It's Final: Popular store isn't coming -- at least not now

Tiles sit unplaced on the roof and the parking lot is unfinished at the former Smart & Final site. Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon

By Doug Spoon, Editor

It is perhaps not as eagerly anticipated as the Krikorian Theater project across the street, but the planned Smart & Final store in the Newport Towne Square has been the subject of many resident inquiries in recent weeks.

The short answer is no, Smart & Final is not coming to that location. That’s not to say that Smart & Final doesn’t want to come to Menifee. A company spokesperson told Menifee 24/7 in an email last week that corporate officials remain very interested in coming to the community.

The reason they are not coming to this location remains somewhat clouded in mystery. Signs advertising the arrival of the store were removed weeks ago, and employees hired to work there were reassigned to other stores or lost employment. Stacks of tiles remain unplaced on the roof and the parking lot is unfinished.

A City official referred to the situation as “a private land issue.” A Smart & Final spokesperson called the situation “circumstances beyond our control.” The developer, Brett Del Valle of Peninsula Retails Partners, LLC of Newport Beach, did not respond to a reporter’s questions about the project.

“The Newport Towne Square development will not be completed in the agreed-upon time frame due to a private land issue that is beyond the City of Menifee’s control,” wrote Gina Gonzalez, economic development director, in a City of Menifee news release. “As a result, Smart & Final will not be leasing retail space at the center.

“Over the past two years, Smart & Final and the City have been in discussion to open an Extra! formatted store. The City of Menifee is committed to work with Smart & Final to find a permanent, future location within the City. The City will also continue to work alongside the developer at Newport Towne Square and provide assistance to all parties, to the extent legally possible.”

The last sentence refers to legal implications that may arise from the stop of construction and Smart & Final’s pull-out. It is unclear at this point whether the developer has another tenant in mind and if and when construction will be completed.

“The City of Menifee recognizes the demand for specialty and bulk groceries for residents and businesses in and surrounding our city,” the news release stated. “For residents who were hired and subsequently lost employment, the City of Menifee and the Riverside County Workforce Office have partnered to provide resources to aid those seeking employment in the Southwest Riverside County area.

For more information, please contact the Workforce Development Center at 951-791-3500 (Hemet) or 951-955-3100 (Riverside).