KINGMAN – Kingman area residents historically have enthusiastically bull rushed a new business, particularly eateries, but they’ll have to wait until July to dine in the new Filiberto’s store next to Dutch Bros on Stockton Hill Road. City officials said a Certificate of Occupancy for the 2,400 sq. ft. building issued on May 20.
The completed store, however, sits vacant without signage and its windows are free of any information about a timetable for opening or employment opportunity. The Filiberto’s ghost town stands in stark contrast to Dutch Bros next door, which bustled with hiring and training activity in advance of opening earlier this year.
Oregon-based Cole Valley Partners is developing the 2.75-acre parcel that landed Dutch Bros and Filiberto’s and hopes to secure two more tenants for the property. Project manager Ryan Ramey says delay in opening the Kingman Filiberto’s is a product of busy ownership.
“That operator franchisee is opening a number of stores right now,” Ramey said. “I think he’s just focused on one at a time.”
Ramey said the other outlets are located elsewhere in Arizona and in New Mexico and that there are no obstacles to open the Kingman franchise. “There’s no issues with hiring, no issues with financing, no issues with stocking the shelves with food. They just have a lot on their plate.”
Harbor Freight Tools opened its Kingman outlet on June 8, occupying about 20,000 sq. ft. of space inside the old Kmart building on East Andy Devine Ave. Company officials indicated 31 people have been hired to work the store.
Dave Hawkins
