‘We’re not done’: Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, travel center, more planned in Mercedes

MERCEDES — The city of Mercedes hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the Gateway Travel Center, which is bringing Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s restaurants to the Queen City.

The 11,500-square-foot convenience store and travel center, which will be located on the northeast corner of Mile 2 East and Expressway 83, will feature a deli, showers, an area for laundry, and a 24-hour Wendy’s restaurant. The store will also be bringing a full Chick-fil-A to the store location.

“Today we are celebrating with one of the biggest projects that we have,” Fred Gonzalez, board president for the Mercedes Area Chamber of Commerce and president of the Development Corporation, said. “This project is spearheading a domino effect with other businesses coming into town as well.”

The store and the two restaurants are estimated to bring approximately 70 new jobs to the area, starting with the Chick-fil-A — which is anticipated to open in December. Total completion of the travel center will come early next year.

The travel center marks another new development for Mercedes, that includes a Starbucks, which the city confirmed during Wednesday’s ceremony, and a Sonic Drive-In, which was set to open Saturday across from HEB Park at 620 E. Second St. The Sonic Drive-In is bringing 50 jobs to the area.

“This project here has developed a lot of excitement for the city and the Mid-Valley,” Gonzalez said. “Mercedes is centrally located throughout the Valley. Mercedes is sandwiched in between two of the major airports here in the Valley too. I can tell you that since the announcement of the Gateway Travel Center coming in with the two restaurants, we’ve had developers running up and down the expressway and combing our downtown area to see how they too can invest in our communities.

“We’re not done.”

Mohamed Sharaf, who serves as owner of Aradi Properties and vice-president of development for Victron Energy was on-hand Wednesday for the groundbreaking ceremony. He said that customers to his store can expect “the very nicest, the cleanest, and best service of any convenience store and travel center in the Valley.”

“The atmosphere and the friendliness of the (Rio Grande Valley) people is second to none in any region, in any place that I’ve dealt with anywhere,” Sharaf said. “I think definitely a part of that is the Mexican culture and Hispanic culture here. Definitely, also I think part of that is the small town roots that you see and the humility and the family values that you see in this community.”

Sharaf said that the city’s location in the Valley with its proximity to the Valley’s larger communities and shopping centers played a large role in his decision to develop the store in Mercedes.

“I personally think it’s completely a hidden gem,” Sharaf said. “I consider myself fortunate and lucky to have found it. I think other people are going to start catching on and coming here very soon.”

According to Mayor Oscar Montoya, the company has invested over $15 million in the new project. When asked for the amount the city of Mercedes invested, the mayor said he did not have those numbers available at that moment. However, he said that the city’s investment was “very little.”

“(Sharaf’s) investment alone in the city is a boom for us that we haven’t seen in probably 16 years,” Montoya said. “We’re really excited. This is our second big-box store that has opened up here. …We’re just excited. We’re excited for the energy that it’s creating.”

The mayor said that the new developments are further proof of the city’s continued growth — growth that includes housing development as well.

On Thursday, the city hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Valley Ranch Subdivision, which will feature 181 lots. The subdivision will be located on the corner of Mile 8 North and Mile 1 East.

“We’re excited that people are selecting Mercedes — that it’s become a hotbed for business,” Montoya said. “We’re open for business.”