by Kevin Force, Editor
As countless new subdivisions pop up on the north side of the lake, so, too, come the commercial developments. The newest of these is Northshore Crossing, currently under construction at the corner of Star Grass Road and FM 306 across from Rebecca Creek Elementary School.
The development is the brainchild of Trent Christian and his father, Buddy, who feel that the north side of the lake is in desperate need for a grocery and convenience store.
"We saw the need out there for that type of facility," said Christian, whose family has been involved in the grocery business for 37 years.
The Christians stumbled onto the property while exploring the Mystic Shores subdivision for a home. They quickly decided that the commercial property had some value, and recognizing the need for a grocery store in the growing area, bought the land from Mystic Shores.
"I went out there to look at some residential property, and by chance inquired about the commercial property," Christian said. "We saw how the area was growing and noticed that there were not a lot of services and amenities out there."
So the Christians made their first venture into commercial development and contracted NDS Construction of Bulverde to build on the site. Ground broke there one month ago, and Christian said that a foundation slab and walls should go up in the next three to four weeks.
Buddy's Northshore Crossing, the name of the small-scale grocery store, will be similar to the new Fischer's Neighborhood Market that opened last summer at FM 2673 and FM 3159. The 5400-square-foot facility won't include the McDonald's, but will offer produce, frozen foods and fresh meats, along with Chevron brand gasoline.
"We'll also have seasonal products, like boiled crawfish and things of that nature," Christian said.
The development's plans will include retail lease space on the nine-acre property, although no other businesses have yet agreed to fill the space.
"We're just trying to get the construction out of the way first," Christian said. "I think people might be more likely to commit to leasing after they see the project through to completion."
The new owners do not seem to think that filling the development will be a problem because of the rash of growth on the north side of the lake. The Northshore Crossing development is just the latest addition to the area, which also has added two major housing subdivisions and the stylish Canyon Lake High School.
Christian plans to have the store open and operational in mid- to late-April and will start seeking tenants for the rest of the property somewhere between four and six weeks prior to the store's opening.
Originally from Louisiana where it owned and operated several smaller grocery stores, the family is in the process of relocating from Austin to Canyon Lake. The commercial property was not the only purchase it made from Mystic Shores Trent will move into his new residence there once its construction is complete.
"It's a dream come true," Christian said of the father-son venture.
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