This past summer, Melissa gained a new strip mall with new restaurants, a dentist, Taekwondo Dojo, and even a Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids! off Sam Rayburn Highway on 121. This new edition was hypothetical just a few years ago but has since become a reality over the course of just a few months.

These new additions to Melissa provide many new job opportunities for teenagers all around the area. They also provide the availability for college graduates to get a job in dentistry or cosmetology. All the restaurants are close to each other, allowing for quick in-town options for families of all sizes.

“We get a lot of friendly business around,” sophomore Jaxon Day said. “The new shops really help teenagers find jobs and get experience.”

The strip mall sets up the foundation for Melissa’s rapidly expanding community. Many people think the location is ideal. It’s on the way to and from home, for many, and on the way to and from school for teens.

Most of the restaurants are fast food, except Red Feather, a locally owned business. There is a large variety of fast food, from wings to sandwiches, to desserts and coffee.

“I like the food options, but putting in a Chick-Fil-A or Panda Express would fulfill my dreams,” freshman Madison Fulenchek said.

With the addition of the strip mall, residents can expect to continue to see more growth in Melissa through neighborhoods, grocery stores, and shopping centers. There has even been talk of Melissa gaining an ‘H-E-B’ or ‘Kroger’ in the near future.