The first phase in demolition of the former K-Mart building began on March 10, 2005, with the adjacent buildings demolished in November 2005. Final grading was completed in spring 2006 with new construction of the Home Depot Office/Retail center starting in May 2006. Construction of the Home Depot Office/Retail center, featuring Craftsman-style elements was completed in 2006. The Buchheim family, who owns this 15-acre site and their development partner, Greg McClelland of GDM, LLC, built a new Craftsman style shopping center that features restaurants and shops along with a Home Depot. Home Depot held its grand opening in November of 2006. Several of the businesses displaced by redevelopment of the property returned to the new retail shops. Returning tenants included Beautiology (formerly El Toro Beauty Supply), Watch Tech, Mr. Wok, Rite Price Pharmacy, and Baskin Robbins. New tenants include Wachovia Bank, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Sport Clips, and Batteries Plus.

Click here to view a short time-elapsed video of the demolition

THE ORCHARD AT SADDLEBACK UPDATE

Renovation of the former Saddleback Valley Plaza began in December 2004. WESTRUST, one of California’s leading retail developers, now owns the entire site and has transformed it into a premier shopping destination called “The Orchard at Saddleback.” This new 279,000 square foot center incorporates the Craftsman’s style of architecture and includes a central “Main Street with large areas dedicated to plazas and gathering places. The first phase of new buildings opened during the fall of 2005 with tenants that included Petsmart, Shoe Pavilion, and Home Goods. Phase II construction began in February 2006 and was completed by 2007. The premiere center is now a cornerstone feature in The Arbor. Phase II brought a variety of dining, shopping, and service venues. It furthered the success of Phase I with shops that are home to Ralph’s, Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Carino’s Italian Grill, Boneheads, Pier 1, and the “Main Street Stores.” WESTRUST has released the following partial list of businesses that have already opened or will be opening in the new center. Click here to view pictures of The Orchard Groundbreaking Celebration, demolition and the start of the rebuild construction