Grocery store possible for planned center

David van den Berg
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 8, 2007 09:00 AM

Well-known retailers, including a grocery store, are potential tenants at a planned shopping center at the southeast corner of McQueen and Warner Roads.

Meram Building Companies West is in final negotiations with some national tenants for space at Villages at the Islands, said Francis Meram, owner of the builder and development firm. The company is part of a partnership that owns the center.

One of the prospective tenants is a grocer, and others the firm is talking to include boutique salons, clothing stores and a chain restaurant, Meram said. He declined to identify the prospective tenants, saying the deals are not finalized.

The center is across Warner Road from the site of a former ABCO store, one of the area's first groceries. It sat empty for several years before Goodwill took over the space.

The development will feature about 60,000 square feet of retail space and about 30,000 square feet of office space. Retail tenants are expected to start opening at the end of 2008, with office tenants opening later.

The project's site plan was approved by Gilbert's Design Review Board in September.

The company is in the midst of hiring brokers to market the office portion of the project, Meram said. Small business users and medical offices are likely tenants for it. Spaces there will also be available to businesses such as dance and karate studios.

The explosive growth of Gilbert's retail market hasn't hurt Villages at the Islands, Meram said.

"There's still been plenty of interest," he said. "There's some new people coming into the market who haven't been able to find space."