The new retail center will be adjacent to Marketplace Village, a112-unit gated townhome community, also being developed by theEmpire Cos. According to Wana Sims, director of leasing for EmpireCommercial Real Estate, the company is "focusing on attractingspecialty retailers and unique services that are not found in otherneighborhood centers."

In addition to the tenants already lined up for the project, "Weare hoping to bring more dining and shopping options to the area,"Sims says. The Moreno Marketplace will be located on the corner ofCactus Avenue and Moreno Beach Drive, in an area where "There is astrong need for diverse housing products and commercial real estatein Moreno Valley," says Rick Miranda, senior vice president ofEmpire Commercial Real Estate.

Moreno Marketplace and Marketplace Village are both scheduled toopen in early 2008. They will join a host of other developments byOntario-based Empire Cos. The four Empire Cos. business unitsinclude Empire Land, Empire Residential Sales/Prestige Homes,Empire Commercial Real Estate and Guardian Air Services, whichmanages the Guardian Jet Center at the Ontario InternationalAirport and operates a charter service.