An Austin-based sustainable building supply store is redefining the face of a highly visible shopping center in the neighborhood. TreeHouse is hoping for a 2017 opening of its second store, but not before The Hill at Walnut Hill Lane and North Central Expressway gets a major makeover.
Soon, the Condoms To Go sign that has long been visible from the highway will be replaced by expansive green space, more in line with the eco-friendly designs TreeHouse stakes its name on. According to the Dallas Morning News, Red Hot and Blue Barbecue will expand into the space currently occupied by the adult store, while TreeHouse broke ground just up the hill.
TreeHouse is famous for its park-like settings and, naturally, its hyper-green designs. Inc. magazine says the company is “redefining the big-box store experience,” which is just what 33-year-old founder Jason Ballard is trying to create.
He came out of the gate with a fully formed concept, a store that would be part retail and part gathering space, dotted with parks and coffee shops in tiny houses, for example. The 25,000-square-foot site will include between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet of dedicated green space.
It was a concept that took off in hippie-chic Austin, where revenue grew 70 percent year-over-year, according to ICSC, a building industry trade magazine. Their model allows them to stay small by offering just three versions of each item, which are labeled “better,” “best” and “exceptional.”
The shopping center plans to follow suit design-wise, putting added emphasis on green space, the Dallas Morning News reports. The Dallas-based Cypress Equities is overseeing the redevelopment of the corner where new parks and business facades are planned.