What is the Keller Depot project in Old Town Keller?
The Keller Depot is a redevelopment of two historic buildings at 128 and 136 Bates Street in Old Town Keller. As reported in October 2026, the owners plan a coffee shop, a dessert business, and an event space, and Keller City Council approved a facade grant for the properties on September 15, 2026. The longer-term vision includes food trucks, pop-up vendors, and outdoor gathering space, but not every part of it is approved or guaranteed.
By Kallie Spencer | October 31, 2026
Something pretty interesting is happening in Old Town Keller.
And no, I'm not talking about all of that road construction.
This is a facts-only Market Minute: what's proposed, what's been approved, and where it stands.
What's Being Built, and Where
The project is called The Keller Depot. It covers two existing properties on Bates Street, each at least 100 years old according to local reporting:
- 128 Bates Street, planned to be called The Station House, a nod to the former train museum
- 136 Bates Street, the former Catherine Anne's Books building, planned to be called The Jackson Cottage
According to Community Impact's October 2026 reporting, the owners hope to open a coffee shop in one building and a dessert business in the other. The backyards are planned to connect to an event space. A historic railroad ticket booth, on loan from the Keller History Museum, sits between the two properties.
Watch Kallie at the Keller Depot site at 0:09
What Keller City Council Approved
At its September 15, 2026 meeting, Keller City Council approved a facade grant for both locations, according to Community Impact. The city's economic development staff said the program offers up to $30,000 in potential reimbursement. The reporting doesn't state the final approved amount.
In plain terms, the city approved an incentive to support improvements to the buildings' exteriors as the redevelopment moves forward.
Hear Kallie explain the council approval at 0:17
Timeline, as reported
- September 15, 2026: Keller City Council approves the facade grant.
- October 6, 2026: The Keller Depot hosts National Night Out. Renovation work was expected to start after that event.
- December 2026: The owners' goal is to have both buildings ready for lease.
- Late 2026: Estimated completion.
Construction timelines often shift, so treat these dates as targets, not guarantees.
Own a home near Old Town Keller and wondering where your value stands today? Get a home valuation from Kallie based on recent sales in your neighborhood, not a guess about future projects.
The Bigger Vision (Not All Approved)
Beyond the two buildings, the broader concept includes ideas like:
- Coffee and dessert businesses
- Food trucks and pop-up vendors
- Opportunities for local makers and small businesses
- Outdoor gathering spaces
- A potential future marketplace
The project's proximity to Bates Street Park has also prompted talk of a festival-street concept.
Important: not everything in that bigger vision is approved or guaranteed. The approved item, as reported, is the facade grant. Everything else is a plan or an idea at this stage.
See Kallie describe the bigger vision at 0:25
Preserving Old Town's Character
What I hear most in conversations about Old Town Keller is a balance: people want more activity, and they want to keep the historic character that makes the area distinctive.
Reusing two century-old buildings instead of replacing them is one approach to that balance. Whether it works will come down to execution, and Keller residents will have opinions either way.
Watch Kallie on preserving Old Town's character at 0:42
Why I Cover Local Development
Local projects, roads, and city decisions are part of what buyers and homeowners ask me about, so I track them in my Market Minute series, like my breakdown of the proposed Westlake data center near Keller.
I won't predict what any single project does to home values. That depends on too many factors, and anyone who tells you otherwise is guessing. What I can do is keep you working from verified information.
Where to follow the project yourself
- City of Keller: city council agendas and minutes, and the economic development department
- The Keller Depot: thekellerdepot.com
- Local news: Community Impact's Keller–Roanoke–Northeast Fort Worth edition
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Keller Depot?
At 128 and 136 Bates Street in Old Town Keller, Texas.
Did Keller approve funding for the Keller Depot?
Keller City Council approved a facade grant for the two properties on September 15, 2026. The program offers up to $30,000 in potential reimbursement, according to city economic development staff.
When will the Keller Depot open?
As reported in October 2026, the owners aimed to have the buildings ready for lease by December 2026, with completion estimated in late 2026. Check the project and city sources for updates.
What Would You Like to See in Old Town?
More restaurants? Coffee shops? Boutiques? Live music? Outdoor gathering spaces? Tell me in the comments on the video.
And if you own a home nearby and want a grounded read on where it stands in today's market, I'm happy to help. I build every valuation on recent comparable sales and current conditions, not on what might get built down the street. Start with your home valuation.
Source: Community Impact, "The Keller Depot's historical spaces could be ready for lease by end of 2026," published October 1, 2026. Details may change. Check the City of Keller and the project's website for the latest.
About Kallie Spencer
Kallie Spencer is the Broker/Owner of Ritchey Realty and has spent 16 years helping North Texas buyers and sellers make high-stakes moves in the $700K–$3M+ range. She specializes in move-up, downsizing, luxury, and relocation transactions across Southlake, Westlake, Colleyville, Keller, and the Alliance corridor, with pricing and marketing strategy built on local market data. A certified real estate business coach through Tom Ferry International and credentialed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Kallie also trains other agents on the same systems she uses for her own clients. Connect with her at ritcheyrealty.com or (682) 788-9060.
