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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Dibo
Executive Director, Division of Economic Development
DATE: July 9th, 2024
SUBJECT:
The granting of a forgivable loan to Carniceria El Paso Grande Corp and the Rodriguez Family, to assist in the opening of the long shuttered former Aldi's store located at 2134 West Galena Boulevard.
PURPOSE:
To approve a resolution allowing the city to make a $325,000 loan that will be repaid to the city from 50% of new sales taxes generated from the new grocery store. This will assure that recent unforeseen setbacks, including supply chain issues that started with the pandemic, a fire at the east side store that disrupted daily operations, uninsured hail damage, and the failure of a contracted vendor, paid in advance, to deliver key equipment (litigation pending) does not further delay the opening of the west Galena store. The city's opportunity cost of not having the store open is about $10,000 per month.
BACKGROUND:
Polo and Celia Rodriguez were able to use Polo's experience working at the Aurora Meat packing company in the 1970's to open a meat market/small grocery store out of the house where the family lived (El Paso Chico) and grow that into the popular grocery stores and tortillas production facility (El Paso Grande Supermercado, 634 E, New York St, El Paso Chico Mercado, 508 Grove St. and El Valle Florido, 275 Beach St,) for which they are know well known and admired throughout the Aurora community and the region. Their generosity both in supporting numerous social and community causes is inherent in the fabric of the family as is the support they have given through their business to countless individuals and families who have needed assistance.
During the pandemic the family contracted to purchase the former Aldi grocery store on the west side hoping to have it opened almost 2 years ago. Over the last couple years there was a fire at the east side location, causing the kitchen to be shut down and requiring subs...
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