Ramona’s long-empty Kmart on Main Street is getting a full-blown second act as Ramona Station, a roughly 107,000-square-foot shopping center that local managers say should start welcoming shoppers late this summer. The redo breaks up the old big-box shell into street-facing storefronts and brings a cluster of national discount anchors into downtown Ramona.
Former Kmart gets a new face
Property managers say the complex is tracking toward a late-summer debut, with construction crews now focused on finish work. John Ardigo, director of construction for Tourmaline Capital, said crews are wrapping up landscaping, signage and parking lot repairs. He added, “Each store will operate independently,” and tenants will roll out their own grand-opening events, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Who's moving in
A leasing brochure from Retail Insite lists Grocery Outlet, Marshalls, PetSmart, Five Below and Dollar Tree as anchor tenants and shows the property totaling about 107,470 square feet. The materials peg Marshalls at roughly 23,000 square feet and PetSmart at about 16,000 square feet, with smaller inline bays plus a Little Caesars pad fronting Main Street.
Design and permits
Conceptual elevations and floor plans for the conversion were prepared by MCG Architecture, according to the leasing materials. County planning files also show a tentative parcel map filed under “Tourmaline Ramona” as part of the redevelopment process. Those records are on file with the County of San Diego and reflect the permitting work underway.
Timeline and what to expect
Marshalls has told reporters it expects the Ramona store to open in August, while other tenants are still dialing in their own grand-opening dates. Construction crews began laying fresh pavement along the storefronts in mid-May, and managers say the final stretch will focus on landscaping, signage and restriping the lot, per The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Why it matters locally
For Ramona residents, the project means closer options for groceries, pet supplies and discount goods, cutting down the drive for everyday basics. The leasing brochure also notes traffic counts of roughly 21,400 vehicles per day on Highway 67/Main Street, underscoring the site’s visibility and broader draw. Those figures are from Retail Insite.
Exact ribbon-cutting dates remain in each tenant’s hands, and property managers say they will announce opening events as individual stores are ready. For now, the new façades and fresh storefronts are already reshaping a big stretch of Main Street as Ramona heads into summer.
