FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information

Tiffany Olson

Consultant for Sabre Realty

Phone: 972-636-7022

cell: 214-912-6110

Rockwall, Texas...April 7th, 2008... TxDOT's continued construction has shoppers avoiding Rockwall Central Shopping Center. Located on Goliad at the northwestern corner of I-30, this strip mall has set out on a campaign to try and bring more business into their stores. A Rockwall favorite, Joe Willy's Market & Grill is located in this shopping center. Owner, Rick Basinger agrees the construction has had a significant impact on his business. He says, “as a long time Rockwall resident and business owner, I realize that the sacrifices we make today for road improvements will benefit us all tomorrow. I am grateful that many of our customers are willing to tolerate the inconvenience.” He also feels lucky to be located in a shopping center where the landlord is willing to pitch in to find ways to assist tenants in generating interest and activity.

Last December, Sabre Realty provided the shopping center funds for hosting an amazing sidewalk sales events and is continually working on local advertising. Property Manager, Carla Endsley says, “Our tenants realize people are avoiding SH 205 because of the construction and we are working with the city to promote alternate routes to the shopping center such as entering off Yellow Jacket north of Hobby Lobby. Tenants feel that not everyone knows about this entrance or that Yellow Jacket extends from Ridge Rd through to TI Townsend Drive, both of which are accessible from I-30.” If you are heading West on I-30, when exiting for Hwy 205 if customer immediately turns right onto Townsend Dr, the first left is Yellow Jacket. This is a faster and smoother route to the area.

Non-retail based shops in the center include places such as the Oral Surgery Center, Taniki's Salon and Kumon Math and Reading Center. Nancy Vance from Kumon commented that, “Parents have very busy schedules this time of year and I have had several call saying they couldn‘t pick up their children before closing because they couldn’t get through the traffic. One (parent) called 3 times to say she could see our sign from where she was on 205, but couldn’t get to me for 45 minutes. I have had a decrease in attendance of students and a great deal of frustration from parents. Many of these children need the academic instruction and it is not simply a luxury or an extra-curricular activity that can be halted due to inconvenience; it is a necessity for their continued progress in their education.”

The proposed project from TxDOT is needed to meet the increasing transportation demands caused by rapid development in the Rockwall area, as well as to create a safer driving environment for vehicles traveling on SH 205. These improvements are designed to alleviate existing and future congestion generated by travel to and from Rockwall and surrounding areas. The City, while excited about Rockwall's growth and understanding of the need to expand our arterial streets, also worries about the local economics and struggles these projects may lead to, especially for those Mom & Pop shops that have been in Rockwall long before the larger chains and department stores arrived. Kristy Ashberry, assistant to the City Manager, says the city is aware of these growing pains and is hopeful that they can work with these local businesses to come up with a plan to keep the everyone prospering during this time. A detailed description of TxDOTs Hwy205 plan is posted at http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/SH+205.

Next time you are avoiding this construction area remember the sign in front of the Furniture Deal reads: Close Out sale. In three words sums up the grim situation.

**** pictures of construction upon request***