Indian Hills strip mall set to open

The first businesses at Clear Creek Plaza, a 56,600-square-foot mall just north of Wal-Mart, will open in April, said project manager Yvonne Roberts.

Owned by businessman-rancher Red Roberts, the neat string of stucco buildings lies just north of Wal-Mart in north Douglas County.

"Clear Creek Chiropractic and Sprint will probably be the first two businesses to open," she said. "The project started a year ago and we've had some delays due to weather, but we should be opening in about two weeks."

The property will include businesses like Sprint, a Cost Cutters salon and a store that focuses on educational toys called "It's Educational."

Rent-a-Center, Dollar Loan and a restaurant called King Buffet are included in the mix, Roberts said.

"A couple of larger spaces and a few smaller ones are still available, but the development is close to full," Yvonne Roberts said. "We have a very good location."

The daughter of owner/developer Red Roberts, she said she will stay on to manage the property after the development is completed.

Construction workers buzzed around the unpaved parking lot, their sweatshirt hoods drawn up against Wednesday's cold winds. The paving has been held up by bad weather but should be completed before the opening, Yvonne Roberts said.

The property was once part of a 40-acre parcel owned by her father, who partnered in the venture with Harvey Gross, owner of Harvey's at South Lake Tahoe, and Phil Roventini. The trio paid about $38,000 for the land and the project began about 35 years ago, Red Roberts said.

His partners died in the early1980s and Roberts bought out their widows in 1986. Roberts cleared the sagebrush, designed the roads and dug the well.

Clear Creek Plaza shopowners will lease the property, which will be retained for a long-term investment by Red Roberts.

n Contact reporter Susie Vasquez at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.