It has been more than 10 years since Walmart first opened its doors in Battle Ground.
Now, the 21,390-square-foot Tractor Supply store looks to be the next big addition to the city’s chain-store commercial scene.
Since Walmart has opened, a variety of larger chain stores and restaurants have followed it to Battle Ground, mostly in the Scotton Landing and Mill Creek Towncenter area. In 2014, some would have predicted faster growth to the city’s commercial scene, but soon Ridgefield was attracting a lot of economic development. A few names have been tossed around over the years that inquired about opening up shop in Battle Ground, including larger building supply chains and restaurants.
With Tractor Supply breaking ground early last week in the Scotton Landing development where the standalone Columbia Credit Union and Chipotle, among others, exist, the addition will compete directly with Wilco and Ace Hardware. In the same development, IHOP and SuperChix restaurants are destined to break ground sooner rather than later.
Proposed farm store location
Two farm store locations sprouted up last year in Battle Ground’s public information portal. One, a confirmed Tractor Supply, the other, quite a bit larger than the current Wilco and the now under-construction Tractor Supply.
After the Tractor Supply pre-application conference review was submitted in April 2024, having been approved in the same month, a project labeled BG Commercial West at the corner of state Route 503 and Southwest Rasmussen Boulevard sent in a pre-application conference submission as well. The pre-application conference review was completed in May 2024.
The BG Commercial West project features two buildings, one in similar fashion to a farm store as the site plan labels bulk soil, bulk propane, a hay shed and 24,000 square feet of retail space and an additional 15,693 square feet of warehouse space.
There have been no updates on the project since the pre-application conference review was completed in May. The application never named a retail business, but the applicant, Jeff Piccolo, has been associated with Wilco Farm Stores in the past, both in documents with the city of McMinnville, Oregon, related to Wilco as well as during a grand opening for a Wilco Farm Store in Yakima on Sept. 27, 2021.
“I want to recognize our real estate manager who helped find this location for us. … Our real estate manager is Jeff Piccolo,” said Wilco CEO Sam Bugarksy at the Yakima ceremony livestreamed on Facebook on Sept. 27, 2021.
The BG Commercial West project proposes a separate 16,000-square-foot retail building with its own section of parking.
Additional possible developments
Current Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy said he appreciates everyone who wants to do business in Battle Ground, but he does have a vision for what he would like to see more of.
“I think we need some more sitdown restaurants; some non-chain sitdown restaurants,” McCoy said. “I’ve not been shy in voicing that. We need another hotel, probably, too. We need some amenities as well, and that’s a different conversation. But yeah, I think just some non-chain sitdown restaurants would be great.”
From the COVID pandemic casualties of Mill Creek Pub and Hockinson Cafe, McCoy said he would have loved seeing the newer restaurants be additions to the former staple eateries in Battle Ground. In Community Focus articles, residents have previously stated they would love more sitdown restaurants in the city.
Across state Route 503 from the Walmart area is the development that brought Battle Ground’s first 7/11 convenience store. As more commercial space is available at that site, Battle Ground will now have a second 7/11 convenience store as the former Chevron at 16 NW 13th Ave. is undergoing a makeover.
On the south side of Main Street from the future 7/11 location, McCoy said he believes Deacon Development is set to break ground any day now on the West Main Commons mixed-use development. According to a retail brochure on West Main Commons, the development could bring another dental office, as well as a business called Barbie Lounge, OnPoint Credit Union and a drive-thru Brewed Awakenings. Two other retail spaces are labeled available as well as a 16,000 square foot medical building.
As the West Main Commons development brings in retail and medical opportunities, it also brings in a more centralized Battle Ground Village feel with 225 units of apartments adjacent on the south side of the commercial portion.
“So this is like a mini village concept as part like Battle Ground Village, and I love the village, don’t get me wrong, but this will allow more people to walk out their front door and go get a bite,” McCoy said, adding that the centralized location near Ace Hardware and Fred Meyer will cut down on vehicle traffic. “I could see people wanting to live there. An apartment complex just by itself is kind of drab. But to have other services right there for you, it’s less trips people have to take in their car.”
Near the West Main Commons future development, Kirkland Battle Ground Lofts submitted for a land use decision on March 13 at the corner of Southwest 15th Avenue and Southwest First Way. Kirkland Battle Ground Lofts is proposed as a four-story mixed-use single building development with 102 residential units and 6,359 square feet of commercial space.
At 18 SW 12th Ave, south of West Main Street from the Fred Meyer gas station, a pre-application conference for an unnamed car wash and oil change shop was submitted on Feb. 13. A second Space Age gas station and convenience store submitted for a pre-application conference on Feb. 8 for the site at 805 W. Main St. where Thirst Trap Soda Shack currently exists.
