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    <title>Mr. Know It All</title>
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        <link>https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/mr-know-it-all/is-there-truth-to-rumors-about-a-costco-coming-to-farmington/</link>
        <title>Is there truth to rumors about a Costco coming to Farmington?</title>
        <description>For now, only a Maverik gas station and convenience store occupy the corner of East Main Street, Gila Avenue and 30th Street in Farmington. The blank sign spaces suggest more shops are planned. Scott Michlin/Special for the Tri-City Record Dear...</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:04:22 -0600</pubDate>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[For now, only a Maverik gas station and convenience store occupy the corner of East Main Street, Gila Avenue and 30th Street in Farmington. The blank sign spaces suggest more shops are planned. Scott Michlin/Special for the Tri-City RecordDear Mr. Know-It-All:A couple of years ago, there was word going around that Costco was coming to Farmington. It was going to be built at the 30th and Main Street where Halliburton was located. And that Hobby Lobby was going to move to Animas Valley Mall where Sears used to be.Was this ever going to happen to begin with?Signed,Waiting Game Dear Waiting,Thanks for the question, and the quick answer is no, and yes! But let Mr. Know-It-All provide some more details (since they pay me by the word).I reached out to the Dean of Real Estate Agents in Farmington, and a man who shows his love for this area in every social media post he makes, Barry Digman, associate broker with Keller Williams. In fact, Barry has been helping people buy and sell properties in Farmington and San Juan County for 25 years. That’s a lot of escrow.Barry tells me that a very reliable contractor friend of his confirms that Hobby Lobby plans to move to the Animas Valley Mall. Mr. Know-It-All expects that Hobby Lobby will have a special lease agreement with the mall to allow them to operate their store only six days a week, even though the mall is open seven days.What do you know about Costco?Your question about Costco is a different story and made Mr. Know-It-All think about the larger issue of these big, national companies deciding to locate in our fine town.I heard the same rumors that you did about the property at 30th and Main Street, but I always figured it would be too small for a Costco. Turns out, I was right. Back to Barry Digman: He says many of these big deals are kept very hush-hush for a lot of reasons. One of which is to keep the people who are selling their property from increasing the price. Can you imagine if you were trying to sell your land, and you were negotiating with a Walmart or Costco? It might be hard to see those acceptance papers if you have dollar signs in your eyes. So these deals usually go through a third party for both sides. Digman said many commercial properties are listed by out-of-town brokers, since they have connections with potential large, national buyers and often hold a CCIM designation, which, Mr. Know-It-All learned, means Certified Commercial Investment Member. Digman says no real estate brokers in San Juan County hold that designation.So, Halliburton made the deal and sold to the developer, which paved the way for the Maverik gas station/convenience store. By the way, more dirt is being moved on that property, which means someone else will be built there, but guess what, so far, it’s a secret as to what it might be. However, Mr. Know-It-All feels very confident in saying it won’t be a Costco.Dirt being moved and development indicating a potential new tenant at the retail location at East Main Street, Gila Avenue and 30th Street in Farmington. Scott Michlin/For the Tri-City Record)So what about those persistent Costco rumors? Mr. Know-It-All did some research and found one commercial real estate agency in California that listed site requirements for a Costco to open in a community. Gallelli Real Estate says Costco requires a population of 200,000 people who live within 5 miles of the proposed location. Take a look around you right now, and chances are you don’t even see 20 people, but I bet you have plenty of elbow room. Costco also requires a median income of $75,000 a year (or more), and unfortunately, our area doesn’t meet that measurement, either. Barry Digman says those market requirements for Costco are correct.The store also needs 14 to 16 acres for enough room for their 160,000-square-foot building and 750 parking spaces. By the way, the old Halliburton property at Main and 30th streets is only about 10 acres.However, Mr. Know-It-All has learned never to say never – especially because Farmington and San Juan County make up a unique retail market. We enjoy many shopping benefits of a much larger community. How many cities of 46,000 people have, not one, but two Walmart supercenters? We do, because of the uniqueness of the Farmington market, which is a retail shopping hub for a much larger, regional population of 200,000+ people. That may be why we have a Sam’s Club – and why, if the folks at Costco ever realize this and run the numbers, we might see more dirt moving yet.Mr. Know-It-All is Scott Michlin, the general manager of KSJE 90.9FM community-supported radio at San Juan College. If you have a question about something in San Juan County, drop him a line at SMichlin@tricityrecordnm.com. If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows someone who does and you’ll read about it here in the pages of the Tri-City Record!.]]></content:encoded>
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        <link>https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/mr-know-it-all/whats-the-latest-on-farmingtons-amazon-delivery-company-tips-its-hand/</link>
        <title>What’s the latest on Farmington’s Amazon? Delivery company tips its hand</title>
        <description>Scenes around the new Amazon facility at 160 S. Browning Parkway in Farmington.(Scott Michlin/Special to Tri-City Record) Dear Mr. Know-It-All: Has any information been released on the new Amazon building on Browning Parkway? Can you help clarify? Thanks for the...</description>
        <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:11:41 -0700</pubDate>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scenes around the new Amazon facility at 160 S. Browning Parkway in Farmington.(Scott Michlin/Special to Tri-City Record)Dear Mr. Know-It-All:Has any information been released on the new Amazon building on Browning Parkway? Can you help clarify? Thanks for the column!Signed,Shop Till You DropDear Shop:Full disclosure: Mr. Know-It-All has purchased a thing or two from Amazon.com (who among us hasn’t?) but he also has a soft spot for the art of shopping and discovering that long-sought item you’ve been looking for in one of our many local businesses and making that in-person purchase.Farmington and San Juan County has reached another level of “metropolitianism” with the addition of this facility, owned and operated by one of the world’s largest companies. Mr. Know-It-All reached out to the fine folks at Amazon, but checking the calendar four business days later, he still has not received a reply.Luckily, a search of the Tri-City Record archives shows award-winning reporter Debra Mayeux reported in August about the 41,250-square-foot facility being built on Browning Parkway. She found out that the Amazon facility’s 44-page plans include an “assembly” area with a break room, employee resource center, and a multipurpose and training room. There’s also a 37,581-square-foot storage room and 8,498 square feet of covered van loading areas.Scenes around the new Amazon facility at 160 S. Browning Parkway in Farmington.(Scott Michlin/Special to Tri-City Record)This latest project is part of Amazon’s $1.6 billion investment in New Mexico since 2010, which includes infrastructure and employee wages. This structure appears to be the seventh Delivery Station built in New Mexico along with 2 Fulfillment and sorting centers. Pretty impressive numbers if you ask me.Despite the corporate-coyness at Amazon, Mr. Know-It-All was able to find some more information about Amazon’s new business presence in our area by reaching out to Ross Wofford, who is the owner of Trad Logistics with his wife, Erica. Trad delivers “last mile” packages for Amazon. Mr. Wofford made sure I understood that Trad is not part of Amazon, but a contracted third-party delivery service partner who began working with the Amazon managers at this delivery station on Dec. 5. That’s right smack in the middle of the busy holiday mailing season, and Wofford says his delivery associates worked hard to get holiday packages delivered during the peak time.Photo captions:Scenes around the new Amazon facility at 160 S. Browning Parkway in Farmington, NM.(Scottt Michlin/Special to Tri-City Record)Wofford told me he has hired 50 employees in San Juan County to operate Trad’s fleet of Amazon-branded delivery vans and white delivery vans, so be on the lookout for them in your neighborhood. Their delivery area includes all of San Juan County and even parts of Southwest Colorado. Full-time drivers have a four-day workweek and earn between $20.25 - $21.25 per hour, based on experience. He says as their delivery routes grow in our area, they will be looking to hire more delivery drivers.Mr. Know-It-All is always excited to see investment in our community, especially when it brings with it knew opportunities and well-paying jobs. This facility may further strengthen Farmington’s status as the center of commerce in the Four Corners region.Mr. Know-It-All is Scott Michlin, the general manager of KSJE 90.9FM community-supported radio at San Juan College. Hlso teacher he’s not answering questions here or on the radio, you might find him teaching public speaking or mass media classes at San Juan College, or serving on the board of directors for San Juan United Way, Presbyterian Medical Services, or the San Juan Symphony.If you have a question about something in San Juan County, drop him a line at SMichlin@tricityrecordnm.com. If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows someone who does and you’ll read about it here in the pages of the Tri-City Record.]]></content:encoded>
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