Groundbreaking for highly anticipated shopping center in Folsom Ranch

The first official steps were taken today in an eagerly awaited shopping center in Folsom Ranch. On Thursday, June 19, community leaders and developers took part in a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the building of "Southpointe", which is located on the corner of White Rock Road and E. Bidwell. The center will be anchored by tenants Circle K and The Learning Experience and is envisioned to be a convenient area that will fill various community needs from groceries, eateries and other services. Developers are in the process of trying to attract a variety of businesses to the center. Among the attendees of the groundbreaking were Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino and Vice Mayor Justin Raithel. Aquino said based on consistent feedback she receives from the community, there is building excitement for this project. "Every week, someone emails me or texts me or tags me on Facebook and says, when are we going to build Southpointe shopping center and when are we going to get that grocery store," said Aquino. "And so I've been happily able to say that Southpointe is coming very soon." LRE & Companies, the developer and construction firm, said it is currently in negotiations with a regional medical provider to lease one of the on-site buildings, and a "nationally recognized QSR brand" to the space. "Breaking ground on Southpointe is more than a construction milestone—it's the beginning of something transformative for Folsom Ranch," said Akki Patel, CEO of LRE & Companies. "With trusted brands like Circle K and The Learning Experience already committed, we're confident this development will be a magnet for businesses that want to grow alongside this vibrant and fast-expanding community." Developers said Southpointe at Folsom Ranch offers a mix of high-end office, medical and retail buildings which are available for sale or lease. Southpointe is part of the 3,585-acre Folsom Ranch master-planned development, which is considered one of the region's fastest growing corridors. Developers say phase one infrastructure is planned to be completed by November; additional dates for next phases are not certain yet.