Jimbo's drops anchor

Jimbo’s Naturally has signed a lease with Sudberry Properties to become an anchor tenant in the commercial portion of Civita, a 230-acre mixed-use project Sudberry is developing in Mission Valley.

Known for its focus on healthy foods, Jimbo's will be a key part of The Row, a 20-acre section of Civita centered around a new street called The Row that Sudberry is developing as what it said will be the retail heart of the community.

Covering 37.5 acres, The Row is designed to include 380,000 square feet of retail space, 170,000 square feet of offices, 735 residential units and a 150-room hotel. The hotel would be at the southeast corner of Russell Parkway and Friars Road.

“If you go out there now, we have LA Fitness, which is just west of Russell Parkway, and we have about 20,000 square feet of retail,” Sudberry said. “By the end of the year, we should have 50,000 square feet.”

Vibrant Atmosphere

The Row will run parallel to Civita Boulevard, the main throughway in Civita to the north, and Friars Road to the south, stretching roughly from Russell Parkway on the west to Qualcomm Way to the east.

Unlike Civita Boulevard and Friars Road, “The Row is going to be a two-lane road instead of a four-lane road, and it will be heavily landscaped with retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment,” said Colton Sudberry, president and CEO of Sudberry Properties.

The 25,000-square-foot Jimbo's store will be at the intersection of Civita Boulevard and Qualcomm Way.

“We're really excited about it. We've been working with them (Jimbo's) for a long time. It's a perfect fit for us. We wanted something that was a high end, proven commodity, a healthy, local operator,” Sudberry said. “The addition of Jimbo's will significantly add to the vibrant village atmosphere and convenience in Civita, which will increase as we add more shops, eateries and entertainment.”

Jim “Jimbo” Someck, founder and owner of Jimbo's Naturally, said that he's been looking for a site in Mission Valley for “a number of years.”

“We're certain we have found the perfect place at Civita,” Someck said. “Not only will we be able to serve the Civita community, but also the surrounding area since this site is conveniently located in the heart of Mission Valley.”

Someck opened the first Jimbo's in North Park in 1984 and currently has stores in Carmel Valley, 4S Ranch, Carlsbad and Escondido.

Construction of the Civita store is scheduled to begin in early 2025 with an opening expected in the second half of 2026.

“Right now, it's just about 20 acres of dirt,” Sudberry said.

Sudberry said that the overall Civita project is about 50% finished and should be 90% built out within five years, adding that the remaining piece is a 15-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the development that is leased as a concrete batch plant.

“The timing to develop that last parcel is to be determined,” Sudberry said.

Sudberry Properties started developing the 230acre Civita in 2011 in a former sand and gravel quarry along Friars Road.

The development was designed to have 4,780 residences in a mix of apartments, townhomes and single-family homes in a variety of configurations. It also has 420,000 square feet for an office/business campus.

Plans also call for a pedestrian bridge to be bult across Friars Road connecting Civita to Rio Vista Shopping Center. ■