The first phase of Allen’s Downtown Catalyst Project is expected to break ground this fall, bringing the $17 million development one step closer to reality.

The big picture: The 2-acre development will reuse the original Allen fire station building, which opened in 1970, and add a new building to house 18,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space in Phase 1A of the project.

It will have about six restaurants, including a cocktail and tapas concept with a rooftop patio, an Italian restaurant, a Tex-Mex concept, a sports bar, and two original businesses—a “first of its kind” coffee and wine bar, and an ice cream and candy shop, said Jacob Cox, a partner at North Texas-based hospitality group Blender Brands.

The project will also feature a public pocket park and a stage, Cox said. The park will be programmed with events and live music, which Cox said he hopes will attract visitors.

“I hope that motivates people to want to come and hang out there,” Cox said of the park.

Interested in news from businesses and restaurants in the Allen area? Check out 11 businesses now open, coming soon and other community updates in Allen, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Now open: Racing Miami
The business offers motorsports merchandise including T-shirts, hats, polos, sweatshirts, accessories and more, its website states. 

• Opened in June
• 820 W. Stacy Road, Ste. 310, Allen

• Opening in the fourth quarter of 2026
• 843 Watters Creek Blvd., Allen

• Closed in early August
• 190 E. Stacy Road, Allen

A 143-acre proposed mixed-use development designed to mimic an Italian village is moving forward in Prosper, while Frisco officials tabled a Trader Joe’s-anchored project. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. Venetian village on the tollway advances to Prosper council
2. Fourth Plano EOS Fitness to be constructed at former Kroger store
3. Frisco council tables Trader Joe’s project
4. Affidavit filed for recall of 4 McKinney City Council members
5. Frisco City Council approves retail development near Bacchus Park
6. Denton ISD earns 'C' accountability rating from TEA for 2025-26

This November, Libertarian Ted Brown, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are running to be Texas' next U.S. senator.

The overview: Each state has two U.S. senators serving staggered terms, with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn currently representing Texas. Cornyn ran for reelection but lost his primary race, and the winner of the November election will replace him in January.

Paxton advanced to the general election after beating Cornyn in a primary runoff, while Talarico beat two other contenders in the Democratic primary, Community Impact reported. Brown was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

At the polls: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 for dozens of statewide and local races. Election Day is Nov. 3.