Two commercial tracts at former OYO site have contracts, but won't be finalized until the spring

January 16, 2024 at 2:38 pm Updated: January 17th, 2024 at 7:03 am Derrick Stuckly

The BMDD Board of Directors met Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Brownwood Municipal Development District Board of Directors, updates were given on a few upcoming projects.

First, the developer of the former Kroger building – now known as The Plaza on Main – will be “turning the keys over” to Shoe Dept. Encore in February, according to BMDD Executive Director Ray Tipton, so the projected spring 2024 opening appears on track for Brownwood’s new shoe store.

The City of Brownwood in December approved new plats for the three commercial tracts at the site of the former OYO Hotel, and two have contracts on them, according to Tipton. “It will be spring time before they close on them,” Tipton added, as the names of those businesses still have not been made public.

Tipton also spoke of Marathon Medical, which “purchased a couple of lots in the Industrial Park last year,” and is working on construction plans, which will soon be submitted to the City. Construction is expected to commence later this year. According to its website, Marathon Medical “has emerged as a leader in healthcare distribution … dedicated to delivering a wide array of premium medical supplies nationwide.”

City of Brownwood Sports Coordinator Robert Anders gave a report on 2023 sports events and their economic impact.

The City hosted 38 events in 2023, up from 32 in 2022, which resulted in an economic impact of $78,228 per event, an increase from $63,297 a year ago.

The TexasBank Holiday Classic made the biggest economic impact at $905,472, up from $528,480 in 2022. The basketball tournament grew to 48 teams in 2023, and Anders expects the tournament to feature 60 teams in 2024.

There was an average of 1,365 people attending sports events which translated to 245 room nights, an increase from 1,035 people and 215 room nights in 2022. Again, the main contributor was the TexasBank Holiday Classic with an attendance figure of 10,736 people and 441 room nights.

Upcoming sport evens include the Cisco College Spring Softball Tournament (Feb. 15-1), the Small Town Baseball Tournament (March 1-2), and the USA Softball Tournament (March 9-10).

Future plans include the NJCAA Basketball Championships in 2026-28, the Cisco College Softball Tournaments in the Fall of 2024 and Spring of 2025, and the Texas Cornhole League Championships at a yet to be determined date.