After several years of abandoned shops and declined activity, two Turlock shopping centers will soon see better days as three new tenants, including a Berkeley-based outlet supermarket, make plans to improve each complex.

What used to be one of Turlock’s busiest shopping centers, Turlock Town Center, located near the intersection of Geer Road and Golden State Boulevard, is in the process of gaining a new anchor tenant, said Turlock Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development and Housing Maryn Pitt. Although the name of the anchor tenant planning to fill the space previously occupied by Sears has not yet been released, Pitt said the store anticipates opening for business sometime this fall.

Built in 1986, the 102,361 square foot retail facility owned by global real estate firm Colliers International consists of 10 buildings with 37 units and 600 parking spaces, making it one of the largest shopping centers in Turlock prior to Monte Vista Crossings. Although some large anchor stores remain in business, such as the 99-Cent Store, the shopping center has seen the demise of several others including an Albertson’s grocery store and teen clothing retailer Anchor Blue.

A new anchor tenant will be helping to revitalize the center, opening where the current Goodwill is and adjacent former Sears storefront. The Turlock Town Center Goodwill will move a few doors down in the same shopping center.

In addition to redeveloping the store area, the new anchor tenant will bring nearly $2 million in improvements to the shopping center, renovating its out-of-date design.

Across town, the former Dollar City shopping center located at West Main and South Soderquist Avenue will see two new tenants in the near future, including the Berkeley-based chain supermarket, Grocery Outlet, and the New Hampshire-based gym Planet Fitness.

Although the center had previously anticipated the development of a new Mi Pueblo Food Center, Pitt confirmed that Grocery Outlet would be taking its place. Over the past few years, the Turlock City Council and Planning Commission have often discussed the proposed Mi Pueblo Food Center, after development came to an unexpected pause in 2011.

With the help of an $800,000 grant received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2013, site developers New Urban Community Partners, planned to open a new supermarket in Westside Turlock, previously thought to be Mi Pueblo. According to Pitt, the grant did not include a business name for the proposed market and could be used towards the development of the new Grocery Outlet at the same location.

Although not yet announced, Pitt says that a third tenant is also looking to open in the vacated center. 

Both Grocery Outlet and Planet Fitness have Modesto locations, in addition to hundreds of other stores across the nation. 

More information about each tenant’s construction and opening plans for both Turlock shopping centers will be released as development continues.