For those of you who like to attend civic-minded events, here's the itinerary for you...

5:00pm - Target Grand Opening - ribbon cutting - Countryside Marketplace

5:30pm - 7:00pm - Menifee Union School District - middle school boundary map proposals, open house. Bell Mountain Middle School. The public is invited to check out the proposals, and provide feedback. You can also attend tomorrow at Menifee Middle School, same time.

7:00pm - City Council Meeting - see location and agenda here.

I'm going for the trifecta today.

Labels: City-Council, Countryside-Marketplace, Menifee-Union-School-District

Todd Reed contacted the folks at BJ's Restaurant and learned that their planned restaurant at the Countryside Marketplace won't be coming until 2010. He posted the following comment today on an older article...

I saw the comment about the rumor BJ's has pulled out yesterday. I went on their website and asked them via their contact page if the rumors were true. Today I received an e-mail from Crystal Wang, Guest Relations / Claims Coordinator for BJ's Restaurants. She told me they are projecting the opening of their Menifee location for 2010.

My guess is that they probably planned to open sooner, but the way the economy is, and the fact that they have BJ's in Moreno Valley, Temecula, and Corona, made it sensible to wait awhile.

Well, even though I love their pizzas, particularly with jalapenos and ham, this will help me keep my girlish figure awhile longer.

Thanks Todd!

Labels: BJ's-Restaurant, Countryside-Marketplace

Several readers have e-mailed me asking for an update on the list of tenants going into Countryside Marketplace.

First, I want to point out that I actually published a list of tenants about a year ago, here...

http://www.menifee247.com/2007/06/countryside-marketplace-presentation.htm

For the record, here's the list again...

Retailers...

Target
Lowes
Kohls
Best Buy
Linens and Things
Sport Chalet (corrected from Sportmart)
Old Navy
Tilly's
Lane Bryant
PETCO
Staples
Beverages and More
Payless Shoes
Jewelry Store (yet to be named)

Food and Drink...

B.J.'s Restaurant & Brewery
Chipotle or Baja Fresh (not decided yet)
Starbucks
Jamba Juice
Panda Express (or other fast food Chinese)
Japanese Restaurant (yet to be named)
Corner Bakery or Panera Bread (not decided yet)
Red Robin
Chick Fila
TGI Fridays
In-N-Out Burger
Round Table Pizza

Other Businesses...

Wells Fargo Bank
Wachovia Bank
Washington Mutual Bank

Last week, I contacted Donahue Schriber, the company that owns Countryside Marketplace, and asked them if they can clear up some of the unknowns, as denoted in the parentheses above. Their answer is that they don't have any answers. They're still trying to pursue tenants.

They did say that they're no longer pursuing Corner Bakery or Panera Bread, although they'd welcome either one of those.

As for Linen and Things having filed for bankruptcy a week or two ago, Donahue Schriber doesn't have any information on this either. It's up to the bankruptcy court to sort all that out and decide what happens.

So the only update that we have thus far, is that a bread shop won't be there.

Labels: Countryside-Marketplace

These two stores are coming to Menifee, to be located at the Haun Road Development.

Labels: Countryside-Marketplace

The new Super Target is going to be located at Haun and Newport Roads. It will be a typical Target with a Garden Center and also a Full Service Grocery Department. Construction should begin in December 2007 and be completed in October 2008.

Labels: Countryside-Marketplace

Groundbreaking ceremonies for Countryside Marketplace took place today, kicking off construction of the 735,000-square-foot shopping center located on the corner of Newport Rd and Haun Rd.

Speaking at the ceremony was Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone as well as Jeff Chambers, vice president development for Donahue Schriber Realty Group (DSRG), the company that's developing the 68-acre parcel.



Jeff Chambers noted to those in attendance, "Every step of the development process is a collaborative effort. We could not have gotten to this point without the dedication of those who share our vision for what this center will mean to the community."

Countryside Marketplace is expected to provide approximately 6,500 construction and permanent jobs for the Menifee Valley.

Chambers continued on by saying, "One of the recurring themes we heard from residents was their desire to have convenient dining options as a part of the center. We are pleased to announce that Countryside will be home to BJ's Restaurant, T.G.I. Friday's, Red Robin, In-N-Out, Chick-fil-a and Starbucks, among others."

The first tenants at Countryside Marketplace are expected to open in October 2008. Pre-leasing at the center has secured tenants for more than 90 percent of the space, but space from 1,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet is still available. Interested retailers can contact Wally Limburg or Nelson Wheeler with Strategic Retail Advisors at (949) 640-6678.

For more details about Countryside Marketplace, read our summary of Donahue Scriber's presentation...
http://www.menifee247.com/....presentation.htm

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

Conrad Melton, the Presiding Officer of the Menifee Municipal Advisory Council, wrote up a recap of last night's Menifee MAC meeting, where Donahue Schriber gave a presentation of Countryside Marketplace.

Here is his recap...

Four hundred happy and curious Sun City and Menifee residents came to Webb Hall Wednesday night to hear about what is and isn't coming to the Countryside Marketplace.


Jeff Chambers, Vice President of the project's developer, Donahue-Schreiber Realty Group, talked and answered questions for over an hour about the businesses that will be included and why some won't, in the development just West of the 215, South of Newport.


With the reminder that any of them could drop out at the eleventh hour, Chambers said current expectations include: Lowes, three Banks, a Hawaiian BBQ, Cingular and Verizon Phones, cleaners, a Japanese Sushi place, Chopolte Mexican Fast food, Starbucks, BJs Brewery and Restaurant, a Red Robin Restaurant, TGIFriday’s, Chick-Fill-A, Staples, Petco, Linens and Things, a Bakery, Old Navy, Kohl's, Best Buy, Sports Chalet, Shoe Stores, some beauty salons and an In & Out Burger.


Target will expand when it moves over from its current location on the East side of the Freeway. The good-natured crowd hummed with approval when it was announced that Beverages and More was expected, and that all the full size restaurants would include full bar service.


The evening also turned out to be kind of a "town hall wish list" for many who were hoping that some of their favorite restaurants and businesses would be there. Tops on the list of wanted but won't be coming were Red Lobster, Trader Joe's, Costco, a fabric/crafts store, and a movie theater.


Behind the Marketplace will be some homes and included therein will be a park and bike trails. Scheduled for completion slightly after the commercial project are a government center and a major aquatic facility, both of whom will be built next door on Newport Road.


Mr. Chambers noted that great care has been taken to utilize every possible means of preventing traffic problems, with a planned future expansion of the on- and off-ramps of the adjacent 215 freeway.


Completion of the project is expected in Fall, 2009. The evening was sponsored by the Menifee Valley Municipal Advisory Council. Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone, who is credited as a major architect of the project, was unable to attend as he was in Washington, DC, lobbying for the Riverside Conservation Authority.

Anna Hill, a Realtor in Menifee, also wrote up a description of the Menifee MAC meeting, which you can read on her blog, by clicking here.

Labels: Countryside-Marketplace, Menifee-MAC

Earlier this evening, Jeff Chambers, who is with Donahue Schriber, the developer that's building the Countryside Marketplace, gave a presentation at the Menifee MAC meeting.

I attended the meeting, and wanted to fill you in.

First of all, this was probably one of the most well-attended Menifee MAC meetings I've ever seen. There are about 250 seats in the meeting room, and almost every one was filled. There were other people standing in the back as well. The mayor of Canyon Lake was present as well.

Supervisor Jeff Stone did not speak at the meeting, contrary to what was announced in the Press Enterprise article yesterday. I didn't see him there.

Jeff Chambers, the representative from Donahue Schriber was quickly introduced and gave what I thought was a very captive presentation. He didn't give any "business" speak, he recognized the audience as future customers of Countryside Marketplace, and understood that most people wanted to know what kinds of businesses would be in the new shopping center. He spent most of the time identifying which stores, restaurants and businesses would be there, and went into details on why certain brands were coming, and why other brands were not. He also described his company and its history of building shopping centers.

Donahue Schriber has been in the business of building shopping centers for 40 years now. They own 65 shopping centers throughout California and Arizona. They built the Glendale Galleria and the Hemet Mall. They bought the land for Countryside Marketplace in February of 2005, consisting of 70 acres of land. Actual square footage of Countryside Marketplace is 735,000, and is what the company terms a "power center". It's going to be the second largest shopping center in South West Riverside County, with the Promenade Mall being the largest.

In addition to building the shopping center, Donahue Schriber will build and improve roadways, sewers, and other facilities.

Jeff Chambers said that one of the first things they did towards identifying which businesses to bring into the new shopping center was to interview several residents. Overwhelmingly, everyone wanted more restaurants, and there's plenty of food businesses going in.

They also found that people wanted a bookstore, such as a Barnes & Noble or a Borders. However, it won't be happening. Borders is not adding new stores at this moment, and Barnes & Noble is "iffy" at this time. Jeff said that Barnes & Noble may eventually come to Menifee, but not to Countryside Marketplace.

They also learned that residents here wanted some kind of fabric store, such as a Michaels or Joann's, but they won't be coming to Countryside Marketplace either. However, he felt that Michaels is a big possibility for the old Target building, after Target relocates to the new shopping center.

Target, of course, is the key anchor business for Countryside Marketplace. This won't be a "Super Target", but will be a bigger Target, adding an extra 55,000 square feet of space. There will be more food sold at this new Target, but it won't be the full size grocery section found at a Super Target. Once the Target moves to Countryside Marketplace, the old Target building will very likely be remodeled into three separate stores, one of them possibly being a fabric store, Michaels or Joann's.

They expect the first tenant to open its doors to the public in September of 2008.

Below is a photograph I took of a large chart that Jeff had on display. The center of the chart is washed out from my flash...


Click on the image to see a larger view.

List of Businesses

Here's a list of businesses that Jeff Chambers named as being in the new shopping center. He said these businesses will definitely be there. He also said there's always a possibility that some of these businesses might pull out, but that they are all under contract, and will probably not pull out...

Retailers...

Target
Lowes
Kohls
Best Buy
Linens and Things
Sportmart
Old Navy
Tilly's
Lane Bryant
PETCO
Staples
Beverages and More
Payless Shoes
Jewelry Store (yet to be named)

Food and Drink...

B.J.'s Restaurant & Brewery
Chipotle or Baja Fresh (not decided yet)
Starbucks
Jamba Juice
Panda Express (or other fast food Chinese)
Japanese Restaurant (yet to be named)
Corner Bakery or Panadera Bread (not decided yet)
Red Robin
Chick Fila
TGI Fridays
In-N-Out Burger
Round Table Pizza

Other Businesses...

Wells Fargo Bank
Wachovia Bank
Washington Mutual Bank

Jeff Chambers also said they're looking for a few local area businesses to move into Countryside Marketplace. These would be restaurants or retailers that are unique to Riverside County, and offer something with local flair.

Donahue Schriber also has several other buildings that still need tenants.

Questions and Answers

The presentation then shifted in a question and answer session. I've presented them below. Note that these questions and answers were read off very quickly, and I could not write them down word-for-word. These are simply my interpretations and summarizations...

Q: Will there be room for a movie theater?
A: There are no plans for a movie theater at Countryside Marketplace.

Q: What about Whole Foods Market, Nordstom Rack, and a Hallmark Store?
A: Hallmark Store is a possibility. Nordstrom Rack is not likely. Whole Foods Market is not interested in Menifee, their clientele is largely in urban and upscale communities.

Q: Will the new Target have a bigger grocery section?
A: Yes, but it won't be a Super Target, just a bigger Target with more food offerings.

Q: What about Long John Silvers?
A: Probably not. Countryside Marketplace has plans for a Japanese restaurant, that will be their fish restaurant.

Q: What accomodations have been made for more police?
A: They're going to take a "wait and see" approach first. Donahue Schriber does provide private security, and they will work with the Sheriff if the situation calls for increased police presence.

Q: When will the aquatic center be open?
A: It probably won't start construction until another year, and will likely open in late 2008 or early 2009.

Q: What's the status on the shopping center at McCall and Encanto streets?
A: There was an Albertson's and a fitness center proposed to go there, but those have fallen through, and nothing is happening right now. Nothing will happen unless an anchor store like Albertson's or something else is committed.

Q: Who are the contractors that will be doing the construction, how many contractors have been hired?
A: Donahue Schriber usually has about 12 different general contractors working at the same time. They've not done any bidding as of yet. Lyle Parks is one contractor that will likely be there. Some of the businesses do their own construction, such as Target, Kohls, and the banks, and they hire their own contractors. In all, there will probably be between 30-45 different contractors working there.

Q: Will Donahue Schriber create underground utilities?
A: No. The above-ground transmission lines currently lining Newport Road will still be there. They will, however, move those poles to different areas, but there will still be poles lining the road.

Q: What will happen to the North-East corner of Newport Road and Antelope Road?
A: There will be a gas station there, a motel, and about 150,000 square feet of retail space, including a fitness center.

Q: What about a Red Lobster and a Wal-Mart?
A: There are plans for a Wal-Mart on Scott Road by the 215 Freeway, at the north-west corner, but there are no plans to bring in a Red Lobster.

Q: What about bringing a drug store?
A: The new Target will have a pharmacy section.

Q: Will the realignment of Newport Road have any effect on Countryside Marketplace?
A: The realignment at both ends of Newport Road, on the Hemet side, and the Canyon Lake side, will definitely bring in more traffic. There are plans to widen the intersection of Newport Road and Haun Road to 7 lanes. There are plans to widen the Newport Road bridge over the 215 Freeway, and turn it into a partial cloverleaf, but those plans won't happen until 2011.

Q: Will the aquatic center be open to the public?
A: Yes, there will be several pools, including a competition pool, and plans to provide senior services such as aerobics.

Q: Are there plans for more parks and bicycle paths in the area of development?
A: There are plans for another school and more parks. As far as bicycle paths, yes. There are plans for an improved flood control system, and there will be a bicycle path running next to it.

Q: Will there be an overpass between Newport Road and Scott Road, connecting Antelope road to the new shopping center?
A: Riverside county has a plan for that, but it's very long term. Not in the near future.

Q: How will Countryside Marketplace emulate the neighborhood?
A: Donahue Schriber designed Countryside Marketplace to have an "agrarian architectural" theme. The buildings have a rural look and feel to compliment Menifee's agricultural character.

Q: What stores are going in at Ethanac and the 215?
A: There will be a Winco Food and a Home Depot.

Q: Will the stores at Countryside Marketplace have shade structures or canopies?
A: Yes, there's actually a county ordinance requiring a certain amount of shade structures.

Q: What about Henry's, Fresh & Easy, Costco, Fish House Vera Cruz, Farmer Boys, Black Angus, Steer & Stein, Siggy's?
A: At this point, the building spaces still available are not big enough for some of these stores and restaurants. All that's left is for smaller businesses. That's not to say these brand names are not coming to Menifee, they just won't be coming to Countryside Marketplace.

Copies of Plans

Jeff Chambers brought copies of plans and layouts of Countryside Marketplace, but didn't bring enough copies for everyone. He can provide copies to you, if you contact him.

Call him at (714) 966-6496, OR e-mail him at jchambers@dsrg.com

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

Today, the Press Enterprise published more details of what Countryside Marketplace is going to look like...

The dirt field along Newport Road west of Interstate 215 is being transformed into a site for up to 1,500 homes, an aquatic center, a possible city hall and the first Lowe's, Starbucks and T.G.I. Friday's in Menifee.

You can read the full article here...
http://www.pe.com/..../PE_News_Local_S_smenifee21.4041bd5.html

Still supposed to open by October 2008, but won't totally be finished until March 2009.

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

By now, everyone who lives in Menifee has probably seen those earth movers sitting in the lot off of Newport and Haun roads, along with the water tank from Pardee Homes.

Yes, the Countryside Marketplace is still going in there, that's not changing.

Yes, Donahue Schriber, the developer who's building the Countryside Marketplace, is still the developer, and they are still building it, despite the fact that they no longer show Countryside Marketplace on their website.

According to Supervisor Jeff Stone's branch office in Menifee, Donahue Schriber is working with Pardee Homes to build out that entire area. That area is not going to be commercial-only, but a mixture of commericial and residential. That's why Pardee Homes is there. The development of residential homes usually takes longer to do, that's probably why Pardee Homes has their equipment there now.

While it hasn't been officially announced yet, Donahue Schriber will be doing a presentation for the public at a Menifee MAC meeting on June 20, 2007, at 7:00pm, at the Sun City Civic Association. When I get more information on that meeting, I'll post it on this site.

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

The Californian reported last Friday that the Countryside Marketplace, planned for the corner of Newport Rd and Haun Rd, is delayed yet again by a lawsuit...

The three suits allege violations of the California Environmental Quality Act. In the latest, an entity called Menifee Citizens for Smart Growth alleges that county officials failed to give adequate notice of public hearings Dec. 19 and Jan. 23. The suit, filed Feb. 26, also alleges unspecified "findings not supported by substantial evidence."

Read the full article here...
http://www.nctimes.com/..../12_07_563_29_07.txt

The article goes on to provide evidence that this group called, "Menifee Citizens for Smart Growth" doesn't actually involve real Menifee residents.

Countryside Marketplace is supposed to include a new Super Target. The article goes on to show that the same attorney representing this group has filed lawsuits in other cities where Super Targets and Super Wal*Marts have been planned.

It sounds like this group has no interest in Menifee, and is only concerned about their own ideology. We who live in the Menifee Valley have our own issues with inadequate public services due to our community not being an incorporated city. We need this Countryside Marketplace to become reality so that we'll have the necessary tax base to provide services to ourselves.

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

Nelson Wheeler of Strategic Retail Advisors has been kind enough to provide us with some information on the new proposed "Countryside Marketplace" to be located on the SWC of I-215 and Newport Road.

According to Mr. Wheeler construction for the project is to begin early 2007, and the shopping center will open early 2008. Merchants such as Lowes, Target, and Kohls have all approved the site. I'm not sure why Target was on his list, being that they already have a store across the freeway. Perhaps they are planning on moving.

For those of you who are interested in leasing space, the lease rates I was told will be $3.00 to $3.50 psf per month.

See brochure below for further details.

Brochure.pdf

Labels: Commercial-Developments, Countryside-Marketplace

I have heard of plans to build a WalMart, Costco and Lowes off of Newport Rd., across the freeway from Target. Has anyone else heard this or is it a rumor? If so, is it likely our taxes will go down?

Labels: Countryside-Marketplace, Wal-Mart