You can see the structure of the Walmart store under construction on the east mesa side of Las Cruces.
The third such supercenter store in the city, when work began on the facility, other projects were announced:
• A new Jack-In-The-Box fast food restaurant is under construction at the corner of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and Northrise Drive, right next to Fitness One
• A Walgreens pharmacy location is expected to be built on Rinconada Boulevard, near the corner with Bataan Memorial West
• A Murphy Oil gas station is expected to be built next to the Walgreens
On the west side of town, there is some movement as well. A new Dollar General store opened on Motel in the summer and a fast-food chain is close to being announced in the area, next to the Walgreens that is located at 2700 W. Picacho Ave.
"We are on the final draft and waiting for the signature on the lease for a national fast-food restaurant next to the Walgreens," said Rick Stoes, managing director of Stoes Real Estate Advisors with Henry S. Miller Brokerage. "We've agreed to agree."
He said he cannot name the business yet, but it will have a drive-thru.
Also in the same area, fronting Picacho — and again next to the Walgreens store — new commercial construction will be seen.
"We're just about just to start an additional 8,000 square-foot (facility)," Stoes said.
In addition, Stoes said that an O'Reilly Auto Parts store is scheduled to be built in the area.
Wishes
Residents of Las Cruces have a wish list of companies and types of companies they would like to still see come to the east and west sides of town.
"I would love to see business centers go in on the east mesa with employers that pay better than minimum wage," said Emmy Basch Simpson on the Sun-News Facebook page. "No more strip malls."
"I would like to see more retail shopping and a good mix of restaurants," said east mesa resident Gricel Mendoza Chavez.
Zachary Brennan would like, "Another sonic. Friends of mine are sick and tired of having to drive into town for a blast or slush."
Richard Santana said he would like to see a "New bike shop, bigger chain restaurant, perhaps (a) new pub."
