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)
The second Chick-fil-A cannot open fast enough. The existing one on Lakeview backs up traffic into the road during lunch. A second location on 66 will help.