Russellville approves up to $58,810 for planned Texas Roadhouse site work

The Russellville City Council voted 7-1 on July 16, 2026, to approve an economic-development agreement with Russellville TR LLC for a planned Texas Roadhouse at the former Burger King property on East Main Street.

The agreement allows reimbursement of up to $58,810 in qualifying site-development costs. The reimbursement is tied to performance requirements involving construction and job creation; the approved source material does not describe it as a cash grant.

What the agreement does

The action commits city economic-development funds to redevelopment of an underused commercial property. Russellville TR LLC is the entity named in the agreement, and Texas Roadhouse is the planned restaurant project associated with the site.

Because the reimbursement is limited to qualifying site-development costs and includes performance requirements, the council’s action does not by itself establish that the restaurant is open or under construction. The reviewed sources do not provide a construction start date, opening date, total project cost or exact number of promised jobs.

How the vote developed

The proposal had previously failed to receive enough votes at the June council meeting. It returned after consideration by the Finance Committee, which recommended sending the item back to the full council.

That committee review and the final vote followed several weeks of public debate over whether city economic-development money should support a restaurant project. The discussion also included concerns about whether approving the agreement could establish a precedent for future retail development.

Supporters’ arguments included the potential for jobs, sales-tax revenue and redevelopment of an underused property, according to reporting on the Finance Committee review. The final council action approved the agreement by a one-vote margin, with seven members voting in favor and one opposed.

What happens next

The agreement’s reimbursement and performance provisions will govern the project’s eligibility for the city support. The reviewed sources do not establish a deadline for construction or restaurant opening.

The full clawback provisions and other detailed performance terms should be taken from the executed agreement before specific incentive conditions are described. The City of Russellville’s agenda center lists the July 16 council meeting and provides the official record path for the agenda and related meeting materials.

For now, the council’s decision is a local redevelopment commitment: up to $58,810 may be reimbursed for qualifying site work at the former Burger King property, subject to the agreement’s construction and job-creation requirements.