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A rendering shows the planned Target store in El Monte at 3610 Peck Road. | Photo courtesy of the city of El Monte
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El Monte residents can expect several new local retail options starting this year, including a Target store set to open in October.
Fast food chains including In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and Starbucks also have agreed throughout the past year to add locations in El Monte.
The new Target is currently under construction and will occupy the former Sears Outlet and two adjacent vacant retail buildings at 3610 Peck Road, El Monte officials said in a statement. The new retail store will total 127,879 square feet and have parking for 372 vehicles.
Officials anticipate tenants inside the Target complex will include Target Optical, CVS Pharmacy, Starbucks and Ulta Beauty.
A forthcoming Chick-fil-A at 3340 Santa Anita Ave. will total 851 square feet with 98 indoor seats and 44 outdoor patio seats, along with a drive-thru that can accommodate up to 29 vehicles.
The project’s construction and eventual retail staffing was expected to provide up to 120 full-time and part-time jobs, city officials said.
The El Monte Center Drive-Thru Redevelopment project features three fast-food chains, In-N-Out, Starbucks and Raising Cane’s, that are set to open at 3748 Peck Road.
Plans for the project, which will be heard as part of a public hearing within the next 5 months, include updating the site’s landscaping and adding outdoor seating areas and green spaces to enhance the dining environment for customers, according to the city.
“The City anticipates that upon completion of all these projects, they will collectively generate between $537,000 to $791,000 in annual sales tax,” said City Manager Alma Martinez, who provided the following sales tax estimates and project time frames: Chick-Fil-A, opening spring 2024, estimated annual sales tax: $67,000-$133,000; Target, opening fall 2024, estimated annual sales tax: $344,000-$477,000; In-N-Out breaking ground 2025, estimated annual sales tax: $64,000-$80,000; Raising Cane’s, breaking ground 2025, estimated annual sales tax:$59,000-$96,000; and Starbucks, breaking ground 2025, estimated annual sales tax: $3,000-$5,000
“Our residents have been asking for a big box retailer and additional quick service restaurant options in the city, and we are fortunate that these projects are coming to fruition without opposition,” Martinez said. “These businesses will not only create employment opportunities for our residents but also generate sales tax revenue to support vital public services. In addition, they will significantly enhance the shopping and dining options available in our City, contributing to an improved quality of life for our community.”
Against the backdrop of these new retail additions to the local economic landscape, El Monte officials highlighted the city’s “business-friendly” governance.
“The City of El Monte has prioritized business-friendly policies attracting new commercial and retail businesses,” Martinez said, noting the El Monte Business Resource Center that serves as a “concierge” of sorts to existing and potential new businesses, providing assistance with permits, licenses, taxes and other business needs.
“Through the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, the City aims to establish an economic baseline, market context, and a clear vision including overarching economic goals and objectives to guide the City’s priorities, programs, and services for the next five years,” Martinez said. “The goal is to revitalize and transform the Downtown MainStreet area into a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use downtown, serving as the economic, cultural, and civic center of the community and region.”
Martinez added the effect a city’s public safety and housing environments have on economic activity.
“Prioritizing quality housing and public improvements further contributes to an attractive and safe environment for economic growth and community well-being,” Martinez said. “El Monte’s economic success is also attributed to a robust partnership with its police department, evidenced by a $1.8 million investment in cutting-edge technologies. This commitment to public safety fosters a thriving business community, a trend set to improve as city leaders and the community continue prioritizing safety and strategic partnerships.”
Officials said updates on the projects would be posted on the city’s Facebook account, https://www.facebook.com/CityofElMonte.
