Retail
by John M. Zukoski on October 13, 2009 | 
22 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Retail
The City of Dublin took a bold step earlier this year by approving a Sales Tax Reimbursement Program that gives businesses that bring in at least $100K/year of new sales tax revenue a credit to help pay for building improvements. Businesses can get half a percent of sales tax refunded to them over a five year period or as soon as they’ve been able to get paid back for their building improvements – whichever happens first. This program was primarily created to help refresh and renovate many of west Dublin’s historic commercial buildings.
Earlier this month, the Dublin City Council voted to expand the Sales Tax Reimbursement Program by extending the reimbursement period to 10 years (from 5 years) for big retailers that generate at least $50M/year in new revenue. This would not apply to existing retailers like Toys R’ Us or Target unless they expanded their stores and could bring in the extra sales.
The extended reimbursement period could be the catalyst that we need to transform Dublin’s Downtown District into a more traditional downtown area.
How can this be?
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by John M. Zukoski on October 7, 2009 | 5 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Retail
The Shops at Tralee have signed up plenty of new businesses over the past year. At last count, there were 10 businesses that have opened or plan to open at Tralee in the near future. Here is a complete listing:
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by John M. Zukoski on October 5, 2009 | 35 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Restaurants · Retail
It was recently reported that Dublin is ranked number one in terms of projected population growth through 2035. Experts are estimating that Dublin will grow by 69% between now and 2035 – with most of the growth occurring in east Dublin. Projects like Fallon Village, Grafton Plaza, Sorrento East, and Wallis Ranch will attract thousands of new families to east Dublin – families that will need a full array of restaurants and shops to complement their lifestyles.
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by John M. Zukoski on August 29, 2009 | 19 Comments | Topics: Retail
In an otherwise challenging retail environment, Subway and Yogurtland have thrived over the past few years with new franchises popping up all over the Tri-Valley:
- Hot off the success of their value priced “$5 foot long” deal, Subway plans to open a new franchise restaurant in Dublin at the Shops at Tralee (next to Extreme Pizza). This will be Subway’s third restaurant in Dublin – all concentrated within a 1.9 mile stretch of west Dublin. Subway also just opened a shop in the Trader Joe’s shopping center – within steps of a Quizno’s shop.
- Yogurtland has thrived in a tough economy as consumers look for “affordable luxuries.” While they just opened a shop next to Whole Foods in San Ramon at the Shops at Bishop Ranch, Yogurtland will also be opening another franchise in Downtown Dublin next to Safeway.
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by John M. Zukoski on August 5, 2009 | 8 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants · Retail
Located on Tassajara Road in Dublin, Waterford Place is a thriving mixed-use retail/residential village center featuring proprietors such as Blush, Peet’s, Amici’s, and Safeway. The owner of the Waterford village center is reportedly looking to sell the entire property.
While the businesses at Waterford Place have done relatively well during the current recession, the plaza’s owner presently has 3 vacancies with the expectation of more shops opening up. Stacey’s restaurant reportedly closed up shop at Waterford because the plaza’s owners wanted to raise their rent from $25K/month to $30K/month.
Dublin’s Planning Commission recently approved a slate of new uses to provide the owners at Waterford Place with more flexibility as they work to fill current and future vacancies. Here are just a few of the new types of businesses that could be moving into Waterford Place:
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by John M. Zukoski on May 20, 2009 | 7 Comments | Topics: Retail
Colliers International published this fantastic brochure that provides not only great pictures and site drawings of Grafton Station, but also a land use illustration of how all of the Dublin Ranch, Fallon Village, and Wallis Ranch area will be developed (please see page 4 of 13). There is also a cornucopia of demographic, growth, and property value statistics for the area surrounding Grafton Station on pages 6-13.
by John M. Zukoski on December 26, 2008 | 66 Comments | Topics: Retail
With their recent financial challenges and stock price down around $10/share, there has been a concern that Whole Foods may be postponing their plans to open at The Green on Park Place during the First Quarter of 2010. Whole Foods reported cash on hand of $31M as of their last 10-Q filing on September 28, 2008 and have been noted to have about $22M in cash as they head into the new year.
Given that the cost of improvements (e.g., flooring, refrigeration units, display shelves) to open new stores has been estimated to range somewhere between $7M-$8M, it may be difficult for Whole Foods to invest the required funds and working capital to open their new store at The Green on Park Place by the First Quarter of 2010.
If the opening of The Green on Park Place is pushed back, then the project’s developer (Blake Hunt) will likely continue to tear out the infrastructure that had been put in place as part of the IKEA project and then sit tight until the economy turns around.
While Whole Foods’ opening may be pushed back a bit, The Green on Park Place will be a huge success and a shopping experience that Dublin can be proud of once it opens.
Please note that the project’s developer did not respond to an email request for confirmation of this speculation.
by John M. Zukoski on August 9, 2008 | 5 Comments | Topics: Development · Retail
As part of Windstar’s request to add an additional level of condos to their condo development at the West Dublin BART Station Transit Village, they agreed to reduce the number of hotel rooms in their adjacent development to 150 from 240. Last month, Windstar requested to increase the number of hotel rooms at their West Dublin BART Station Transit Village hotel & retail development from 150 rooms back to 240 rooms and to permit the building of 24,000 sq. ft. of office space. On Tuesday night, the Dublin City Council asked City Staff to conduct a study to see what the impact (e.g., traffic, water/sewer) of adding the additional 90 rooms and office space would be in the West Dublin transit village area.
It’s very likely that the requested project changes will be approved by the Dublin City Council given that the Windstar hotel/retail/office development must be completed to fund a portion of the West Dublin BART station construction.
by John M. Zukoski on July 12, 2008 | 7 Comments | Topics: Development · Restaurants · Retail
It is hoped that Blake Hunt Ventures (BHV) will begin grading the land for The Green on Park Place in September or October 2008. BHV recently posted an animated video on their website that provides an artist’s rendition of what the The Green on Park Place is expected to look like. Please click on this link and then select the “Animation” option from the Highlights menu.
This video is fantastic because you can get a feel for how the parking will look (1,508 spaces of what appears to be all surface level), the approximate size of the retail and restaurant pads, and the kiosks and gatherings places that will be located along the central promenades. This video also provides a glimpse of the stores and restaurants that have already signed up at The Green on Park Place. It can be a game to see how many stores and restaurants can be identified in the video. Around Dublin was able to identify Whole Foods, REI, California Pizza Kitchen, and what looks to be a store called Sporto. Were you able to identify any other restaurants and stores in the video?
