The Arboretum Plans New Restaurants, Retail, and Outdoor Spaces in Northwest Austin
Northwest Austin’s longtime shopping destination, The Arboretum, is preparing for a major facelift after being acquired by Charlotte-based Asana Partners in February. Known for its towering trees, shaded walkways, and open-air storefronts at Great Hills Trail and Research Boulevard, the decades-old property is set to add new restaurants, outdoor gathering spaces, and pedestrian-friendly trails while preserving its distinctive tree cover.
The upcoming renovation addresses a portion of the roughly 200,000-square-foot shopping center’s perimeter that Asana Partners has characterized as underutilized. Forrest Cherry, senior director of portfolio management at Asana Partners, noted that a 14,000-square-foot retail expansion facing Great Hills Trail will accommodate three new businesses, with at least two slated to be restaurants.
Timeline and Architectural Design for Great Hills Trail Expansion
Construction on the new perimeter addition is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with the new businesses opening by fall 2028. The redesign is led by the Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, which plans to incorporate warm wood accents and simple, elegant architecture to complement the existing property. Alongside the new storefronts, the plans feature outdoor patios, though Asana Partners has not yet announced which specific businesses or restaurants will occupy the spaces.
Beyond the retail addition, shoppers will see property-wide updates including expanded outdoor seating, children’s play areas, and improved pedestrian connections linking restaurants to the main courtyard near Amy’s Ice Cream and Café de Bliss. That central courtyard is slated to receive lighting improvements, paved surface updates, additional signage, and more seating options.
Developer Plans Retail Additions Without Disclosing Improvement Costs
While Asana Partners envisions both daytime and evening activities for the neighborhood, details regarding those specific events remain unfinalized. “Introducing select retailers and thoughtfully curated events will better align the center with the neighborhood and create a destination where guests want to spend their time,” Cherry stated. Asana Partners declined to disclose the expected cost of the property improvements.
