The development site is on Calimesa Boulevard at MyrtlewoodDrive. The center's Walgreens will be the first major drugstore toopen in Calimesa, where the developers cite "pent-up demand forretail."

Jason Blum, vice president of Interra-Vision Holdings anddevelopment manager of the project, comments that, "Considering theslowdown in new retail developments, retailers more than ever needsurety that the projects they commit to will be built." The Shoppesat Calimesa will be built in two phases. The first phase, whichconsists of 50,000 sf, will feature Fresh & Easy, Walgreens,Carl's Jr., Subway and Denny's—plus nearly 16,000 sf of shop space.Phase one, which is slated to open in May 2009, includes adrive-through pad at the entrance of the center that remainsavailable.

Blum notes that the project's first phase is 75% leased, a signthat "Quality retailers are still looking to open stores inunder-served markets." The developers are in negotiations with"several well-recognized national retailers to take most of theremaining space in the first phase," Blum adds. Construction willbegin on the second phase "when we have the majority of ourpre-leasing effort completed," he says.