Austin has crossed a milestone — the city of Austin population now tops 1 million, making it the 12th most populous city in the U.S. — and the retail momentum is matching the growth.
In this Retail Insight interview from ICSC Las Vegas, reporter Nellie Day sits down with Davon Barbour, president & CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance, to talk about what’s driving deals in a city that’s attracting big names: Justin Timberlake is opening The Twelve Thirty Club in the heart of downtown, and Kevin Durant is partnering with a local hospitality group on a high-end sports entertainment bar. Add $20 billion in public infrastructure investment and a city actively streamlining permitting with AI, and Austin is making a compelling case to retailers nationwide.
Watch the video to hear Barbour explain the hands-on programs the Downtown Austin Alliance has launched to help property owners close deals — and why he believes Austin is a market every retailer should be watching right now.
Retail Insight is a sponsored video series produced by Shopping Center Business, capturing insights from leading retail real estate firms at ICSC Las Vegas 2026. Click here to subscribe.