Hopkins and Rockwood developed the property at the southeastcorner of Limonite Avenue and Interstate 15 in Riverside County.Among the tenants at the new project are Lowe's Home Improvement,Circuit City, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Beverages & More, Petco,Ross Dress For Less, Payless ShoeSource and Michaels. Hopkinspoints out that such retailers are long awaited in the Eastvalearea of Mira Loma where the center is located. The new shoppingvenue is also expected to draw customers from parts of Ontario,Norco and Corona.

Hopkins and Rockwood have developed the new center on a 40-acreparcel in an area of the Inland Empire that many observers havelong considered underserved by retail. Rockwood is based in SanFrancisco and Greenwich, CT. The Vernola project adds to a listthat includes other HREG Southern California developments inCarson, Santa Clarita, San Clemente, Redlands, La Habra, Whittier,Fontana, Menifee, San Bernardino, Palmdale and Palm Springs.

Vernola Marketplace is the second project between Hopkins RealEstate and Rockwood. The companies also developed upscale propertycalled Talega Village Center on 10 acres in the Talega area of SanClemente, serving the residents of Rancho San Clemente, Marbleheadand Forster Ranch in South Orange County.