Project brings services, retail to western edge of Yuma

An ambitious new commercial development came about because three partners decided they wanted to do "something outside the box."

Partners Chuck Dodd, Clint Curry and Dan Dinwiddie had been developing various residential projects and strip malls for some 20 years in Somerton, San Luis, Ariz., and Imperial Valley, Calif.

Then they hit on an idea they had seen in bigger cities: that of major projects offering retail and office space for sale on the same concept as residential condominiums.

"It's like a house," Dodd said last week as he got ready for the grand opening of the first phase of Mission Valley Plaza. "Most would rather own than rent."

So the three formed a company, Yuma Valley Developers, purchased about 16 acres at the northeast corner of Avenue C and 24th Street and launched their project.

The big reason for that area, Dodd said, was the lack of commercial opportunities on the western edge of the city where a tremendous amount of residential development is taking place.

"We liked this area because of all the new homes," he said. But the nearest commercial area is a mile away on Avenue B.

"Our goal is to provide services to the valley, a greatly underserved area," a one-stop center where valley residents can shop, get a haircut, conduct business and eat out.

Plans ultimately call for four two-story buildings. Each will have 26,000 square feet with 10 retail and office units on the ground floor and 14 office suites on the second floor.

Spaces range from 465 to 1,800 square feet.

A common area includes public restrooms, stairs and an elevator.

Lots of windows throughout the units provide a great view of the Yuma Valley, Dodd noted.

One building has been completed and its first tenants open for business.

They include Century 21 Action Group: The Krill Team, Yolanda's Tax Service and Hair Dimension. Yuma Valley Contractors has an office there, as does Curry for his Desert Organics business.

San Diego Nails and Homemade Bakery will be coming soon, and two units have been sold to lease out.

Hopes are they will be followed by such businesses as a day-care center, a workout center, restaurants and medical and dental offices.

The project also has four free-standing pads. A comedy club will be located on the corner pad and a convenience store next to it.

A fast-food restaurant is planned for a third pad, and the fourth is for sale. A self-storage facility also is planned.

Next to the plaza, Dinwiddie is independently developing a similar project called Mission Valley Professional Center that will have three buildings.

When sorting out the style they wanted, the partners agreed they wanted a mission look with soft tones and a Spanish influence, Dodd said.

From there it was easy to come up with the name for the plaza, he added.

The second building should be finished by May, Dodd said. The other two buildings are in the planning stages.

For more information about purchasing or leasing a unit, contact Barbara Kehl Realty at 782-4222.

Dodd, project manager, can be reached at 329-4518 or info@avdevolopers.com.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.

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-Family realizes dream with own hair salon

Rebeca Melgoza, her mother Lulu Esquivel and sisters Maria Lopez and Diana Perez are now working for themselves after they seized the opportunity to open their own hair salon at Mission Valley Plaza.

Called Hair Dimensions, the family business offers haircuts for the entire family from baby's first haircut to military regulation haircuts and ladies' styles. The salon also offers other hair services and has hair products for sale.

Melgoza said the family had moved to Yuma from California about five years ago, and each had been working other places. She worked for Antonio's Barber Shop and has experience as a barber, while her sisters are cosmetologists.

"This was our chance to have our own business," Melgoza said. "That was our dream. Now it's right time and place."

The salon is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Walk-ins are welcome; for an appointment, call 783-3434.

-Tax preparer goes from kitchen table to new office

Yolanda Mejia has come a long way from helping family and friends with their income tax returns at her kitchen table.

Mejia, who has a bachelor's degree in business from Northern Arizona University, started preparing tax returns as a favor for those she knew and soon found herself in need of a office. That was 10 years ago.

That first office, she reflected, was about the size of the bathroom in her newest office she just opened at Mission Valley Plaza. And today, her practice has grown to include two other tax preparers and an assistant.

Most recently, she was renting an office at Citrus Plaza, owned by All Valley Developers, which is developing Mission Valley Plaza.

It seemed like a good opportunity when space became available in the new retail/professional center. "I saw the growth and opportunity in the valley." Besides, she added, "we had outgrown our space."

Mejia, a Yuma-area native, is bilingual, as are some of her staff.

Her office can be reached at 782-6350.

-Realtor opens office in heart of new construction

A chance to open a branch real estate office at Mission Valley Plaza was just the opportunity Realtor Dennis Krill had been looking for.

Krill, who has been associated with Century 21 Action Group for some time, said he wanted an investment for his retirement when he no longer was making sales commissions.

And Mission Valley Plaza seemed like "an excellent location" for a real estate office with a number of housing projects either planned or under construction in the area, he said. "There's a lot of activity in the area."

He also sees a lot of potential for Mission Valley Plaza and the neighboring Mission Valley Professional Center as they're developed and attract retailers and professionals to the western edge of the city.

Therefore, Krill purchased an office unit in the plaza and has set up shop as a branch office, called Century 21 Action Group: The Krill Team. In addition to Krill, the team includes his wife Nancy, daughter Rachel and Joe Bevington (He has one remaining office for another agent).

The office can be reached at 329-8888 or info@yumarealestate.com.

-Bakery and deli coming soon

The name Jody Keller Ward selected for the business she is setting up at Mission Valley Plaza kind of says it well. Homemade Bakery will offer lots of yummy homemade pastries, breads and Ward's specialty: cinnamon rolls.

She hopes to open by early March and plans to initially open the doors at 6 a.m. to serve breakfast and coffee. She also will serve lunch, including sandwiches on homemade bread and salads as well as a daily "home cooked" special.

Ward, a member of a longtime Yuma family, has had a commercial kitchen for several years from which she supplied a business route and did catering. With her children grown and people urging her to open her own place, she's finally following her dream of having a restaurant.

"I always wanted to feed people," she said.

A space in Mission Valley Plaza was just the opportunity she was looking for, said Ward, who lives nearby. "It's a wonderful way for me to stay on my side of town."

And it will let her serve her friends and neighbors - established ones and new ones she plans to meet as the area continues to develop.

She said the biggest interest she's heard from people is to be able to swing by on their way home from work to pick up bread for their dinner.

Ward will continue to do catering and her delivery route.