Going up against each other for customers and retailers will be the 800,000-sf Promenade Shops at Shadow Creek, planned for the intersection of Beltway 8 South and Texas 288, and the 700,000-sf Pearland Town Center, an open-air, lifestyle development that will rise at the FM 518 and 288 junction. Both centers have already signed nationally known retailers. Foley's and Dillard's have inked agreements to anchor the multimillion-dollar Pearland Town Center while the Promenade has Bass Pro Shops lined up.

Stephen Lebovitz, president of the Chattanooga, TN-based CBL & Associates Properties Inc. which is developing Pearland Town Center, tells GlobeSt.com that rapid growth in the area coupled with a demand by retailers who are underrepresented in the Houston market guarantee the success of his project. And with Foley's and Dillard's as anchors, he says, the mall is guaranteed the credibility and strength to draw other retailers to its doors.

"We feel this gives the project tremendous credibility and strength to draw junior anchors, restaurants and other retailers to the project," Lebovitz says about the anchor commitments. He says negotiations are under way with several other retailers, but no firm commitments have yet been made.