New tenants coming to struggling shopping center

NEW SIGNS OF LIFE FOR A SHOPPING CENTER THAT HAS LOST THREE BIG STORES BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL ...  More »

NEW SIGNS OF LIFE FOR A SHOPPING CENTER THAT HAS LOST THREE BIG STORES BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. WE'VE LEARNED A SCHOOL AND A RETAIL STORE ARE READY TO SET UP SHOP AT THE PAVILLIONS AT SAN MATEO NEAR I-40. VALERIE CASTRO IS ON THE ECONOMY WATCH WITH THE DETAILS. VALERIE. FILLING THOSE EMPTY BIG BOX STORES ISN'T AN EASY TASK, ESPECIALLY DURING A RECESSION AND WITH A MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HAPPENING NEARBY. BUT AT LEAST ONE FUTURE TENANT IS THRILLED TO HAVE ALL OF THAT SPACE TO WORK WITH. IT'S A SHOPPING CENTER RIDDLED WITH CHANGE. A SLOW ECONOMY TURNED ONCE BUSY STORE FRONTS LIKE LINENS AND THINGS, COMPU USA AND CIRCUIT CITY INTO EMPTY SHELLS. THE I-40 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HASN'T MADE THINGS ANY BETTER. DESPITE THE CHAOS, ONE NEW RETAIL STORE AND A MEDICAL TRAINING SCHOOL HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'LL BE MAKING THIS PLACE THEIR HOME. 'Our school has been in the albuquerque area for over 30 years and we've seen wonderful growth in our student population, the new facility will give us more square footage and give us increased parking spaces.'HOLLY WOELBER IS THE CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE PIMA MEDICAL INSTITUTE NEAR SAN PEDRO AND INDIAN SCHOOL -- A LOCATION SHE SAYS THE STUDENTS HAVE FAR OUTGROWN. 'The interior space is what we're most excited about with the ability to have a larger student lounge for our students and more classroom space and increased study areas for them.'THE SCHOOL WILL BE TAKING OVER THE OLD CIRCUIT CITY BUILDING. THIS FALL, ULTIMATE ELECTRONICS WILL BE MOVING FROM ITS LOCATION AT MENAUL INTO THE OLD LINEN'S N THINGS BUILDING -- ACCORDING TO WEINGARTEN REALTY. REVIVING OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE SHOPPING CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT WOELBER SAYS HER STUDENTS CAN HELP WITH. 'We're really excited about the location, one there are food areas around there and we're hoping our student population, we have about 750 students we'll be able to help those businesses stay viable and stay in business.' PIMA MEDICAL PLANS TO SETTLE INTO THE NEW LOCATION WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. LIVE NEAR I-40 AND SAN MATEO....VC...  « Less