Big River development is fast underway

MONTICELLO — Along Chelsea Road on the east side of town, construction is now underway at the Big River development, which aims to open nearly a dozen new restaurants and businesses.

Big River developers are in the process of executing this multi-phase project, currently in Phase I, taking advantage of about 10 acres of prime, formerly undeveloped land running alongside Interstate 94, with high visibility and excellent access.

The first phase of the project includes two popular chain restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks Coffee Company; along with two automotive-related businesses, Valvoline, offering oil changes and other vehicle maintenance services, and Les Schwab Tire Center, which offers a full range of tire service and sales.

More businesses will be coming with the second phase, but developers are remaining mum on the details for now, as they work to secure agreements with possible tenants.

“We are continuing to work on Phase II of the project, which could include larger box retailers as well as additional smaller shops, but have no names to share at this point in time,” said Dave Carland, president of Venture Pass Partners, the lead developer on the Big River project.

As for the timeline of the first phase, the two auto service businesses are slated to open up later in 2025, while the hopes are that Chipotle will open as soon as this fall and Starbucks will be ready in the spring.

Phase I of the project also consists of installing internal roadway and internal shared driveways, along with significant utility extensions to each lot. The costs for this phase will be in the range of $10 to $12 million depending on size and design of the remaining buildings.

Time is the project’s biggest challenge at this point, as the summer season comes to an end, said John Johannson, one of the project’s developers, who works as managing director at Transwestern, a commercial real estate company.

“Our challenge is paving because we are losing pave time,” Johannson said. “We’re scrambling to get everything in the ground before snowfall. We have about 8-10 weeks left that we can pave and that goes quickly.”

Work does appear to be progressing quickly, at least with the first two buildings.

Clearly visible to passersby on Fenning Avenue, Chipotle and Starbucks are now nearing the end of the structural construction phase, with subcontractors beginning mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.

Both of these side-by-side businesses will have outdoor patios and drive-thrus. Chipotle will have a “Chipotlane,” where customers can order their food ahead and pick up at the drive-thru window.

“Both [Chipotle and Starbucks] are industry leaders and they lead their segment immensely. We love having both industry leaders,” Johannson said.

The developers said the look and feel of these new businesses will follow the current modern, minimalist trend, which strives for simplicity, with an emphasis on using sustainable and non-toxic materials that help minimize environmental damage.

“We are also seeing greener buildings and locally sourced materials, which means an overall less environmental impact,” Carland said.

This comes in response to consumer desire, they say.

“What I’ve learned in my 39 years in the industry is that the reason why retailers and businesses are so successful is because they continue to adapt to what the consumers need and want,” said Johannson. “We have to do this to stay current and we have to help the consumer get what they want.”

Both developers agreed that one key to success is keeping up with current trends.

“Retail landscapes have evolved,” Carland said. “We don’t see as many strip centers or unified shopping centers like we used to see. It’s more a series of individual buildings which are unique.”

“We want businesses to always be current,” Johannson said. “We want Chipotle to be successful and we want the consumer to be able to use the Chipotle building the way they want. Our job as the developers is to make sure in terms of building and design that we accommodate what they need.”

Johannson has been with Transwestern for five years, but has worked in the development industry for almost 40 years.

Carland has had a hand in developing more than nine million square feet of office, industrial, retail and multi-family real estate including prominent local projects such as The Milwaukee Road Depot restoration in Minneapolis.