Shakeups coming for some Merced restaurants, but key buildings remain vacant

Developers have shown interest in a number of Merced buildings, a city staffer said Tuesday, and activity at R and Main streets may be the current highlight.

Cardenas Market, which emphasizes Latin American food and products, recently took over the last open space in the shopping center, according to Frank Quintero, economic development director for the city. The building once housed a Save Mart.

“That entire shopping center on the south side of Westgate will be full,” he said. “It will have users in all its spaces, and it’s been a while since that happened.”

The supermarket has dozens of locations in southern California and the Bay Area, according to its website. The market, which isn’t open yet, is similar to Rancho San Miguel or a Vallarta Supermarket. It wasn’t clear Tuesday exact when the store may open in Merced.

Hometown Buffet

The buffet that shuttered in March 2016 is officially on the market now, according to Quintero. He said the city has spoken with several potential restaurants, but he declined to be specific.

“We are getting very good responses from restaurant users wanting to go in there,” he said.

Burger Time

Once a Mexican seafood restaurant called Las Palmas, the 661 W. 16th St. eatery will soon be Burger Time, according to Quintero. The mom-and-pop burger joint is on Facebook, but not much information was immediately available about it.

The menu shows an array of burgers and sandwiches, as well as corn dogs, shakes and chicken nuggets.

Hibachi Grill Buffet

Signs on the doors of the 475 W. Olive Ave. Hibachi Grill say the restaurant is closed. The eatery is being remodeled and will be closed temporarily, according to Maria Mendoza, an associate in the city’s economic development department.

How long the Chinese and seafood buffet will be closed is unclear, Mendoza said.

Save Mart

Walking through the Central San Joaquin Valley staple, shoppers can see Save Mart has recently added new refrigerators and counter tops, Quintero said. The company had previously said it would move across G Street to the former Albertsons location.

“As of today, there is no plan to move the Olive Avenue Save Mart,” spokeswoman Victoria Castro said on Tuesday.

There are no other plans in the works for the Albertsons building, which has remained vacant for many years.

Prime Shine Car Wash

The Prime Shine Car Wash set to go up at 930 W. 16th St., which is on the south side of the street and about 500 feet from R Street, is under construction, Quintero said. The 1.7-acre lot sits empty across from New Thai Cuisine, formerly the Rice Bowl.

The new car wash will be the second Prime Shine Car Wash in Merced, with the first on the southwest corner of Olive Avenue and Loughborough Drive near Wal-Mart.

Merced Gateway

With the groundbreaking last month of the Campus Parkway expansion, focus rotates to the businesses planned for the 77-acre project called Merced Gateway. It includes a mix of retail and residential space.

The project includes parcels at the northeast and northwest corners of Campus Parkway and Coffee Street.

Unnamed hotel

A north Merced hotel is likely in the near future as the city has had multiple inquiries from companies, Quintero said. The hotel would support visitors who are in town for UC Merced, Merced College, Mercy Medical Center or other health care-related projects in the area, he said.

“There’s a lot going on at the Dignity Health campus, and they draw a number of people from outside the area.” he said.

This story was originally published August 7, 2018 at 4:45 PM.