New Village on Main project moving forward in Jenks

JENKS, Okla. - The long-awaited Village On Main in Jenks is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Construction on the first building is set to begin in less than three weeks. Jenks City Council members recently approved the building permit for a 12,000 square foot grocery store.

It has take five years of planning for construction on Green Acres to finally begin.

Matt Rathbone and his family have been in Jenks for 40 years. Just steps away from his flower shop will sit a gigantic 420,000 square foot mixed-use development.

"Having foot traffic is what it's all about. That's going to bring a lot of people to Jenks and to our store," says Rathbone. The Village means easier access to Rathbone's Flair.

Currently, a one way road is cemented in front of the store. However, 7th Street will soon expand, connecting the village and the flower shop.

Ben Edwards is the project manager for The Village on Main. He says, "it will become a large intersection when 7th Street is completed."

Rathbone is set to start renovations on his store to draw a crowd. He is even switching the entrance so it will face the village. "With the additional parking we should be able to get back to the way Rathbone's is always been known in Tulsa. As the destination for the best christmas decorations."

15 tenants have already signed on for the Village on Main. Edwards says, "the tenants we are looking for are long term tenants. If you look at the Utica Park Clinic, it's a major investment. Part of the tenants we are looking for are day time tenants which drives the demand up in the day time."

Crews are currently installing utilities to serve the area. Groundbreaking on Green Acres is set for September 8th and the opening is planned for April of 2012.