The District in Round Rock has moved into a new phase of construction with work underway on a restaurant and retail plaza near SH 45 and I-35.

The newly reported commercial phase covers about 41,500 square feet across six single-story buildings planned for restaurants, shops and lifestyle businesses.

For residents who have watched the project evolve for years, this is one of the clearest signs yet that the mixed use development is beginning to look more like a place people may actually visit, not just a master plan on paper.

The retail plaza is expected to accommodate roughly nine to 14 concepts, depending on how the buildings are divided.

Two buildings are designed for single restaurant users, while the others can be configured for multiple tenants.

No individual restaurants or retailers have been publicly confirmed, so residents should treat tenant speculation as exactly that for now.

The retail development sits within the larger 65-acre District project across from Dell Technologies and south of State Highway 45.

The broader plan includes offices, housing, hotels, retail, restaurants, gathering spaces and a pedestrian-oriented street network designed to make the property function as more than a traditional shopping center.

A major residential component is already under construction, and the new plaza represents another visible layer of that long-range plan.

Round Rock officials have supported the project through long-term development agreements and infrastructure planning, with milestones stretching well beyond the current construction cycle.

The city has previously described The District as a multi-million-square-foot development intended to add commercial activity, housing and new public-facing destinations over time.

The restaurant and retail buildings are currently targeted for delivery in 2028.

That timeline means residents should expect construction activity well before they see a finished dining and shopping destination.

The most important change is not a grand opening date yet; it is that construction has started on the part of the project most residents will eventually experience directly.

Developers have described the plaza as a more experience-oriented setting, with outdoor gathering areas and landscaping inspired by the Hill Country rather than a simple row of storefronts.

That approach could matter in a part of Round Rock where employers, apartments, hotels and major roadways already bring heavy daily traffic.

The District is also being built in stages, so different pieces may open years apart rather than arriving as one completed development.

For local businesses, the construction creates a future opportunity worth watching closely.

Restaurant announcements, retail leases, hiring, opening dates and transportation changes will all become separate stories as the project advances.

Until those details are official, the safest way to follow The District is milestone by milestone.

Right now, the milestone is straightforward: the dining and retail phase is finally moving from planning into physical construction.

Official project: The District

City background: City of Round Rock project history

Reporting source: Austin Business Journal, Oct. 15, 2026

Hero image is a representative mixed-use retail photo, not a photograph or rendering of The District. Photo by Giorgi Avetisyan on Pexels.