I track building permits filed with the City of Rowlett and cross-reference with what's circulating on social media. Here's the confirmed vs rumored business openings for 2026.
Confirmed (permits filed or construction visible):
- Chick-fil-A (second location) — on Highway 66 east of Dalrock. Drive-through focused design. Permit filed, site work started. This is the most-requested business in every Rowlett survey.
- Starbucks (new build) — pad site on Lakeview Pkwy near the Kroger center. Replacing the older location with a larger drive-through format.
- Express car wash — Highway 66 near Chiesa Rd. Part of a regional chain. Rowlett already has several car washes but apparently the market supports more.
- Medical office complex — Lakeview Pkwy north of PGBT. Multi-tenant. Likely urgent care, dental, and specialist offices.
- Two fast-casual restaurants — permits filed on Highway 66 corridor but tenant names not yet on the filings. Based on the building specs, likely chain restaurants.
Strongly rumored (multiple sources but no permits yet):
- H-E-B — this is the #1 rumor in Rowlett. H-E-B has been expanding aggressively in DFW (Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Mansfield). A Rowlett location has been discussed in community forums and at least one council member has referenced conversations with H-E-B reps. No confirmed site yet. The most likely location would be somewhere on the 66 corridor with enough acreage for their standard 100,000+ sq ft format.
- TopGolf or similar entertainment venue — mentioned in Sapphire Bay planning discussions as a possible anchor tenant.
- Brewery/taproom — downtown area, consistent with the Downtown Master Plan's desire for an anchor food/beverage tenant.
Wishful thinking (requested constantly but no evidence):
- Costco (the lot sizes available in Rowlett don't support their model)
- Bucee's (requires highway interchange with massive traffic counts — Rowlett doesn't have the right site)
- Whataburger upgrade (the existing Rowlett location is fine but dated — no renovation permits filed)
Recently opened:
- Several new restaurants and retail shops on the Highway 66 corridor opened in late 2025
- New urgent care facility on Lakeview Pkwy
Sources:
- City of Rowlett — building permit database
- Rowlett City Council meeting minutes
- Rowlett Community Facebook groups (for rumor sourcing, verified where possible)
Another car wash? We have like six already. Who is doing the market research that says Rowlett needs another car wash?