WILMER, Texas — The Wilmer City Council recently honored southern Dallas developer Mike Rader for his decades-long role in shaping growth across the region. Rader, President of Prime Rail Interests, LLC and Prime 45 Development, LLC, addressed council members last week to outline the next wave of projects planned for the city.
Rader, who has worked in the southern Dallas corridor for more than 30 years, highlighted Wilmer’s prime location along two interstate highways and access to three major railroads, calling the area “the best logistics hub in North Texas.”
“I had a vision for the area,” Rader told the council. “I worked with Hutchins, Wilmer, Lancaster, and a little bit of Dallas. Over the years I have talked to people about this vision and asked them what they wanted to see.”
One long-requested need, he noted, has been a grocery store. While that development has been slow in coming, Rader explained it first required building up a base of residential and commercial growth.
That foundation has been established through the Dallas County Inland Port, a 75,000-acre development that continues to expand. To date, Wilmer has seen 25 million square feet of industrial space, the creation of thousands of jobs, and the addition of new apartment communities.
Rader credited this momentum for helping attract major names, including the relocation of John Paul Mitchell corporate headquarters to Wilmer with the backing of the Texas governor.
Looking ahead, Rader revealed new projects already in motion, including:
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A 10-acre hospital site, with a groundbreaking expected soon.
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Two Marriott hotels.
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Multiple new restaurants.
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A designated site for a long-awaited grocery store.
He also praised Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price for his support, noting, “He did not ask me for anything, he just asked how he could help.”
Former State Representative Carl Sherman also voiced excitement about the new grocery store site, stressing the importance of making fresh produce more accessible to Wilmer families. “With all the city’s progress we must make sure we are not leaving anyone behind,” Sherman said.
Council members expressed gratitude for the city’s growth while emphasizing the importance of community values. Mayor Sheila Petta thanked both Rader and Sherman for their remarks, saying:
“We are indeed a city with a heart. Wilmer will always have a sense of community, keeping that small-town feel. However, we will keep improving the lives of our citizens too. As Mr. Rader said, it is going to happen—there is no other way.”
