Gateway Announces Retail Plaza Full, New Plaza and Restaurant Under Construction Construction on Parkway at 17 in Full Swing

Elkhart, Ind. (PRWEB) September 29, 2006

Gateway Builders and Properties announced that Phase One of their development plans for Parkway at 17 is near completion after less than 24 months since the project was conceived. The retail plaza has reached capacity and there are active construction projects on four of the sold out-lots.

Dan Brekke, President of Gateway, stated “Wow, I am surprised that a project that we had slated for a five year build out has taken off in the manner that it did.” Parkway at 17 was little more than a 25 acre sweet corn field less than 36 months ago and now has become the cornerstone for retail and mixed use development on the East Side of Elkhart, Indiana. The development features a new concept to mixed use development in Elkhart County, using limited traffic access to not disrupt the flow of traffic along a busy corridor while giving consumers a balanced mix of retail, food, and professional services all within a protected community atmosphere.

The retail plaza which is cornerstone to this phase of the development recently reached [poo89-000-60807ufull occupancy and is a Gateway model to what can exist in Elkhart County. The plaza features a nice mix of local small businesses and national chain businesses existing within the same community. “The mix of successful national businesses actually helps the local small business owners by creating a draw to the plaza,” stated Brekke. “We are fortunate to have the mix we do at the plaza, with national businesses such as Beef O’ Brady’s, Liberty Fitness, Big League Barbers, Nextel, Adecco and RR Donnelly along with local small established business like Pottery Schmottery, Weaver Furniture,

Hobby Plus, Reflections Jewelers and Char’s Café, we have created a small incubator for retail and mixed use business that is proving to be very a successful model,” continued Brekke.

“We wanted to expand our business and the plaza was the perfect choice. Our store downtown has always been successful but we needed to go where the people are and Parkway at 17 was an easy decision. The growth east is amazing and we wanted to get in on the ground floor. We are hoping to attract customers from Goshen, Middlebury, Mishawaka/South Bend, and Michigan,” stated Marian Cooper owner of Skinner the Printer Too a tenant of the retail plaza.

“We were glad to see a development such as Parkway at 17, it addressed a need for an affordable food service space along a busy corridor, and to be an anchor in the plaza was an added benefit which we are benefiting from,” stated Dave Risner, owner of Beef O’ Brady’s franchise.

Gateway also announced that construction is underway on the second retail plaza for the site which will house a Mexican restaurant, the Elkhart County tradition Sorg Jewelers, and the locally owner Blue Note Steakhouse. Gateway also added that construction of the first professional office building in Tuscany Square is complete, the State Farm office of Ben Baier. “We only have two out-lots remaining on the Phase One site,” stated Brekke.

“It is shocking to see a vision being created everyday. I always had an idea of what this project would look like but to see it actually being built everyday is amazing. The success of this phase has jumpstarted the second phase which is still in the concept and design stage but will be a continuation of the vision of Phase One,” stated Brekke.

Gateway Builders and Properties is a rapidly expanding commercial construction, land developer, real-estate brokerage and commercial property management firm based out of Elkhart, Indiana and services northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Gateway and its Staff has been involved with the construction of over 10 major construction and development projects over the past six years.

http://www.gate-wayproperties.com.

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