Manteca is ramping up for what could be an unprecedented economic expansion in 2026 centered around new restaurant and new store openings.

*The family entertainment zone concept on 100 acres of city owned land bookended by Great Wolf and Big League Dreams is drawing interest from potential private sector developers.

*The City is taking on the purchase and renovation of a building for its first ever project to create a space in downtown to secure desired restaurant and/or entertainment-style tenants.

*Downtown in the coming months will see the opening of the Sha-Sha’s Sweets Bakery in the 100 block of North Maple and Eliyanna Cafe in the 300 block of West Yosemite in the coming months on the heels of the opening of Retro Pie.

*The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley anchored by Bass Pro Shops after languishing for 17 years under an out-of-state ownership, was bought less than a year ago by Stockton-based Grupe Co. that is now in serious talks with nine new tenants in addition to a hot yoga studio and an IKEA design center that will be opening soon.

*Manteca Crossings is getting ready to add Paris Baguette Bakery Café, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Nation’s Giant Hamburgers to its center where Chick-fil-A, Maverik, Dutch Bros, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Crumbl Cookies, 88 BaoBao Handmade Dumplings, Mt. Mike’s Pizza, and Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke have already opened and where a Food-4-Less store is now under construction.

*Save Mart, Starbucks, and a Chipotle’s Kitchen are now under construction in the Marketplace at Main at South Main and Atherton Drive with a McDonald’s breaking ground soon.

*A Tractor Supply Store as well as Dutch Bros are moving forward near the northeast corner of Union Road and Lathrop Road.

*The Spreckels Retail Center will be adding a Nektar Juice Bar, Club Pilates, and Poke Bowl.

*A Sonic Drive In is expected to start construction on Daniels Street.

*Work is now underway on a Big O Tire store on Yosemite Avenue near Powers Avenue.

And that doesn’t count several of the nine proposed gas stations that include space for neighborhood retail and dining options expected to move forward.

How Manteca is experiencing what is shaping up to be a retail/dining boom when the majority of California communities have much more muted economic activity isn’t just by luck.

Years of sustained residential growth — averaging 900 annually homes over the five years — that is continuing, has created rooftops to support more businesses.

There is more at work, however.

Buyers of new homes are households that are substantially lifting the collective economic buying power of the community.

Equally important, Manteca has three more shopping center projects that are moving through the approval process that are in locations that put them in position to break ground to ride population growth expected to surge past 100,000 in the next two or so years.

That includes the Manteca Crossings project on Atherton Drive east of Airport Way where the three story Staybridge is now under construction.

Besides additional leasable space that will be built at the new Food 4 Less as well as the new Save Mart plus pads at Orchard Valley, two more shopping centers are advancing at Airport Way and Union Road.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com