Target is getting ready to plant its big red bullseye in Dripping Springs. The retailer has purchased roughly 10½ acres along U.S. 290 and plans to build a 145,000-square-foot store at 13550 West U.S. 290. The sale closed on Jan. 12, 2026, and the tract is set to anchor a proposed multi‑pad retail center marketed by Houston developer Property Commerce. The move lands as the Hill Country town has more than doubled in population since 2020, reshaping where locals go to shop.
Target's Purchase And Plans
Target recorded the purchase of the tract in Hays County and confirmed its intention to build at the site, according to the San Antonio Express-News. In a statement to the paper, Target spokesperson Loni Monroe said the company is “excited to bring an easy, affordable and convenient shopping experience to new guests in the Dripping Springs community.” Executives with Property Commerce did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the reporting notes.
Plans For The Center
Broker and listing materials describe the site as a multi‑pad project called The Village at Dripping Springs, with plans that show an attached retail building of about 7,900 square feet, another 11,400‑square‑foot building across the lot, and four additional lots fronting U.S. 290, according to the project's commercial listing on CommercialCafe. The listing identifies the property as 13550 U.S. 290 and details the acreage available for future tenants.
How It Fits The Local Map
Dripping Springs' population has surged in recent years, with U.S. Census estimates putting the town at about 10,165 residents in 2024, up sharply from 2020, per the U.S. Census Bureau. The growth has expanded the customer base for big‑box and everyday retail. The planned Target site is roughly two miles west of the H‑E‑B that opened in 2023 and about 11 miles west of the nearest Austin Target at the U.S. 290–Mopac crossing, with another store in Bee Cave around nine miles away, according to the San Antonio Express-News. For many residents, the new anchor could trim regular trips into Austin for groceries and household basics.
Permitting, Timing And What's Next
Local commercial reporting shows Property Commerce filed site‑preparation and foundation permit applications with Hays County while marketing the land, and brokers said the tract was under contract before the sale closed, according to Community Impact. Earlier county permit postings and local coverage also indicate a site‑preparation permit was put on hold during review last summer, per the Hays Free Press, so inspections and outstanding paperwork will dictate how quickly construction can start. With the sale now recorded, zoning clearances, utility coordination and traffic studies are likely to show up in county files in the coming months.
Local Reaction And Concerns
Public response so far has been mixed in earlier coverage. Some locals are happy to see more shopping options close to home, while others worry about what another major retailer means for traffic, small‑town character, and the Hill Country landscape. Regional reporting on the proposal has noted that community groups and local officials are wrestling with rapid change, a theme highlighted in coverage by KXAN via Yahoo when the project first emerged. City and county review processes will give residents and agencies a forum to weigh in on traffic, drainage, and design details.
What To Watch
For anyone tracking the project, Hays County permitting records and the developer's leasing pages will be key. Tenant rosters, traffic‑study filings, and construction permits will signal the next concrete steps for grading and building. The marketing materials already spell out the pad sizes, but a public timeline for construction and opening has not yet appeared in county documents. Local meeting agendas and inspection logs will likely offer the first clues about when heavy equipment rolls onto the site.
