Construction on the Meridian Ranch commercial development, The Shops at Meridian Ranch, at the northeast corner of Meridian Road and Stapleton Road, will be well under way by the end of October.Raul Guzman, Meridian Ranch project manager for GTL Inc., developer of the subdivision and commercial area, said they have already established leasing contracts with businesses for the first building, which is about 10,000 square feet. ìOne building is leased to Meridian Ranch Liquor and Convenience Store, which is a brand new business,î he said. ìAlso, the restaurant, Nanaís Kitchen, has signed up for that area. The other thing going in there is the Meridian Ranch Metropolitan District offices.îThere is strong interest for space in the other 10,000-square-foot building from a ìpizza pub,î an insurance office and a vision center, but no contracts for that building have been signed, Guzman said.ìWe have had other interest from smaller mom and pop shops,î he said. ìWe have had two coffee shops, a dry cleaners, a hair and nail salon, a bakery and coffee shop and a massage therapy office.î None of the businesses mentioned are established, and a few are Meridian Ranch residents interested in leasing space in the Shops, once the building has been completed, he said.ìWe think it is the right time now for us because Stapleton is being developed all the way to Shriever Air Force Base,î Guzman said. ìTen to 15 years from now, traffic-wise, Stapleton could have as much if not more traffic than Woodmen Road.î
