Old Town La Quinta adding businesses and condos

Old Town La Quinta is kicking off a new season with new businesses. A retail store, juice bar, even a tap room featuring craft beer are some of the new shops getting ready to open. But that’s not all that’s in store, soon you may even be able to call Old Town home.

“We are a modern apothecary. H20 Closet came from Europe, in all of those places they have water closets and apothecaries so we’ve got everything you use that’s in the bathroom,” said owner Ken Zaikowski.

You’ll find anything from natural cleaning products, specialty hair care products from Sweden, to even soap made from beer. These first time business owners decided to open their unique boutique to Old Town La Quinta.

“I think the environment is perfect, it’s quaint. I know the customer here, the high season is great,” said Zaikowski.

When H20 Closet opens its doors Friday, it will be the first of several new businesses coming to Old Town La Quinta.

“I am excited to start here, they don’t have this kind of business that we are opening in this area,” said Peter Chavez, owner of Morelias Fruits and More.

Morelias Fruits and More will open in November. “It’s going to be frozen yogurt, fresh organic fruit, juices, and wheat grass shots,” said Chavez.

Renovations are also underway for a new wine bar and tap room.

“Rents have come back and they are now going back to where they were pre-recession or even higher,” said Old Town La Quinta owner Wells Marvin.

When the new season kicks off with Sunday’s Farmers Market, Old Town La Quinta will be over 90 percent occupied. Nearly all of those businesses are locally owned, and are hoping to continue last year’s success

“Sales in our stores were up anywhere from 10 to 30 percent and the restaurants were up 10 to 30 percent themselves,” said Marvin.

But it’s not just shops and restaurants, right now there are plans in the works to expand Old Town and build 84 brand new condos.

“It’s going to change the dynamic in that we are going to have 84 new residents living above the stores and right next to the existing Old Town,” said Marvin.

All 3.4 acres between Old Town and the Civic Center will be developed.

“We are adding a new parking lot which we will build next summer, another 44 spaces. The new project will have a combination of surface parking and underground parking,” said Marvin. “It’s the missing link in the chain of downtown La Quinta.”

Plans are still being finalized but construction could begin within the next year.