A discount department store chain known for slashing prices on name-brand clothing could be staking out new territory in South Austin, according to a state regulatory filing that points to a 32,219-square-foot space at 801 E. William Cannon Drive, Suite 135. The project, tied to an $850,000 interior buildout, is listed under Ross Stores at the Century South shopping center, though a company representative did not confirm the location when asked.
The filing was first reported by Community Impact, which noted that Ross offers name-brand clothing, shoes and accessories for women, men and children at 20% to 60% off typical department store prices, along with home goods and beauty items. Per the same account, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation listing shows construction already underway at the future site, with completion possible as soon as October 2026 — though an opening date has not been set.
Filed under project number TABS2026005036, the paperwork lists property owner 35/WCD Century South K/C Ltd and St. Louis-based design firm CASCO Diversified Corporation as overseeing the privately funded remodel, according to Weitzman, which manages the shopping center. Initial construction was scheduled to run between June 1 and October 1, 2026.
A Bustling Corner Already Anchored by National Retailers
Century South spans 204,609 square feet at the corner of Interstate 35 and East William Cannon Drive, anchored by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Gold's Gym, per Weitzman. The center houses more than 20 retail, service, and dining tenants along one of South Austin's busiest commuter corridors.
Traffic counts underscore why the location might appeal to a national retailer: Weitzman reports 213,602 vehicles per day along IH-35 and 36,682 vehicles per day on East William Cannon Drive, serving a three-mile population of 130,171 residents with an average household income of $106,179 as of 2024.
Just Three Miles From Another Ross Store
If the store opens, it would not be Ross's first foothold in South Austin. The chain already operates a location about three miles south along the same highway corridor at the Southpark Meadows shopping center, 9600 S. IH-35 Frontage Road — a regional power center anchored by Target, Walmart, Marshalls, and Ross, according to Southpark Meadows. Ross also runs a store at Capital Plaza, 5621 N. IH-35 Frontage Road, another Weitzman-managed center anchored by Target and Ross near the interchange of IH-35 and US-290.
The close spacing between the existing Southpark Meadows store and the proposed Century South location suggests Ross may be aiming to capture localized commuter traffic off I-35 and William Cannon Drive rather than depending solely on regional draw, according to the research dossier's analysis of the filings.
Part of a Bigger National Push
The potential South Austin store would land amid an aggressive nationwide expansion. Ross Stores announced in August that it raised its full-year fiscal 2026 target to 115 new locations, roughly 90 Ross Dress for Less stores and 25 dd's Discounts stores, up from an earlier goal of 110, according to Just Style. The increase followed stronger-than-expected sales performance companywide.
That momentum shows up in the numbers: Ross reported a 10% jump in second-quarter fiscal 2026 comparable-store sales and a 13% rise in total revenue to $6.3 billion, driven largely by higher customer transaction volume and new store performance, per Retail Dive. Analysts pointed to bargain-conscious shoppers seeking discounted brand-name apparel as a key driver of Ross outperforming competitors in mid-2026.
Corporate leadership has set a long-term target of 2,900 Ross Dress for Less locations and 700 dd's Discounts stores nationwide, according to Fox Business. As of mid-2026, the company operates more than 1,950 namesake stores across 44 states, Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Following a National Retail Pattern
Ross's growth reflects a broader shift in brick-and-mortar retail, where off-price chains have moved into big-box spaces vacated by downsizing or bankrupt traditional retailers, as Fox Business has reported. Discount department store chains benefit from flexible floor plans and strong cash flow, allowing them to reposition quickly within established shopping centers.
As part of its standard new store opening protocols, Ross typically pairs grand opening ceremonies with charitable donations to local Boys & Girls Clubs or First Book literacy organizations in the communities surrounding new stores, according to a company release distributed via PR Newswire. Whether that tradition would extend to a Century South opening remains unknown, since no opening date has been finalized and the company has not confirmed the project.
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