Dion’s picks S. Valley location

Deena Crawley, marketing director for Dion’s, said the company does not have a date yet for the groundbreaking. Crawley said this would be the company’s 14th store in the Albuquerque metro area and the first in the South Valley. The closest Dion’s, at Coors and Central, opened in 2006 and is one of the company’s busiest locations. She said the company builds only in areas it considers to be great locations. Some things it looks for are nearby homes, other shopping centers and schools.

“We’ve gotten a lot of requests for a South Valley location,” she said. “We thought it (Las Estancias) would be a great location for us.”

NAI Maestas & Ward are the leasing agents for the Las Estancias project. Steve Maestas, managing partner of Maestas & Ward, said last week that were several other businesses that expressed interest in moving into the development, but he would not release their names until they officially sign on. He has said the development will include a skilled nursing facility with medical services, and a mix of large and small retail businesses.

Another large parcel in the South Valley near Interstate 25 and Rio Bravo has been sold to local heavy-equipment dealer Wagner Equipment. The company sells Caterpillar heavy machinery, as well as dealing in parts and repairs. It is currently located on Osuna west of Jefferson NE.

Kevin Pomeroy, a facilities manager for Wagner, said the company eventually wants to move its Albuquerque operation to the South Valley site because it has outgrown its current location. He said there is no target date yet.

“At this point, it’s premature,” he said. “Nothing is on paper and it’s yet to be planned.”