New Around Town SLATTEN RANCH IS COMING by Cindy Ehling

I heard of a woman who moved to a smaller town and made a very specific complaint about her new community, “You can’t say you live in a really civilized place if there is no Mervyn’s.” Well, by that woman’s odd standard the Slatten Ranch commercial development project is about to bring civilization to East County. Most of us are curious about what’s happening there. Some of us are even excited about it.

Slatten Ranch is a retail development project going up on 27 acres in the area near the junction of the Hwy. 4 Bypass and Lone Tree Way. Don Griebling, Chief Building Inspector for the project, told me that when Slatten Ranch is completed, it will be home to 45 different retail stores, restaurants, and businesses. The project’s two anchor stores Mervyn’s and Target, are scheduled for an October 12th opening.

In the near future Mervyn’s and Target will be joined by others including:
• Sports Chalet
• Pet Food Express
• The Men’s Wearhouse
• Cost Plus
• Barnes & Noble Books
• Johnny Carinos Italian Restaurant
• Mimi’s Cafe
• Chili’s
• Cold Stone Creamery

I know some East County residents are delighted by the prospect of gaining access to these establishments. For example, my Pastor says that his wife plans to go sit in front of the Mimi’s Cafe site a week before it opens so she can be the first one through the door.
I have some friends who think Barnes & Noble bookstores are some of the greatest places on earth to hang out.

And that’s not all...
Slatten Ranch is located just inside the border of Antioch. Other commercial development projects on the Antioch side of East County are really picking up steam, as well. For example, another big development in the planning stage will be located on Empire Road not far from Slatten Ranch and will be home to many more retail businesses and restaurants.
The new Kaiser Medical offices located on Deer Valley Road opened its doors just last month. A full service Kaiser Hospital is also planned and due to be completed in a few years.
The new Macy’s store coming to County East Mall is getting some of us excited. This will be a large, two-story, 107,000 sq. ft. building that will be full of shopping opportunities. We have to wait a while on this. The project only got final permits last month. (I wonder if I could help them lay bricks, or something.)

Plans are also in the works to revitalize dining and retail centers in the historic Rivertown area of downtown Antioch. For example, the celebrated El Campanil Theater located at 2nd and G Streets is being restored to its original glorious state.
If you enjoy shopping, as most of us East County residents do, get ready for the happy opportunities that are coming our way. Every month it just seems to get better! °