FOLSOM, CA - Businesses are starting to fill storefronts at the Palladio at Broadstone in Folsom after years of vacancies.
According to City of Folsom planning staff, at least 60 percent of the leasing agreements are signed at the center.
"We've got a large interest from the national clientele who had waited and wanted to see what was happening and now they look at this area," General Manager Gloria Wright said. "They look at Folsom and the greater Sacramento region and realize how important this region is to their market and they need to open here."
PHOTOS: Shops at the Palladio
There are approximately 100 units at the center; 10 shops are now open for business and about a dozen more are expected to open before the spring.
At one building on Thursday, workers were cutting metal to frame, what will soon be, the bar at Chops, a steak and seafood restaurant.
"I can't believe the synergy of this center to be honest with you," Chops co-owner Geoff Flynn said. "Every day I marvel, I drive back to downtown Sacramento to our other location and I feel blessed to be up here. This center is full of people and I can't even imagine what it will be like when it fills up with businesses."
Flynn opened Chops in downtown Sacramento nearly 10 years ago. He wasn't planning to open a second location.
"This gives us the opportunity to expand our brand, to expand our dollars, our revenue base, and hopefully it takes off from here," Flynn said. "We love the business we're in but it's been really hard to make a living the last three years in this business."
Whole Foods Market opened at the Palladio three months ago. The company does not release its sales numbers, but a line wrapped around the building on opening day.
"It's been amazing," Marketing Team Leader for Whole Foods Market Ciara Glass said. "The community has really been great, very supportive, very positive, a lot of great feedback. They're really excited about what we have to offer."
The Palladio 16 Theatres has been another draw to the center. Louise Gibboney of Carmichael was at the Palladio on Thursday to see a movie.
"We're happy about it," Gibboney said. "We like Whole Foods and sometimes we'll pick up a sandwich there, but we would like to have a restaurant to go to after the movie."
"I'm happy to see businesses going in," Paige Cox of Folsom said. "I'll be happy when it's completely full and hope that it doesn't put too many other businesses out of business though."
"I am hearing a lot from companies with respect to being excited about Palladio," Folsom City Manager Evert Palmer said. "I think everybody recognizes that having a facility of the quality of Palladio and the product mix of the quality of the Palladio is attracting is really tending to elevate the retail climate and the economic development climate within the community as a whole."
Flynn is hoping Chops will be in operation by March and expects to employ about 50 to 70 people. Chops plans to serve lunch and dinner seven days a week and brunch during the weekend.
"Every day is a lost opportunity right now so we're pushing hard to get this thing open," Flynn said.
According to Wright, the Palladio expects to employ about 2,000 people when the units are full.
Some businesses are accepting applications.
Wright won't say what other restaurants or stores might be locating there.
Stores coming to Palladio:
- AT&T Mobility - Spring 2012
- Claire's - Summer 2012
- Folsom Chops - March 2012
- Freebirds World Burrito - Now open
- H&M - Fall 2012
- Kirklands - Now open
- Massage Heights - February 6, 2012
- Runway Boutique - February 14, 2012
- Sports Authority - Fall 2012
- Toby Keith "I Love this Bar" Bar and Grill - March 2012
- White House Black Market - March 2012
News10/KXTV