For many Vail residents, a new Safeway store and shopping plaza will be welcome additions to a community big on mountain views but short on shopping choices.
Wade Ramey said he's looking forward to not having to drive so far for groceries.
Art Boehm said it will be nice to have more choices as far as restaurants go.
And Elizabeth Webb, 40, said while she would like a different grocery store — she prefers Fry's — it's still an exciting development for Vail.
"It will certainly be nice to have something closer," said Webb, a resident active in community issues.
Construction is scheduled to begin next month on Mercado del Lago, a 16.5-acre retail center at the intersection of Colossal Cave Road and Mary Ann Cleveland Way, according to Donald Meyers, president of the Aspen Group, developer for the complex.
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Mercado del Lago will include a 55,000-square-foot Safeway as well as space for a variety of shops, restaurants and offices. The Safeway store is expected to open in August 2009.
Boehm, 63, has lived in Vail since 1992 with his partner, Jeff Ramos. "We would have lived closer to the city and closer to services if we could have afforded land to build on there," he said.
The couple's home is south of Interstate 10. As it turns out, they enjoy the quiet, the wildlife and the nighttime skies. "It's very peaceful. There's a rural feel to it," Boehm said.
But the drive to the nearest grocery store in Rita Ranch is 26 miles round-trip, he said. The new Safeway will offer groceries at half that distance, which Boehm said is even more important now that gas prices have spiked.
Ramey, 62, agrees driving short distances will be helpful in many respects.
As a father of three living with his family east of Corona de Tucson, a shorter ride to the grocery store means saving on money and time.
"We've been waiting with bated breath for civilization to catch up with us out here," he said. "We're just ecstatic that's going in."
In addition to Safeway, a McDonald's and Chase Bank are also expected to open in 2009.
"It's a tough real estate market, but I'll tell you, this is a shining star," said Meyers of the Aspen Group. "When you're looking at the real estate market nationally, it's hard to find transactions doing this well."
The other retail space will include restaurants — perhaps an Italian eatery — and possibly a dentist's office as well as a hair salon and an ice cream shop.
"We're going to get some cool restaurant users in there," he said. "It's going to be a great center. There are unbelievable views up there."
In all, there will be 16 to 20 tenants in addition to Safeway.
Boehm said new restaurant choices sound exciting as there are currently only a few options in the Vail area.
