A business that its owner says could bring in $10 million in sales annually is slated to take over half of a former Goody’s Cafe restaurant building in Mesa.
The look and landscaping for the Nelson Estate Jewelry commercial building on 1 acre north of Baseline Road and east of Dobson Road were discussed at a recent meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board.
The vacant restaurant is part of a commercial center and was constructed between 1976 and 1979 when design review was not required, Staff Planner Samantha Brannagan said at the July 11 meeting.
“It was previously used just as a restaurant, the building (is) about 5,000 square feet. Now the owners — the applicants — are proposing to separate it into two suites, one of which will be the jewelry store that we’re discussing today. The other suite is yet to be determined but will likely be a limited-service restaurant,” she said.
Earl Bakken is the applicant. Nelson Property Management LLC is the owner.
The building is presently an eyesore, owner David Nelson told the board.
“I think we’ve come up with a nice-looking building. It’s currently an eyesore in that corner,” he said. “Our image is important, so I’m not going to have someone come to our store if it is a crappy looking place.”
It has taken a year to work through city processes to get to the design review board, Nelson said later.
“I bought this building a year and three months ago and we’ve been playing with you guys for the last year and so I’d like to get going on it,” he said. “My business will probably do $10 (million) to $12 million a year in retail in that little space; that’s a lot of sales tax revenue I can be collecting. And I am in a little tiny space right now; I need to move so I can grow.”
A tower is to be constructed at the southeast corner of the existing building at 1862 W. Baseline Road, according to a written project narrative.
“Existing 5,000-square-foot restaurant shall be converted into two separate suites. One shall be jewelry sales. The other shall be a future tenant — probably food service,” it states. “Parking shall remain as is. An accessible path to the public sidewalk will be modified to meet ADA requirements. Landscaping shall remain in its existing location(s).”
The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two residents, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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