More Liquor Sales Store Opens in GT

The Fresh and Easy is a welcome addition to Grand Terrace. However another "Drug Store"... Citizens should write to the ABC Board and Indicate their desire or not regarding additional Liquor Sales Points in Grand Terrace.

The businesses existing in the area to be developed hopefully can find a place in the soon to be vacated Current Stater's Center. The businesses in the "Old Drug Store" for those of us who remember the "Drug Store" and "Five and Dime: that were in the area to be developed know that the parking in these shops has always been less than fun.

It is good to see Development can be done without the Inclusion of Entanglements from the Redevelopment Agency. No one was Threatened by the City or it's Agencies with Eminent Domain or other forms of harassment in order for this development to come about. No the land owner slowly acquired the land and leases and as a PRIVATE PARTY has a PLAN and INVESTORS. I think that is called FREE COMMERCE or FREE ENTERPRISE. OH MY right here in Grand Terrace.

That being said... Another Drug Store? Remember the Super Stater's is supposed to have an internal Drug Store and Jacobson's "Plan" includes a drug store if he can find one to bite. Repeating a problem of saturation of product and services in a local economy does not seem like a wise investment.

It seems gone are the days when the business owner is the land owner... This is a trend that does not bode well for the economy in general.


Shopping center planned
Business booming in Grand Terrace
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/31/2008 09:46:38 PM PDT


GRAND TERRACE - A new shopping center is in the works here.
Plans were submitted last week for what's being called Barton Square, a retail center slated to include a Walgreens, a Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market, a sit-down restaurant, and other shops.

The project is planned on the northwest corner of Barton Road and Mount Vernon Avenue.

A Starbucks Coffee on the site will remain as part of the project. The coffee house will get a remodeled exterior to match the architecture of the rest of the buildings, city officials said.

Construction is expected to start in about six months, with the center slated to open in less than a year, officials said.

Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she doesn't know the details of the project, but she is glad the area is being improved.

"I think the corner definitely needs to be upgraded," Ferre said. "It's one of the main intersections of our town."

The new project is a short distance from another proposed retail development known as Town Center. That project, expected to open next year at Barton Road and Michigan Avenue, will feature a new Stater Bros. market and other shops and restaurants.

Acting City Manager Steve Berry said that attracting new businesses is key to the city's financial future.

During the first quarter of 2008, Grand Terrace's sales tax revenues were up 17 percent over the same period a year ago, according to the HdL Cos., a Diamond Bar firm that tracks sales tax receipts for cities.
That's a big contrast from neighboring cities that have experienced sluggish or negative sales tax numbers because of the slumping economy, Berry said.

"When you look at what's happening surrounding us, Grand Terrace is pretty safe," Berry said. "When you look at the new businesses coming on line here, it's going to go up even more."

Grand Terrace recently brought in a host of new businesses, including Miguel Jr.'s Mexican restaurant, CVS Pharmacy, Subway, Little Caesar's Pizza and the Tapout clothing company.

The city is working with the owner of the shopping center across from the proposed Barton Square to find a tenant to replace the old Stater Bros. on the site. The old Stater Bros., which is one of the company's smaller models, will close when the new supermarket opens at Barton and Michigan. The new market will offer an expanded deli, a bakery, a bank and a wider selection of products.

"The council has made attracting more retail businesses a high priority, and we are just beginning to see the results," Berry said. "With the Town Center and Barton Square in the permitting stage, we are on track for a bright future."