By Gabe Vasquez

Retail space on north El Paseo Road is proving to be a hot commodity now that Pro’s Ranch Market has committed to opening its grocery store in Las Cruces.  Pro’s is set to occupy the space that was formerly the Community Action Agency (CAA), which sits between a dreary shopping plaza that has seen more tumbleweeds than customers during the past year.

“Cricket is opening for business down there and Milo’s (Barber Shop) is going to be right next door. It’s going to be a great retail center,” said Walt Skowronski of NAI 1st Valley, who has been assigned by Pro’s to lease out the center.

In July 2008, NAI 1st Valley brokered the acquisition of the El Paseo Shopping Center to Pro’s Ranch Markets. The center has since been renamed El Paseo Ranch Plaza.

The California-based grocery store, one of the fastestgrowing Hispanic supermarket chains in the country, has enjoyed explosive success since first opening in central California in 1997. The company’s growth has been exponent, with locations now in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

In Phoenix, the consumer response was so great that Pro’s almost immediately opened a second store there – then a third, fourth and fifth. Pro’s officials now are in the process of opening a seventh store there.

No doubt, Pro’s great success has come because of its site selection and because it caters to a large Hispanic demographic in each of its locations.

The company has stores in Albuquerque and El Paso, which according to consumer reports, are nearly filled to capacity each day.

“There will be major clothing and other retailers (at the plaza), a nail salon and many other businesses,” Skowronski said.

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