DeJong Group Completes Purchase Of Visalia Land For Cheese Plant
The DeJong family has completed the purchase of 117 acres in the Visalia Industrial Park as of April 1. Realtor Doug Burr confirms the sale as does family spokesman Johnny Gailey.
“Yes we bought it” says Gailey who says plans for a cheese plant on the site will be worked out over the next year. Gailey says his group met with the City of Visalia who was positive about the project.”As long as market conditions stay strong – we will move forward.”
The land is the former Jacuzzi property on Plaza Drive, one of the largest vacant parcels in the heart of the park. The plant would be located right across the street from the big CDI milk plant. The seller was the Allen Group.
Bravo Farm Prepares To Open In Kettleman City
Bravo Farms owner Jonathan Van Ryn hopes to open his long awaited, Kettleman City Bravo Farms location on Friday April 11.The $3 million tourist complex has been on the drawing board since 2011 says Van Ryn and under construction for almost 2 years. “It’s not your average dry wall project” quips Jonathan, who has built a unique Old West storefront along Hwy 41 that is some 500 feet long. If it looks like something out of the movies – there is a reason why. The building frontage was designed by Paso Robles own Daniels Woodland who used to build for Disney(Check out the company’s wild tree houses).
Inside, visitors in this cross-roads town can enjoy ( coastal favorite) Doc Bernstein’s’ ice cream, visit a never-ending gift store or catch a full meal at Wild Jacks restaurant offering TexMex faire. The 2-story complex has something for everyone no matter which direction you are heading.
The place will be advertised on bill boards for I-5 motorists with Van Ryn expecting it will take a while for LA-SF travelers to learn about Bravo Farms, that it all started with making cheese for example. Both Valley and Coast travelers are ahead on the learning curve.
The new business will be a good shot in the arm for Kettleman City with 30 to 40 jobs, he says. The retail pit stop is built on land owned by Mike Jackson of Kingsburg who would like to build more highway commercial nearby. For Jonathan – this the fourth restaurant /store in the Central Valley that includes the new steakhouse on Willis in Visalia.
Wet Seal Plus Coming To Packwood Creek
After opening their first Plus-Only size store in Clovis last year Wet Seal is about to open their second Wet Seal + in Visalia’s Packwood Creek shopping center. The popular teen retailer already has a store in the Visalia Mall that will be unaffected.The new Wet Seal Plus Only store is under construction at 4021 S Mooney near Cameron on the westside of Mooney.
Tenant improvements are going in with the contractor needing about 6 weeks to finish up he says, meaning the store will be likely open before this summer.
Last year the retailer, typically located in malls,had announced it would increase its plus-size offerings a their stores that were previously available only on-line. Collections include skirts, sweaters,dresses, belts and more.
Wet Seal has been struggling to earn a profit recently,reporting an operating loss of $27.3 million in the latest quarter after a loss of $25.5 million the same quarter a year earlier. For the year, same store sales declined 4.1%.
CEO John Goodman said a few days ago said that the retailer made “substantial progress” on their “turnaround strategy” that includes “significant opportunity we see in the the plus size market.”
In Packwood Creek shopping center competitor Lane Bryant also is selling plus-size clothes in an existing store. Center developer Patrick Orosco said “we are pleased to expand the soft goods store lineup at Packwod Creek” noting the shopping center has about a half dozen national apparel stores.
Construction Moving Forward On Visalia Animal Control Shelter
Local firm Forcum Mackey submitted the low bid of $4.6 million to build the new Visalia Animal Control Facility to be built next to the Visalia airport late last week. Mayor Steve Nelson says “we’re doing cartwheels because our earlier estimates were it would cost us $5 to $5.5 million.” The existing shelter is small, built in 1968.
COS May Lease Out Mooney Parking Lot
Trustees of the College of the Sequoias recently adopted a “Vision Statement” offering some new board priorities for the year. They include removing the mold from the Live Oak building to allow future use on the Visalia campus,purchasing the TCOVE facility on south Mooney and “maximizing the use” of the Mooney student parking lot across Mooney from the college. Sources say the idea is to lease the lot next to the drive-in for income,perhaps something like a CVS drug store that could also benefit students. The board will discuss each project later this year.
Pacific Southwest Container Expanding
Pacific Southwest Containers in Visalia is expanding, leasing an additional 50,000 sf warehouse next to their box making plant in the Visalia Industrial Park says realtor Doug Burr.
Visalia Building Permits Stay Strong
The number of building permits in the City of Visalia climbed 22% through March. New home permits are at 79 – up 5% over this time last year.
Groundbreaking Set For April 8 For Porterville Cancer Care Center
Sierra View District Hospital will break ground on a new Cancer Care Center on April 8 with construction set to last 15 months. The project is valued at $5.2 million. The addition includes a second linear accelerator vault, a new and relocated lobby, new exam rooms, a patient consultation room, additional chemotherapy bays and refinishing the exterior to blend better on the hospital campus says spokesperson Ramona Chiapa. “The additional square footage is 3000 sq/ft. with the total project area is 12,763 sq ft. “We will continue to provide comprehensive care throughout the project, without interruption to radiation or chemotherapy services.”For patients the new facility will mean enhanced treatment options, Improved imaging and patient positioning, Reduce treatment times, minimize patient side effects, improved radiation therapy technology.
Landmark Springville Inn Closes
Built in 1911,the landmark Springville Inn along Hwy 190 has recently shut its doors with the property now for sale.The current owners filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month.