New life for big vacancy downtown

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 3:14 PM

BY PATTY GUERRA

After three years of dormancy, a major hole in downtown Modesto soon will be filled.

Official confirmation is not yet available, but it’s been an open secret that the anchor spot in the shopping center on H Street in downtown Modesto is getting a tenant. Two, actually.

Smart & Final, which bills itself as a “nonmembership warehouse grocery provider,” will move into the space vacated three years ago by Save Mart in the Shops at Lincoln School – at least, the store will move into most of the former Save Mart. The remainder of the store site will be occupied by a Dollar Tree, according to a rental flier online. No timeline was available.

Save Mart closed its 42,200-square-foot downtown location in 2013 after operating it for 25 years. The shopping center is named for a school established at the site in 1898 and later torn down. Other tenants include Mr. Pickle’s sandwich shop, Starbucks and other small businesses

It is not clear whether Smart and Final will close its location on Ninth Street; representatives of the company did not return a request for comment.

The development is good news for downtown, particularly for residents of nearby Ralston Tower and Tower Park apartments, who will once again have groceries available within walking distance.

Billy Anderson, who runs Prep for Success Meals in the shopping center, said getting new tenants to fill it out is exciting news. Anderson is a proponent of downtown and would like to see more retail in the area.

“The potential here is going to be huge,” he said.

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/news/business/article105249291.html#storylink=cpy