You need to qualify ( they built HEB in front of our lots).If you are off from the road and they put a big shopping center in front of your lots than not many retailers will want them.They tend to want to be on the main road frontage and then the daily traffic to the large anchor HEB feeds the smaller STNL buildings for business.

That said here we are with something new for me - We have a bowing foundation block wall and are weighing anchoring it, or re-laying a new CMU wall - I haven't paid for this work before (the anchoring or the laying new block wall), and I will be insisting on paying for materials so I know what I'm paying my contractor for their labor. 

Then they sell pad sites up front to secondary players (restaurants, cell carriers, gas stations, etc) once the anchors (Target, Bed,Bath,Beyond, etc..) announce.

The anchor building is 200sf, used to be a restaurant and still has the grease trap and some on the kitchen equipment in it.

. - The ease of management/good tenant pool because of the area will allow you to grow your business with more of a clear head and not feel anchored down by a property that is day to day intensive.- By living in the home you get an introduction to all aspects of landlording directly hands on.

You start a business and when you need commercial space you become your own "anchor tenant" at your property but you purchase more space than you need and lease out the rest. 

This city has access to things that are Anchors and provide tons of value.

@Katie Kim - I'm currently doing a 1.6 acre retail development and here's what I would suggest.Demographic studies are great- but, I the way I do retail developments (and have worked with some of the biggest developers) is they will find an anchor tenant(s).Give yourself enough time - will depend on many things, deposit money, experience, the market you're in (buyer vs seller market) to find enough tenants that you can buy the land and build and break even at a min.On my last deal- we secured a gas station and QSR (quick service restaurant) which covers the entire construction of phase 1 and all land. 

I am in a chicken and egg situation where we need to spend money to develop the site plan, architecture and get some prospective tenants in place before we can get the loan to develop the property. the corner is also good for a Walgreens or any anchor store. 

Now there are differences in visibility, traffic counts, access to freeways, back anchors that can all play into the value of a location.