Ron Sturgeon, owner of RDS Real Estate, is developing Boxes at Sublett, a retail center built from approximately 30 shipping containers scheduled to open in Summer 2026 at 5100 W. Sublett Road in South Arlington, Texas. The project is designed to create affordable retail space for the smallest businesses, addressing what Sturgeon identifies as a critical need in Tarrant County. "I'm especially excited about Boxes at Sublett because it will bring extra-small retail spaces for micro-enterprises that are not available anywhere in Tarrant County to an innovative community like Arlington with its many attractions," Sturgeon said.
The use of shipping containers for construction is a growing trend, implemented in cities such as Nashville, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Wesley Chapel, Florida. Sturgeon has prior experience with this method; his first shipping container project was Box Office Warehouse Suites in the Fort Worth Design District, built using more than 120 containers. Another development, Mouser Self-Storage in Alvarado, offers affordable storage. Sturgeon's positive experience led him to build a personal three-story home using shipping containers in 2022, featuring energy-efficient design and amenities like a temperature-controlled garage.
Boxes at Sublett will be located next to Sublett Center, a traditional retail center also owned by RDS Real Estate and anchored by a Salon & Spa Galleria, one of over 22 locations in the greater Fort Worth area. The Salon & Spa Galleria model similarly caters to small business owners by providing luxurious yet affordable salon suites for independent beauty and wellness professionals. This alignment underscores RDS Real Estate's focus on supporting small enterprises.
Sturgeon emphasized the challenges faced during the development process, citing extensive delays and bureaucratic hurdles from the city of Arlington. "It took us 4 years of delays and red tape to get all the necessary approvals for this project. They seemed to want to fight us all the way," he stated. He criticized the current codes and processes as overly restrictive, creating barriers for entrepreneurs without substantial resources. "The current codes and processes are so restrictive that they can become a real barrier, especially for entrepreneurs who don't have the resources to invest so much time and money in a process with no guarantee of success," Sturgeon added.
Despite these obstacles, Sturgeon expressed optimism about the project's impact. "Finally, Arlington will get a new small shopping center, specifically designed to appeal to micro stores, offices, hobbyists, and so on. We love mom and pops at RDS Real Estate and look forward to opening Boxes at Sublett in the Summer!" he said. The center aims to provide a professional presence for micro-businesses and hobbyists, filling a gap in the local market and fostering entrepreneurial growth in the community. The project represents a significant development in addressing the lack of affordable commercial real estate options for the smallest business operators, who often struggle to secure traditional retail spaces due to high costs and restrictive lease terms.
The implications of this development extend beyond the immediate retail offerings. By utilizing shipping containers, the project demonstrates an innovative approach to commercial construction that can reduce costs and environmental impact compared to traditional building methods. This model could serve as a template for other communities seeking to revitalize underutilized spaces while supporting local entrepreneurship. The prolonged approval process highlights systemic challenges in municipal regulations that can stifle innovation and small business development, suggesting a need for policy reforms to better accommodate non-traditional projects. For Arlington and Tarrant County, Boxes at Sublett represents both a practical solution to a market gap and a test case for how cities can adapt to support emerging business models in an evolving economic landscape.
