Canadian developers are ready to start construction on their third grocery-store-anchored project in the Tucson area, citing the city’s community-oriented appeal.
Edmonton, Alberta-based Brentwood Development owns Shoppes at Continental Ranch, at Silverbell and Twin Peaks roads, which is anchored by Safeway; and Montesa Plaza on Broadway at Houghton, which was once anchored by Bashas’. They expect to announce a new anchor at that location soon.
And, next year they anticipate starting construction on the Shoppes at 1st & Roger, next to an existing Fry’s grocery store at North First Avenue and East Roger Road.
“Tucson is a great market for us,” said Brad Griffith, founding president of Brentwood Development.
“It’s a steady, consistent, community-oriented city with multigenerational families,” he said. “Because of that, they take pride in their developments. And we’re long-term real estate holders and take a lot of pride in our properties.”
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The newest project came about because Fry’s approached them about developing next door, Griffith said.
The 10,600-square-foot building will be on the south side of the grocery store.
“The great news is that Tucson is really starting to come back,” Griffith said. “We’re very excited.”
The future shops are pre-leasing, and four retailers have signed on.
Great Clips, Papa Murphy’s Pizza and Hollywood Nails will move in, and a national mobile phone company is expected to sign its lease this week.
“Grocery stores are a weekly destination for just about everyone,” said Broker Craig Finfrock, of Commercial Retail Advisors LLC, which is overseeing the preleasing. “The sell is the strong density with mature neighborhoods and high traffic on First Avenue.”
He expects between five and 10 tenants will move in, depending on space requirements.
“We’d really like to see a couple more restaurants,” Finfrock said. “We love restaurants in our shopping centers.”
One national bar and grill is looking at the space and could possibly settle into the end cap of the development, toward Roger Road.
“It’s always nice to see new construction — it’s a sign of a healthy economy,” Finfrock said. “And, the city likes to see infill.”
If all goes as scheduled, the shops could be complete by late spring.
