Longs, Foodland
team up on center

Construction at the Ewa
by Gentry site is scheduled
to be completed by June

Star-Bulletin staff

Foodland Super Market Ltd. and Longs Drug Stores Corp. have become joint venture partners to develop the first shopping center at the Ewa by Gentry residential community.

Construction recently started on the 81,000-square-foot center on seven acres at Fort Weaver and Geiger roads.

Completion is slated by June 1999.

Ronald "Buzz" Wo, director of real estate at Foodland, said this is the first time that the Foodland has joined with Longs on a development deal.

"We would certainly be open to making more deals with Longs," Wo said.

Foodland will take 35,000 square feet and Longs will occupy 25,000 square feet.

Wo said the remaining 21,000 square feet will be used by perhaps eight to 10 tenants.

He said those tenants, which have made verbal commitments, include a financial institution, a video store, fast food restaurants, and a dry cleaner.

The architect for the shopping plaza is Sueda & Associates Inc.

Ewa by Gentry is a 1,000-acre master-planned community with more than 4,000 homes and multi-family units. When completed, the community will have 8,000 residential units.

Norm Dyer, president of Gentry Homes Ltd., said the construction is moving ahead on its 18-hole golf course, with completion expected in March. The Coral Creek golf course will have six of its lakes lined with coral reefs and interconnected by a coral creek, Dyer said.

There also will be a 7,200-square-foot clubhouse with a golf shop, banquet dining room and lounge. The restaurant will have seating for 140 people.