Carson City's first Del Taco planned near new Wal-Mart

Carson City's first Del Taco fast food restaurant is planned for East College Parkway near the new Wal-Mart.

The drive-through restaurant is only the second project announced for the 30-plus aces of available land surrounding the new Wal-Mart. An Office Depot is planned for North Carson Crossing, which is on 23 acres east of the supercenter.

The 2,300-square-foot Del Taco restaurant is planned for a parcel on a little less than an acre on the corner of Retail Court and East College Parkway.

Don Langson, the property owner, could not be reached for comment. The Del Taco project is beginning the permitting process, and the city will review the plans next week. The closest franchise is in north Douglas County in front of the Topsy Lane Wal-Mart.

The Lake Forest, Calif.-based chain is a privately held company that operates its own restaurants but also offers franchises.

Jim Farley, Del Taco senior director of real estate, said it would like to open the restaurant this year, but it will likely open in the first quarter of 2007.

"The primary reason is the Wal-Mart Supercenter," he said about the location choice. "The superstores are open 24-hours, and our restaurants are as well."

The corporate-owned restaurants are mostly open 24 hours.

Developer Al Bernhard has progressed the farthest in developing near the supercenter.

Even though his buildings, on 6.5 acres, are nearing completion, he has not announced any tenants.

He has 11 open suites in the Retail Drive building and three in the building off College Parkway with "none finalized."

Bernhard has been developing properties since 1970. His most recent projects are the Hidden Meadows residential subdivision, which has more than 125 homes, and the Fairview and Edmonds drives' 30,000-square-foot industrial complex.

The negotiations between land owners and tenants often take several months. Developer Gary Stokes, of Gilroy, Calif., is seeking commercial renters for his 1.8 acres north of Wal-Mart, which opened in October.

"We're coming along," he said Monday. "I'm in no big hurry. We've got about half-a-dozen people we're talking to."

Stokes is a retired civil engineer who has developed small commercial centers in the California cities of Redding, Chico and Fairfield.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.