New retail projects popping up all over Greeley

The past 18 months have been good to Greeley’s retail sector, and although much of this recent activity has been concentrated in newer developments, the infill activity has picked up this year, too.

Greeley’s growth in population helped increase demand for services and is seen as an attractive opportunity for many retailers, investors and even national developers.  Here are a few of the highlights:

The Centerplace development at 47th Avenue and U.S. Highway 34 Bypass continues to be the hottest area for retail. Centerplace North has received final subdivision approval from the city of Greeley and will be breaking ground with a ceremony on Oct. 21. This 40-acre mixed-use project includes retail pads along Centerplace Drive, several larger lots for big-box users and 17 acres of medium-density residential.

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Holiday Inn Express has submitted for city approval as well as a multi-tenant building that will contain Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and McAlister’s Deli. Several of the other lots are under contract and more announcements are expected later this fall. This project will join previous new announcements such as Chick-Fil-A, Panera Bread, Dairy Queen, the recently completed Homewood Suites and a proposed Pacific Dental office on the north side of Centerplace Drive.

In the approval pipeline are plans for Centerplace Phase IV, a 23-acre commercial subdivision located south of Centerplace Drive and east of existing retailers T.J. Maxx, Sports Authority and Best Buy. This project will include nine commercial lots with Conn’s HomePlus already announced for the site.

Other activity at Centerplace includes recent leases to Noodles & Company and Kay Jewelers. In August, the Kohl’s in Centerplace was sold to a large national retail investor for $10.5 million, showcasing investor interest in the area. Nearby along 47th Avenue, approvals are pending for an Auto Zone to be located on a carve-out pad on the Lowe’s site. Weld County Garage has proposed a new Subaru/Mazda dealership on the west side of 47th Avenue near Lowe’s.

Northgate Village and Westside Commons, on opposite corners of 71st Avenue and West 10th Street, have seen good retail activity as well. Four of the six pad sites at Westside Commons have been sold, with McDonald’s and Les Schwab completed and open for business. Bank of Colorado and the Wash & Gloss Car Wash currently are under construction. The King Soopers-anchored Northgate Village still has several pads available as well and helps to drive the demand in that area.

Downtown Greeley’s steady activity over the past couple years has continued. The Eighth Street corridor has added Brix Taphouse and Brewery, Right Coast Pizza and Hearne’s Fine Goods, leaving only one available space on that plaza. Further south near the University of Northern Colorado, Subway has opened a new location at the University Center with Farmer’s Pantry and Grand Lake Brewing also taking new locations along 16th Street. Also in the works is a wine and tapas bar in the former Masonic Lodge building at Ninth Street and 10th Avenue.

Investors and developers continue to have interest in the area, with several considering projects. The new owner of the Jerome Building plans to bring additional retail to the market along Eighth Avenue as downtown has fewer vacant retail spaces available.

The city of Greeley is busy in downtown with future plans to build a single city complex, as assistant city manager Becky Safarik detailed recently in BizWest, with the purchase of several vacant properties including the former Safeway and Bank of the West. This project, along with the hotel/conference center project being negotiated with Hensel Phelps and Weld County’s long-term plans for the Chase Bank Tower, will help to drive retail demand in the future.

Other highlights of Greeley’s retail activity include the addition of Marco’s Pizza and Butters AM Eatery at Westlake, construction of Highland Park Liquors on 59th Avenue, Christian Brothers Automotive at St, Michael’s, Rudy’s Bar-B-Que planning to open at the former Johnny Carino’s, and large expansion projects by Greeley Dodge and Wild West Motor Sports.

Gage Osthoff and Nick Berryman of Realtec Commercial Greeley can be reached at 970-346-9900.