Starbucks is aggressively expanding, according to retailbrokers, as is Texas Land & Cattle restaurant; SaltgrassSteakhouse; Whataburger, IHOP and Kentucky Fried Chicken - all ofwhich have opened locations this year at Interstate 35 and WellsBranch in Pflugerville.

Other retailers in an Austin expansion mode include Lowe's,which has opened at Stassney and Interstate 35; Pottery Barn atBarton Creek Mall; Bed Bath & Beyond at Texas 290 and Westgate;and Academy Sports & Outdoors at Texas 290 and MoPac.

Says Herb Weitzman, president of The Weitzman Group of Dallas,which continually monitors the pulse of the Austin retail market:"This strong retailer demand continues to fuel an active shoppingcenter construction pace. During 1999, the market addedapproximately 2 million square feet of new retail space. This year,we should see between 1.5 million to 2 million square feet of newspace added."