Jan. 10--MANTECA -- Manteca leaders can't wait -- and they hope the city's residents can't either -- for the opening of two anchor stores in The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley.

Community Development Director Mark Nelson told the City Council during a workshop session Thursday that both the JC Penney and Best Buy stores will be opening in less than two months.

The city is counting on added sales tax revenue from the stores to ease the 12 percent drop in sales taxes it has experienced so far this fiscal year compared with last year.

Nelson said Best Buy has told the city it plans to open Feb. 27, and JC Penney will open March 6.

They will join the Bass Pro Shops store that opened in mid-October and the 16-screen Kerasotes ShowPlace 16 that opened in November.

Another major store, Dick's Sporting Goods, has yet to request a permit from the city to operate in the center, located at the southeast corner of Highway 120 and South Union Road, despite the building being almost finished. Dick's Sporting Goods did not return a call seeking comment.

Nelson also said permits for a Hampton Inn in the center are expected to be pulled next week and that Red Robin, the first of what is planned to be several restaurants, also is readying its documents. The hotel is planned to be three stories with 101 rooms.

Nelson also announced that a permit is expected to be issued within three months on a 96-room, two-story Microtel Inn & Suites along Airport Way and the Big League Dreams ballpark complex. Nelson also noted the city's deal with Marriott to develop a city-owned, 14-acre site near the Field of Dreams facility at Highway 120 and Airport Way has been dropped.

Contact reporter Harley Becker at (209) 239-3354 or hbecker@recordnet.com.

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