Santa Maria Skyway Center taking shape

Its being called a new kind of retail experience in Santa Maria at a location that’s been virtually empty for years.

Long-time local residents will remember the location at the northwest corner of Skyway and Broadway as the former home of the Renfrow Airport Auto Center.

Now a new chapter will soon begin in the history of the property where vehicle traffic is not a problem.

The location has languished for years as a virtual ghost town due mainly to the Great Recession but also bad timing by previous owners and developers.

Now the current owners of the property are nearing completion on a project that will breathe new life into what once was a busy commercial center.

Among new tenants moving in to the soon to be completed Skyway Center are Santa Maria Brewery which also plans to open a restaurant, a burger place, a crossfit center, fitness studio and more.

There’s space available for other businesses looking to call the 5.3 acre, 30,000 square foot retail center home.

“Its been empty for a long time”, says local resident Mary, “I think its about time we got something in there to bring more people up here, more business in this area.”

“Its a nice corner pocket there, and you know the airport is right down the line”, adds Joe another local resident.

“That would be sweet, that would be nice”, local resident Natalie says, “I always thought that the mall downtown should have been opened up, its like an eyesore down there, so if it makes it here that would be great.”

The Skyway Center is expected to be completed and open for business later this year.