Fry’s eyes 2013 opening at Boca Park

Manuel Valerio, community relations manager for Fry’s, said the company was looking to get the store open “as soon as possible” but did not divulge a timeline.

“As we’ve said all along, we’re very excited to come into the north part of the Las Vegas region,” he said. “We know there are lots of customers there in the area who shop at our current location down by the airport. But we want to make it more convenient for people to be able to access our stores, and having two in the region is certainly going to be a great benefit to our customers.”

He declined to confirm whether the company was busy with the interior build-out.

“We’re in 2012,” Valerio said in December, “so you might presume that if all goes well, and we’re fortunate and have no delays, perhaps sometime in 2013. But again, I cannot give you an exact time frame.”

The 50,000-square-foot space formerly housed the Great Indoors, a Sears product, which included interior showroom space. All that would have to be torn out before Fry’s could move forward with building out the interior for its own needs.

Ward 2 City Councilman Bob Beers said he had not heard of any movement on Fry’s but said that nothing was likely to come on the City Council’s agenda to alert him.

“The city staff is set up to entertain plans to build structures into which (improvements) are intended to go and monitor that the construction,” he said. “It’s done in a manner so that these facilities are safe for our people. But that all happens without any council knowledge … hammering and sawing, that’s a good sign. I may just have to walk by there.”

City records show that the last official movement on the property was Nov. 14, when permits were issued for tenant improvements for “Fry’s Electronics No. 51.” The total cost of the permits was $48,832, indicating a flurry of activity was planned. As of Dec. 14, the inspectors had yet to go out.

The filing included final electrical, final mechanical, plumbing, fire final for fire codes and final building inspection. All those have to be signed off on before the building can be issued a certificate of occupancy.

A peek through the windows on Dec. 20 showed no observable interior build-out. Meanwhile, area shops and stores are looking forward to their new neighbor.

“We heard the rumor but wasn’t sure how much was happening,” said Eric Larsen, outreach specialist for REI, which has a store nearby. “We’ll be excited to see more traffic … Fry’s has a huge range of products, not just computers but cameras, tripods and camcorders, things used by people who appreciate the great outdoors.”

Luiz Oliveira, owner of Sambalatte Cafe in Boca Park, said he couldn’t wait to welcome Fry’s to the shopping center.

“It’ll drive the traffic in here on a daily basis,” he said. “Have you seen how busy they are, down on the Strip? They’re busy all day long, every day of the week. That, with Tivoli Village opening up —- this whole area will see the synergy.”

Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.