Construction of The Island Market is almost done. The North Padre Island grocery is expected to welcome its first customers in late July. Courtesy photo
A promise of a grocery store on North Padre Island in Corpus Christi is now more than a sign over a vacant lot. A building has emerged and an estimated opening announced. An IGA grocery store, The Island Market is expected to open its doors to customers by late July. The $3.3 million project will be the first grocery store in business on the island for many years.
Owners Lori and Moshin Rasheed gave store details during a recent tour of the building with Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni and Visit Corpus Christi CEO Brett Oetting.
The 20,000-square-foot store is part of a 36,000-square-foot shopping center to be named the Balli Center, also expected to include a Hard Knocks Sports Bar. It will be open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week and offer beer, wine, local produce, meat, baked goods, ready-to-go meals, and more. The complex is located at 15402 South Padre Island Drive (Park Road 22) just past Commodore Drive, the turnoff for The Waves Resort (formerly Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi).
A nearby development of 80 townhomes and condominiums will help provide customers. The Aruba Bay Resort is owned by Willard Hammons, Alex Harris, and Craig Kerr. It will also include a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse and yacht club.
