Starbucks is aggressively expanding, according to retail brokers, as is Texas Land & Cattle restaurant; Saltgrass Steakhouse; Whataburger, IHOP and Kentucky Fried Chicken - all of which have opened locations this year at Interstate 35 and Wells Branch in Pflugerville.

Other retailers in an Austin expansion mode include Lowe's, which has opened at Stassney and Interstate 35; Pottery Barn at Barton Creek Mall; Bed Bath & Beyond at Texas 290 and Westgate; and Academy Sports & Outdoors at Texas 290 and MoPac.

Says Herb Weitzman, president of The Weitzman Group of Dallas, which continually monitors the pulse of the Austin retail market: "This strong retailer demand continues to fuel an active shopping center construction pace. During 1999, the market added approximately 2 million square feet of new retail space. This year, we should see between 1.5 million to 2 million square feet of new space added."