The Paseo del Norte retail corridor in northeast Albuquerque is buzzing with activity.

Business openings in the next few months include new shoe purveyor and a smoothie shop. Nearby, construction of a dental office is underway.

A 7,000-square-foot space at the Holly Plaza, formerly occupied by Western wear store Sheplers, is now being transformed into a Skechers, Kira Wege, a broker with Pegasus Realty, told the Journal.

Skechers is a family footwear brand featuring athletic and casual shoes in a range of styles, plus apparel. The new business, located at 6600 Holly NE Suite B-7, is slated to be open before the holiday season following tenant improvements.

Nearby, a 5,000-square-foot space now occupied by an Early Voting Convenience Center is also generating interest from potential new retail tenants. “After the election season, it’ll be full steam ahead in getting this space leased,” Wege said.

On the smoothie front, the owners of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise are looking at opening a second location on a retail pad near Holly Avenue and San Pedro NE. Jake Miller, one of the co-owners, said the business is finalizing negotiations with the property owner for a space north of the Chick-Fil-A restaurant in the Del Norte Plaza.

Miller, fresh off his first year running a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near Cottonwood Mall, said the second store, a 1,750-square-foot space, will have a drive-through.

The business is in a sweet spot, said Miller, eager to capture some of the lunch and dinner trade money. “There are 50,000 workers in a three-mile radius,” said Miller, who owns the franchise with his brother, Nathan.

Eight blocks away on what had been a vacant lot, construction crews are busy erecting a dental office building at 7600 Holly NE. Trinity Construction, dental office specialists, is handling the build-out.

Call center building for sale

The Ten-X Commercial website is offering up the property now occupied by the Lowe’s Home Improvement customer support center for sale. Bidding will start at $3.5 million from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6. While the seller, a bank, is casting a wide net to find a buyer, local commercial real estate brokers are scheduling property tour dates on Sept. 6 and 7, and Oct. 3.

A participation deposit of $50,000 is required for the auction. Click here to read the full article.