Mi Pueblito / 8237 Research Blvd.
This was a Burger King from 1974 to 1993. As of 2007 (into the mid-2010s) it was Speedy Align, now it is Mi Pueblito, a taco shop and convenience store since around 2019.
Target / 8601 Research Blvd.
This was one of the first Target stores in Austin, opening way back in in October 1980. Since then, it's been expanded and remodeled several times. (See the South Austin page for its South Austin counterpart opened at the same time, T-96).
El Pollo Rico / 8702 Research Blvd.
This former IHOP was closed around 2015 and is now the home of El Pollo Rico (somewhat oversized, I'd say).
Colonnade / 9033-9041 Research Blvd.
This strip center is composed of three buildings, some of them with upper levels. The first two buildings have the address of 9033, with the building closest to the east having an upper level portion (with Apartment Experts). Zaika Indian Cuisine is here, with The Honey Baked Ham Company in the building as well. The center building is also 9033 but has no upper level and is occupied by Mikado Ryotei in its entirety as of 12/24 (it is suite 100 of 9033). 9041, presumably built later, has suite 100 occupied by Casa Chapala, which was Black-eyed Pea from 1984 to the early 2010s.
Jim's Restaurant / 9091 Research Blvd.
This Jim's was built in 1974. "The Arch-ive" has several views of the exterior.
10900 Research Boulevard
This strip center's largest tenant, suite D, hosted a Randalls from 1996 to February 2024. Randalls 2490 opened to functionally replace the Simon David at Arboretum Market and was one of the largest and most upscale Randalls stores in the Austin area when it opened, but ultimately closed down to underperformance.
When it closed, there was some hand-wringing on RetailWatchers as it was the closest to the size that Kroger would've wanted to convert (this was during the merger era) and expressed question if Kroger even wanted the Austin area. (They didn't. They ended up closing delivery in Austin within a few months.)
Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q / 11570 Research Boulevard
This Rudy's BBQ location opened in 1994. It has a gas station in front (currently a Shell, though it might've been Texaco originally). I do not know what the structure on the south side of the property is or used for.
Academy Sports + Outdoors / 12250 Research Boulevard
Academy moved here in 2001 from 11570 Research Boulevard. This was originally a Wal-Mart (Austin's first, actually) from 1988 to 1997. It moved to 13201 FM 620 Road North with a new Supercenter.
12636 Research Blvd.
This three-building property (building C has two levels) but I wanted to focus on suite A-110. This was Mongolian Grille (link goes to YouTube commercial) from 2001 to 2012. I ate there in 2004 and for a long time was trying to figure out where and what it was.
Since then, it was replaced with the similar restaurant Mongo Fire (until around 2018) and has been an Indian restaurant since. Chicha's Fire And Grill opened by the end of 2018 but reused Mongo Fire's awnings (including their website and phone number). Around 2020, this closed and was replaced by India Gate. Prior to Mongolian Grille, it was "Cafe Chino" (Chinese restaurant, 1989-2001, mentioned in this article).
H-E-B / 12860 Research Boulevard
This opened as a Tom Thumb in 1981 and was sold to Albertsons (as store #4018) in 1989. In 2007, the store was sold again to H-E-B. Under Albertsons, there was a minor expansion to the north side. A Jim's in the parking lot (12832 Research Blvd.) has been there since 1982.
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Cover 2 / 13701 Research Blvd.
This was originally built as a Black-eyed Pea in 1997 but closed in 2001 before it became Hooters (2004 to January 2012, likely closed in late 2011), and since the early 2010s has been Cover 2.
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