Yuma, Ariz., to See New Hilton Garden Inn

March 13, 2007
$20M hotel project is beginning to move along

Mar. 11--Building permits have been issued for the Hilton Garden Inn, the keystone for the city's Pivot Point riverfront redevelopment effort, said Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official. Permits have also been issued for the parking garage.

The contractor is mobilizing, and construction activity is expected to start within the next fews days, said Greg Hyland, city spokesman.

The $20 million hotel is being developed by California developer Craig Clark on North Madison Avenue. The 150-room hotel will be adjacent to a conference center for which plans are still under review.

Construction of a downtown hotel has been years in the making, dating back to 1999 when the city started looking for a developer to transform the riverfront.

In other city building activity, Kircher reported:

Plans have been submitted to transform A New Leaf floral shop at 179 E. 1st St. into a bar called The Pub.

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The city is reviewing plans for a 40,000-square-foot cooler addition to Taylor Farms, a produce plant at 10241 S. Avenue 4E.

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Plans have been approved for the Jodeal self-storage business at Arizona Avenue and 34th Street.

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A permit has been issued for workers to install fixtures and shelving in the new Wal-Mart Supercenter at 32nd Street and Avenue 8E.

So far, a Jack in the Box and Wells Fargo bank branch have been announced for five of the separate pads at the location. Kircher said he's unaware of any plans for a fuel station there.

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The Palms RV Resort subdivision is coming to the northwest corner of 36th Street and Avenue 7E. The developer is Palms Yuma Development. The subdivision will have 451 lots of varying sizes on 60 acres and be a gated community. Amenities will include a community center and pool.

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Things are ready to move forward for the Wal-Mart Supercenter in San Luis, Ariz., reported Lee Maness, city administrator. Plans have been approved and the land sale has closed, he said.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in about three weeks, and construction is expected to start by early April on the 176,000-square-foot building, he said. The site also will have several pads for such uses as restaurants, a bank and other businesses.

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Site work is starting on Plaza del Este, a commercial subdivision being developed by Michael W. Curtis Realty and Development at the northeast corner of 32nd Street and Avenue 7E.

The subdivision will have 25 lots of various sizes on about 25 acres for offices and retail spaces. If interested in purchasing a lot, call 783-2215.

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In another development off 32nd Street, model homes are now open at Sky Vista Estates. The manufactured home subdivision is south of 32nd Street just west of Country Roads at Avenue 5-1/2E.

The subdivision has 74 lots on 10 acres and will be a gated community for residents 55 and older, said Neil Scheuneman, who is developing it with his wife, Linda. Potential residents can pick from eight floor plans. The lots, homes and attached garages are being sold as a unit, with prices varying from $197,200 to $249,000. All homes will be double-wides.

Model homes are open from 1 to 4 p.m. daily. During installation of a traffic signal in the area, the only access to Sky Vista is by taking Avenue 5E south to 34th Street, then turn east. For more information, call 581-5548.

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A total of $1.3 billion in taxable retail sales was reported for Yuma County during 2006, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue Office of Economic Research and Analysis. Four other counties in Arizona had more: Maricopa, Mohave, Pima and Yavapai.

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Jettie Sullivan has moved her sandwich shop, Small Fry's, from Wellton to Yuma, at 2855 S. 4th Ave., where Mi Plata previously was located. Going back further, some may remember the location for yet another restaurant: Hensley's Beef, Beans and Beer.

Small Fry's offers hot and cold deli sandwiches, grilled items, soups and salads, some Mexican food, desserts and espresso coffees.

It's open Tuesdays through Saturdays, starting at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast or a coffee fix. Closing is 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays. As a souvenir of its Wellton origin, the restaurant's phone number is 785-3267.

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Small Fry's also has joined the growing lineup of restaurants serviced by Dine-in Delivery, a business by Josh and Holly Lederer that will order, pick up and deliver meals from area restaurants to homes and businesses.

Dine-in Delivery now has contracts with Buffalo Wild Wings, Burrito Grill, Bella Vita, Beverage Shop, Hawaiian Barbecue, India House, Quizno's Subs, Sesame Kitchen and Nestle's Toll House Cafe. Mad Greek will be coming soon, Lederer said.

Customers can now go online to to make their selections and place their orders.

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Barbara Bowles was born and raised in Germany, and now she wants to share all those good German foods she grew up with. She has started a catering business, Daf Bratwurst Haus, specializing in German foods although she can cook about anything, said husband William.

People may already be familiar with her cooking from various downtown events. Or they can get a taste with a couple of events this coming weekend: the Vigilantes anniversary shindig Saturday in downtown Yuma, and the archaeology expo Friday and Saturday at Yuma Crossing Park.

After that, she will set up regular shop from 9 a.m. to closing Fridays and Saturdays at Bobby's

Territorial Harley-Davidson, 2550 E. Gila Ridge Road.

For more information, call 329-4777 or e-mail .

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Hometown Computers is looking to open a store in Yuma, but the location and opening date haven't been established.

In the meantime, Yuma-area residents and businesses can receive service from two Imperial County stores. The El Centro store can be reached at 1-760-352-3006 and the Brawley store at 1-760-344-1449.

Besides offering retail sales and repairs, Hometown Computer has a Web development team that can design a network for your office or even your home, from two computers to a hundred.

Outside internet access from DSL, Cable, T-1 or faster modes can all be supported with firewall and virus protection.

And the company has preventive maintenance agreements, whereby a technician will come by monthly to ensure computers are free of viruses and all components are in good working order, said Ernie Martinez of the Brawley store.

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Dan Ellis is in the process of developing a mini-storage facility on Avenue 29E about a mile south of Coyote Wash in Wellton. Wellton Hills Self Storage, as it will be called, will have enclosed storage spaces 10-by-10 feet, 10-by-20 feet and 10-by-30 feet.

He expects to be open by mid-April and is now taking reservations. To reach him, call 345-3509 or 246-3719.

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Mr B's Bicycles has turned 30 and in that time grown into three stores. It was started by his parents in March 30, 1977, in a small shop "the size of a bedroom" with five bicycles, said Donnie Bennett, who now owns the business with his wife, Jennifer.

"Thanks to Yuma, it's been 30 years ... that means 30 percent off," Bennett said of the anniversary sale he is running through March. The 30 percent off applies to a number of items, including bicycles, clothing and fitness equipment.

Over the years, Bennett said, the business has sold thousands of bicycles and given away thousands to charitable organizations -- "that's the neat part." It also has hosted hundreds of bike rodeos and clinics to promote safe biking.

Stores are at 1701 S. Avenue B, 1870 S. 4th Ave. and 11242 S. Foothills Blvd. For more information, visit .

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More fast food is coming to Somerton. A Jack in the Box will be located on the corner of Musgrove Avenue and Main Street, said Bradley Holcum, a Somerton developer. He said the Jack in the Box corporation has leased a parcel on a three-acre commercial site he is developing.

Holcum said he expects construction could start on Jack in the Box by late April and hopefully be open by fall.

The site has two other parcels, one of which is still available for lease. If interested, call 627-2900.

Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.