New 118,000 sq. ft. Shopping Center Coming to Watford City

A twin-cities based national property development firm, Oppidan Investment Company, broke ground on Watford City’s newest shopping center, bringing more choices and opportunities to residents and businesses in the area.

The 118,000 square foot retail shopping center is located on 12 acres of land at the corner of U.S. Highway 85 and the Highway 23 bypass and is expected to open in July 2013.

Coborn’s, an employee owned grocery store chain that has several stores throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, has acquired Mike’s Super Valu in Watford City and is opening the Cash Wise Grocery and Liquor store in the new shopping center. It’ll be the center’s largest tenant with the grocery store occupying approximately 48,000 square feet.

Alco will be the second largest tenant in the shopping center, occupying roughly 27,000 square feet and the Happy Rice Buffet will be occupying 5,000 square feet. A national shoe and apparel company is also in the process of signing a lease.

Gene Veeder, McKenzie County Job Development executive director, has recently stated that the new businesses that will be operating in the Watford Plaza will be generating $2.5 million in city sales tax.

Oppidan has become a major player in the efforts to ensure Watford City’s continued growth and development. They’ve recently presented a $10,000 check to the Watford City Chamber of Commerce to help fund development of the Wolf Pup Daycare Center, a child-care facility that will be located in the new Wolf Run Village development. The facility will provide daycare services for up to 200 children.

Since December of 2011, Oppidan has been said to have invested approximately $150 million in to the Bakken region.