Hills. Located just north of Glenview Drive at the southern entry of City Point, renovations are currently underway, including a new façade, roof, electrical system, and resurfaced parking lot. LFP estimates project completion by Q3 2022. City Point is a $200+ million, 70 acre mixed use development surrounding the 171,000 sf City Hall complex and next to the 176-bed Medical City North Hills hospital complex. For more information about City Point, visit www.nrhed.com/citypoint.

Texas economist Ray Perryman headlined the Northeast Leadership Forum's (NLF) Annual Luncheon last week. Always a treasure trove of information, the Fort Worth Business Press summed up his comments from the luncheon. North Richland Hills Councilmember Tito Rodriguez was awarded the 2021 Distinguished Leadership Award for his service to the Northeast Tarrant County area, whose community involvement spans not only within the City of North Richland Hills, but also the United Way of Tarrant County and Trinity Metro.

The Northeast Leadership Forum is an organization focused on enhancing and promoting the economic vitality and quality of life in Northeast Tarrant County. Established over 30 years ago, the NLF was an exclusive organization limited to 100 members with the purpose of identifying and discussing major issues. Today the Forum is no longer limited, and is well over 100 members strong, consisting of regional business leaders and elected officials. Membership in the Forum offers more value than at any other time as it increases face to face connections with fellow community leaders in a way that magnifies your level of influence and effectiveness. Contact Craig Hulse at chulse@nrhtx.com if you’re interested in joining the NLF.

https://fortworthbusiness.com/business/economist-ray-perryman-sums-up-the-world-at-leadership-luncheon/

In July 2021, North Richland Hills became home to the new corporate headquarters of Give Me The VIN (GMTV), the largest vehicle wholesaler in the country with over $1.5 Billion in vehicle purchases in 2021. GMTV buys cars from individuals so they don’t have to bother selling them themselves or through traditional car dealers. The company buys over 1,000 vehicles each week, receiving an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Give Me The VIN decided to locate from the west side of Fort Worth to North Richland Hills to be closer to the center of the Metroplex with easy access to multiple major transportation arteries in every direction. Freeway visibility, larger space, an affordable building and proximity to a high-quality workforce also factored into their relocation.

John Clay Wolfe, President and Founder of GMTV, has hosted the nationally syndicated John Clay Wolfe Show for over a decade, which can be heard on over 60 radio stations from coast to coast each Saturday morning, including 92.5 KZPS here in DFW. It all started over 25 years ago as John lived in Vernon, Texas where he owned several car dealerships. In 2008, he began his radio show, where he purchased vehicles from customers on the air. With the advent of the internet, John created the concept of buying and selling vehicles online. Give Me The VIN now has approximately 150 employees, including a team of national buyers who provide personal service, buying thousands of vehicles per month.

Give Me The VIN offers a unique process where sellers submit an online form, and the computer generates a quote based on vehicle mileage, options, and condition. They advertise that it's so easy you can do it in your underwear. Upon verification from a vehicle specialist, GMTV schedules a time to pick up/inspect the vehicle and exchange the title for payment. If you’re looking to sell a vehicle, check out GiveMeTheVIN.com and see if it may be a good solution for you. You might not only make a profit, but you’ll be supporting a North Richland Hills business while you’re at it!

Experience authentic Sri Lankan cuisine at its finest when you visit family-owned Spicy Zest Café & Boba, located at 8427 Boulevard 26 at the corner of Harwood in North Richland Hills. Similar to South Indian food, owner Nimidu Senaratne takes pride in his mouth-watering “made fresh” menu with 100% natural herbs and spices and no artificial colors or flavors. Nearly 10 years ago, Senaratne started Spicy Zest as a catering business, but now has two established restaurants in North Texas and is advertised as the only Sri Lankan Restaurant in the entire state!

Featuring fan favorites like “Kottu NRH”—an uber thin pan-toasted Sri Lankan style tortilla with carrots, cabbage, onion, unique spices and your choice of protein and “Zesty Tacos” with red onions, lettuce, cabbage, cheese, guacamole and a spicy sauce. If you prefer to stop in for a snack, you’ll find spring rolls, chicken puff pastries and veggie or lamb roti (flatbread) wraps. The Boba bar offers WiFi connection and a variety of milk teas, smoothies, and fruit teas, so you can plan to stay for a while. Additionally, a unique feature of Spicy Zest is the Sri Lankan grocery section, with specialty herbs, sauces and packaged selections. The business also offers takeout, curbside, delivery, catering and kid-friendly selections.

A 10% discount is offered to Veterans and senior citizens, as well as doctors, nurses and active police officers, since the pandemic started.  Learn more about Spicy Zest Café & Boba by visiting them at www.spicyzest.com. Dine NRH spotlights family-owned, unique restaurants that the community may not be aware of. Look for the Dine NRH feature each month for some new places to try out! 

In Fall of 2019, Weby Corp, now known as GRITR Sports & Outdoors, moved their corporate headquarters from Arlington to North Richland Hills, occupying the former Total Shooting Sports building at 7901 Boulevard 26. This was a monumental addition to NRH, not only because they occupied a large, prominent building in a key area of town, but also because they were the first large-scale omni-channel retailer to open in the city. The retailer represents more than 800 widely known brands in both physical storefronts and popular third-party online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay and Walmart.com. In addition to their corporate offices, the NRH location houses a distribution warehouse, pistol and rifle range, and retail showroom, offering outdoor accessories, sporting goods, and the largest firearm inventory in DFW, all of which may be purchased online or in-store. 

Since 2019, e-commerce has continued to grow nationwide, increasing demand for omni-channel retailers like GRITR. The company has seen double digit growth over the past 5 years, totaling $80 million in gross sales in 2021 and shipping between 1,000-2,000 packages to consumers each day. As sales volume increased, so did the need for space. Luckily, GRITR was in a position for expansion as their property had room for growth. In 2020, the business took over the remainder of the building, adding 41,000 sq. ft. of space and making room for new categories of products including surf gear, skis, snowboards, workout equipment and more. Just in the past year, GRITR has grown from 42 employees to 76, and they are currently hiring with starting wages of $18/hour.

What’s next for GRITR? The company recently began creating and selling their own line of outdoor gear including items like holsters, knives, bags, and cleaning kits. They’d like to continue to expand the GRITR line in the coming years. They also plan to begin selling specialty overland off-road vehicles on display at their NRH location and have big plans to someday expand their business to Europe. If you haven’t already stopped by, check them out. For more information, visit GritrOutdoors.com or www.gritrsports.com/our-store. Follow GRITR on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gritrsports/.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4.2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of North Richland Hills, Texas, to improve Iron Horse Boulevard in support of the growth and retention of local industry and manufacturers, including a major manufacturer of medical and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This EDA grant, to be matched with more than $1 million in local investment, is expected to create 200 jobs and retain 832 jobs.

A new 1 Million Cups (1MC) community is coming to Northeast Tarrant County and NRH Economic Development is pleased to be serving on the founding organizing committee. This national program (founded by the Kauffman Foundation) exists to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs. Each week, two early-stage business startups present their companies to an audience of community-based mentors, advisors, and fellow entrepreneurs. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 9am all across the U.S. and the first Northeast Tarrant County meeting is scheduled to be held virtually on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. 

1 Million Cups NE Tarrant is currently looking for presenters, so if you know of someone who is thinking of starting a business or recently opened a business, please reach out and let us know! Visit https://bit.ly/1MC_NET for more information. 

The City of NRH and its Economic Development Department recently received two awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a Washington D.C. based industry organization representing over 5,000 professionals. Out of a pool of nearly 500 entries, the annual awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs, projects and partnerships. These awards honor both organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.  The city’s work on City Point received a Silver Award for Creative Financing and a Bronze Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse. The honor was presented at a virtual awards ceremony during the IEDC’s annual conference on October 19, 2020.

“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the very best of economic development and exemplify the ingenuity, integrity, and leadership that our profession strives for each and every day,” said 2020 IEDC Board Chair and One Columbus CEO Kenny McDonald. “We’re honored to recognize the communities whose programs, projects and partnerships have measurably improved regional quality of life.”

Mall site redevelopment moves ahead with North Richland Hills project

Centurion American plans a residential and commercial project at Tarrant County site

By Steve Brown9:57 AM on Jan 16, 2020

Developers are breaking ground soon on a Tarrant County mixed-use development being built on the former site of a regional shopping mall. Centurion American Development group purchased more than 50 acres on Grapevine Highway in North Richland Hills where North Hills Mall once stood. The shopping center closed and was torn down in 2007 to make way for a mixed-use project called City Point. North Richland Hills built a new city hall and a public safety and municipal court complex on part of the property. 

Now Centurion American is moving ahead with a residential and commercial project on the adjoining land. “Centurion American is currently in the design phase of this project and will begin development in the first quarter of 2020,” Centurion American’s Trevor Kollinger said. “We are proud to introduce an exciting, new mixed-use development to North Richland Hills, which will include 364 single-family lots, 8 acres of multifamily development, 60,000 square feet of commercial space, a hotel site, an amenity center, a trail system and green space.

“This will be a transformational project for the community.” The North Richland Hills project is the second mall redevelopment for Centurion American, which is one of North Texas’ busiest developers. Centurion American is replacing the 37-year-old Collin Creek Mall on U.S. Highway 75 in Plano with a $1 billion-plus mixed-use project with thousands of new homes, commercial space and parks. The North Hills Mall site is smaller but will also have a broad mix of construction. “We are excited to see redevelopment in this area of North Richland Hills moving forward and believe it will be a catalyst for additional redevelopment and revitalization in the area,” Mayor Oscar Trevino said in a statement. Centurion American is the developer that restored downtown Dallas’ landmark Statler Hotel. It has residential projects throughout North Texas. The developer also recently started a 54-acre housing and commercial development called Iron Horse Village on land next to the historic rodeo arena in Mesquite.

Visit the Dallas Morning News website https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2020/01/16/mall-site-redevelopment-moves-ahead-with-north-richland-hills-project/ to find the article online.

Whether your lifelong dream is to own your own business or you’re curious about the process of starting a new business, don’t miss the Clear Vision Business Building Workshop series taking place on Wednesdays beginning on January 22nd at the North Richland Hills Library. These free workshops presented by The North Texas Entrepreneur Education and Training Center will cover a variety of topics focused on the startup process and managing your new business including Vision Board Development, Getting Started in Business, Going Beyond the DBA, Social Media Madness, and Balancing Books. Space is limited. For more information and to register, visit https://lnkd.in/ekuMap7

BY: CARLA JIMENEZFort Worth Star-TelegramMarch 28, 2019 06:00 AM

North Texas-based company Convergence Capital is developing a large strip of land in North Richland Hills for retail, restaurant and office use.

The development is called Berry Creek Village and will span over 10.5 acres along Mid Cities Boulevard, across the street from Birdville High School. According to the plans, there will be 15 lots and room for 20 tenants. The pad sites along Mid Cities Boulevard are slated for restaurant use and the remaining spaces can be office and retail space.

Rhonda Berry, the president of Convergence Capital, said the company is lining up a medical group and a restaurant as tenants, but could not give the names of the tenants.

Berry said community connection is a top priority for the development, and the plans for Berry Creek Village reflect that.

“For one of our featured lots in Berry Creek Village, we are in the process of designing a coffee coworking space that will be part of our ‘created community’ that we will also own and operate,” Berry said in an email.

Construction of Berry Creek Village will be split into two phases: the first phase will be office space, and is under construction. The second phase will begin site work in a few months.