SANTEE, Calif. — We're Working for You to answer your questions about the former Best Buy building that has sat empty for a few years in Santee.
Since our team first shared the story about an abandoned McDonald's restaurant in Ramona, many of you across San Diego County have been reaching out to us about vacant buildings in your neighborhood.
A new kind of Chuck E. Cheese and California’s first small-format Macy's is set to open next month at the former Bed Bath and Beyond in the Santee Trolley Square.
CBS 8 has confirmed there's a pending deal where the Best Buy was on Mission Gorge.
“It's exciting because it's been vacant for years. Everyone asks us inside the branch [Navy Federal Credit Union] and we have no idea. It's been a long time coming for something to come there,” said Anna Shinabarger.
The Best Buy sign on the door announcing its closure is still behind the window from October 2021.
The realtor for the property, Brian Pyke, with Retail Insite, sent CBS 8 a statement:
"We have a deal going on the Best Buy box. We should be able to finish up the lease within the next few weeks and reveal who the tenant will be. I can't say much right now, as I am under NDA, but it will be a great use for the project."
Pyke says once he can say more, he'll tell CBS 8.
“How can you keep a building that rents for tens of thousands of dollars every month and empty for two years? Boy I tell ya, Trader Joe's is the answer,” said Tad Henrickson, Santee resident.
He isn’t alone in wanting the grocery store.
“We are really hoping for something like a Trader Joe's. I feel like it might be some sort of grocery store, makes sense for the building,” said Shinabarger.
CBS 8 posted the information on Facebook and it created quite the buzz with more than 300 reactions and more than 250 comments.
Many said they wanted a Trader Joe’s.
The closest TJ’s is in La Mesa. The Santee Economic Development Manager has said the 30,000 square foot space is a challenge to lease and was told the footprint is too large for Trader Joe’s but they continue to look for space for Trader Joe's.
“I’m thinking it's some kind of Aldi. It has to be some sort of grocery for the space,” said Shinabarger.
At one point it was rumored to be Amazon Fresh.
Others commented that they’d like to see a Souplantation, a food hall, a Stater Brothers grocery store, Burlington Coat Factory, Aldi, an ice skating rink, an Asian supermarket, an indoor trampoline center for kids or a theater.
The drive-in theater will close at the end of the year.
“It’s great, put more people to work that's what we need to do,” said Henrickson.
The Santee Economic Development Department has a website that lists available retail space and active projects for review.
Macy’s Grand Opening is scheduled for November 11 at the Trolley Square.
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