Dear Editor, I applaud the city leadership and the Fairfield Economic Development Corporation for their ongoing work to strengthen our business community. Fairfield has long been a resilient and steady community in the East-central region of Texas, adapting to changing times while maintaining the character that makes this place home. That foundation positions us well for the future.
As we look at Fairfield’s continued growth, including the development occurring at former Lake Fairfield State Park, there is clear momentum and renewed interest in our area. This makes it an ideal moment to also focus on expanding our retail and dining options along the I-45 corridor. Our location between Dallas and Houston is uniquely suited to capture traveler traffic and provide the kinds of services that residents often drive elsewhere to find. Some people may assume that Fairfield is too small to attract well-known restaurants or national retailers. But modern site-selection doesn’t look only at population. According to several retail site-selection studies, major retailers evaluate highway visibility, traffic counts, and travelcorridor convenience—not just local population numbers. Our position on the I45 corridor provides Fairfield with significant advantages and real opportunities. In that sense, our size is not a limitation; our location is an opportunity.
Expanding our retail presence would also not compete with our downtown or local businesses— it would support them. When more travelers stop in Fairfield, they don’t only visit the highway corridor. They explore, dine, shop, and visit our historic square. Retail on I-45 can work hand-in-hand with our existing businesses by bringing more people, more visibility, and more economic activity into town.
