Burlington Coat Factory to open Friday

  To that often-heard question about when Burlington Coat Factory will open its doors at Southgate Mall - the answer is Friday, announced Audrey Shapiro, public relations director. Area residents are invited to visit the store and enjoy the grand opening festivities throughout the weekend.

 The 80,000-square-foot store (in the former JCPenney store at the mall) will feature a wide variety of the current trends in fashions and shoes for the entire family - and of course coats - all at everyday discount prices, Shapiro said. The store also has a home decor department and a Baby Depot Department.

  Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. The store can be reached at 344-6800.

  During the grand opening, other festivities are being planned for the entire Southgate Mall, said mall general manager Bobbi Brooks-Gurrola.

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  Good news for all those Foothills-area residents who are hoping a sign on the planned site for a Walgreens store at the northwest corner of Fortuna Road and 35th Place means the store really is coming soon.

  There has been a predevelopment meeting and the company has applied for a setback variance, said Carmen Reyes, customer service manager for the Yuma County Department of Development Services. However, no building plans have been submitted yet, she said.

  Walgreens spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce said plans are to break ground by early 2009 with hopes to have it by summer. At 15,522 square feet, it will have a pharmacy drive-through window and "all the features to make it a great store."

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  Target grand opening is 5 p.m. Oct. 10 for the new Mine Shaft at 3905 S. 4th Ave., said Brice Zeller, who owns the establishment with his wife, Becky.

  Once the new Mine Shaft is open, the old one at 3780 S. 4th Ave. will be closed for about a week for remodeling, then reopen as an alternative bar named The Closet, Zeller said.

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  Just in case you missed the story in The Sun last week, Gene's Restaurant served its last meal Wednesday at its longtime location at 771 S. 4th Ave. The property has been sold and manager Jeannie Wah-Gorman is looking for another more central location to reopen, hopefully by mid-November.

  The property was purchased by Highway 95 Cafe, which plans to open a second restaurant there.

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  Permits have been issued for tenant improvement for Native New Yorker at the restaurant at the Shilo, reported Alan Kircher, assistant city of Yuma building official.

  In other building activity around the city, he reported:

  • Permits have been issued for a new 1,500-square-foot office building to be developed by Ron Ethington at 5th Street and Orange Avenue

  • Plans have been approved for a new 15,000-square-foot hangar for Sun Western Flyers at 3775 S. Burch Way on the west side of Yuma International Airport.

  • Tenant improvement plans have been submitted for Community Intervention Associates, which will be moving into both shell buildings built by Hall Construction at Tuscany Plaza No. 4 at the corner of Avenue B and 28th Street.

  • A new 5,087-square-foot building has been completed for Chicanos por la Causa preschool at 1875 S. 45th Ave.

  • A certificate of occupancy has been issued for the new 8,000-square-foot FedEx Freight Terminal at 30th Street and Avenue 5-3/4E.

  • A certificate of occupancy has been issued for cath lab No. 3 at the Heart Center of Yuma at Yuma Regional Medical Center

  • A certificate of occupancy also has been issued for a new medical office for Dr. Isabel Bellot at 2851 S. Avenue B in Tuscany Plaza, No. 9. Bellot, who has a pediatrics practice, plans to begin seeing patients in the new office Oct. 6. She will have the same phone number of 344-1135.

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 The Salvation Army is preparing to open its new Family Store Oct. 11 at 600 W. Catalina Drive, and is appealing to the public for help with donations to fill it.

  Donations of clothing, furniture, appliances, flatware and hundreds of other items are needed, said Capt. Jonathan Harvey. The agency will be accepting donations at the new Family Store beginning Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a free pickup in Yuma or the Foothills, call 783-0181.

  The grand opening fun will start at 9 a.m. with live music, free food, bouncy castles, free gifts and coupons. Doors will open for shopping at 10 a.m.

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  The October issue of Yuma Business Direct is now available online at businessinyuma.com. The issues features Joe and Annie Fisher, owners of Fisher Chevrolet and Fisher Dodge. The couple recounts their uncharted journey from a small coastal community in northern California to business owners in Yuma - and happy to be here.

  Mike Shelhamer, owner of Old Town Wine Cellar, answers 20 questions in the ongoing series about leaders in the hospitality industry.

  Sellers Petroleum also is featured as the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month for the company's years of giving back to the community.

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  The Treehouse Kids Club, a new child-care facility offering a new concept in child care service, is having its grand opening Tuesday.

  The Treehouse, 1730 S. 4th Ave., will offer hourly drop-in child care for children from 2 to 11 years old, no reservation required. Parents can drop in days, evenings and weekends whenever they need child care, whether to run errands, attend school or meetings, go shopping, see the doctor or dentist, enjoy an evening out for dinner or a movie, or just to relax and re-energize.

  The Treehouse is an Arizona licensed child-care facility and staff is trained to provide a safe and fun environment. It is locally owned by Edna Thompson (husband Chris is an architect) and Renelle Leinbach.

 For more information, call 783-TREE or visit www.treehouseyuma.com.

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  The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. has announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Lane Affiliated Companies Inc., the eighth largest Pepsi bottler in the United States.

  Founded by Ross Lane more than 70 years ago, Lane Affiliated Companies is a family-owned business headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo. Among the company's operations is a satellite warehouse in Yuma. It also has production facilities in Colorado Springs and Tucson, and additional satellite warehouses in Casa Grande, Ariz., and Las Cruces, N.M.

  Lane Affiliated family members Phillip and David Lane could not be reached by The Sun for comment last week on how the transaction might impact the Yuma warehouse or its employees.

  The transaction is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2008. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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  Several longtime local real estate agents have joined forces to open a Yuma affiliate office of Liberty Properties at 661 E. 32nd St., Suite A.

  Agents include Audrey Hughes, Beatrice Alegria, Imelda Castillo, Ruben Leon, Sandra Moreno and Martha Ryan Castro.

  The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and can be reached at 317-2580.

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  When your insurance finishes paying for physical therapy, perhaps you're not finished recuperating. Xtreme Performance Rehabilitation and World Gym Fitness Center of Yuma have a solution.

  Oscar Esqueda, a physical therapist with 14 years experience, is now offering services at his new facility located within World Gym, 2205 W. 23rd St.

  XPRehab specializes in post-surgery exercise programs, neck and back pain management, and sports injury prevention. Fitness center equipment will be shared with XPRehab. Therapists and trainers will help patients transition from their formal physical rehabilitation program into a personal fitness routine to maintain their healthy lifestyle after an injury.

  Esqueda also will be available for high school athletic program consultations and other community outreach efforts.

  He can be reached directly at 783-5931 or call the World Gym at 343-1053.

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  Marie Nadeau has just opened MLN Photography and is offering a wide selection of photography services at affordable prices.

  Originally from Maine where she started to take photographs 12 years ago, Nadeau moved to Yuma three years ago as a Marine wife and honed her photography skills with an online course. Now she is ready to put her camera to work with her own business.

  She has a portable studio for on-location photography as well as a studio at 11482 E. 24th Place. Nadeau offers special packages for portraits, wedding and special events or will work by the hour.

 For more information, call 581-4386 or e-mail Marie.MLNPhotography@gmail.com.

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