Sav-On to build on Ming's site

A new Sav-On Drug store could open by next summer in the Silver City Mall on the site of the former Ming's Restaurant.

The former restaurant will be demolished so construction of a 15,251-square-foot store could start in December, Sav-On spokeswoman Judy Decker said Tuesday.

The existing Sav-On would move from its current location in the mall next to Office Depot, Decker said. Opening of the new store is tentatively set for May 2001.

May is also when the new Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse being built at the east end of the mall is expected to open.

To make room for the Lowe's, the eastern portion of the mall was demolished last month, leaving Sav-On, Office Depot, Ming's and Big Al's Pizza the only businesses still operating in Silver City Mall.

The building and land for Big Al's remains in local hands, owned by Sheila Ramsden, of Dayton. The remainder of the west half of the center was purchased by Fadco, a real estate development company.

Fadco President Don Gaube said last month he was close to reaching an agreement with Ming's to relocate from the building so Sav-On can build there. Ming's closed a short time later and its future is unknown.

The new Sav-On will be typical of the company's newest buildings, Decker said, and will have a drive-through pharmacy window.

Sav-On is owned by Albertson's, which acquired the stores when it bought American Stores Co. in June 1999, she said. American Stores owned the Sav-On Drugs, Osco Drugs and Lucky supermarket chains.

The pharmacies in all Albertson's stores, including the two in Carson City, are also operated by the Sav-On division of Albertson's, Decker said.

Once Sav-On is relocated, its current space will be remodeled to suit a new tenant, Gaube said.

One potential tenant for that space is David Leid, who wants to build a 100-machine laundromat to replace the one closed when the east half of the mall was demolished.

Fadco is planning an exterior remodeling of the mall to upgrade its appearance and make it more compatible with the design of the Lowe's, Gaube said.