Nothing Blue About New Town Center
Construction is almost complete for Mobile Capital’s Blue Oaks Town Center, which means the fun can begin for Rocklin, California, residents and visitors.
Brianne Gloski

MCG Architecture was responsible for both the general architecture and landscape architecture of Blue Oaks Town Center.

The partners of California-based Mobile Capital and the developers of Blue Oaks Town Center must be amazed at how much has changed in the past 5 years. In early 2002, the company’s three partners joined together to form Mobile Capital. Michael Smythe had just sold his family’s company in San Jose, California, where he was responsible for the ground-up development and management of automobile dealerships including Mercedes Benz and Volvo, John Aiassa was a partner for South Bay Construction and Development in San Jose, and Joe Deaser was the vice president of real estate development for the Western region for Trammell Crow Company. However, in the spring, this would all change.

In May 2002, the three men learned of Trammell Crow’s ownership of 62 acres of land at the intersection of Blue Oaks Boulevard and Lone Tree in Rocklin, a city 20 miles northeast of Sacramento. The land had such potential that Smythe, Aiassa and Deaser teamed up and cut their former ties and formed Mobile Capital to develop the town center on the property.

“We joined hands together because of our belief and excitement in the piece of property,” Smythe says. “It is located in a fast-growing, economically exciting submarket of Sacramento and has access from Highway 65 and is only 2 miles off of Highway 80.”

In 2006, the population within a 3-mile radius of Blue Oaks Town Center numbered 83,201 and the average household income was $95,567. A high population count with the capacity to spend some extra income would translate into a big success for the Mobile Capital team.

 Fast-forward to the present, and the development occurring at Blue Oaks Town Center is winding down. The last store in the $90 million, 541,558-square-foot retail center is scheduled to open this July.

Featuring several stores opening their first locations in the area and the state, Blue Oaks Town Center is ready to welcome shoppers from all across California. A 162,000-square-foot R.C. Willey store opened in the retail center in July 2006. The store, which is owned by Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway and provides home furnishings, appliances and electronics all under one roof, is the first California store for the Salt Lake City-based company. In addition, a 56,500-square-foot Sportsman’s Warehouse opened its first California store in November 2006.

“The store [Sportsman’s Warehouse] will do really well because of Rocklin’s close proximity to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and bountiful hunting and fishing opportunities,” says Smythe.

MCG used natural elements to create an oasis for Rocklin, California, residents and visitors. By the end of winter, more than 80 percent of the stores were open.

A 36,000-square-foot Stein Mart opened up in Blue Oaks Town Center this past fall — the store’s first location in a four-county market area — and an 80,000-square-foot Mervyn’s opened in February. Smythe was excited for the Stein Mart to open due to its “cult following,” and the Mervyn’s is the company’s first ground-up new store in California in the last four years.

For the past few months, the retailers have been slowly opening up in Blue Oaks Town Center, following the beginning of site work in June 2005. A 15,000-square foot Petco, a 25,000-square-foot Shoe Pavilion, Dress Barn and FedEx Kinko’s have or will occupy space in the open-air mall.

Visitors to this Rocklin retail spot will also have a wide variety of dining options to choose from. From fast-food establishments like Carl’s Jr. and Subway to sit-down restaurant favorites such as Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Chevys, Mel’s Diner and an 8,000-square-foot Johnny Carino’s, the dining establishments at Blue Oaks Town Center will surely satisfy the taste buds of any patron.

For the last 20 months of development, CB Richard Ellis handled the leasing, but Mobile Capital decided that a smaller, more local firm would be a better fit for Blue Oaks. So, they called in John Austin of Cornish & Carey Commercial to finish the job.

Mobile Capital could not of completed the development without the help of L.L. Christian Construction and MCG Architecture. The general contractor for the project, Ken Roebbelen was formerly with Roebbelen Construction until he sold that company and opened his new firm, L.L. Christian, to focus on smaller projects. Blue Oaks Town Center is larger than the new projects Roebbelen has been working on, but some convincing from long time friend and partner in Mobile Capital, Joe Deaser, was all he needed to jump onboard the Blue Oaks team.

MCG Architecture, responsible for both the general architecture and the landscape architecture, used natural elements to create an oasis for Rocklin residents and visitors. The exciting architectural features incorporated into the development are a reason the project is so unique, according to Smythe.  “[The project] features a plaza with a water feature, 248 palm trees and many crepe myrtles.” MCG Architecture also integrated stone and rock into the buildings’ facades to complement the development’s earthy and natural look. 

The distinctive architecture is not the only reason Blue Oaks Town Center will become a premier destination spot for Rocklin residents and visitors. The retail center features numerous stores that are currently not open in the Sacramento/Rocklin area, and according to Smythe, finding the right lineup of tenants was one of the biggest challenges.

Blue Oaks Town Center

“Many of the challenges we faced are similar to the challenges that all developers ultimately face,” says Smythe. “There were some issues with getting the entitlements, of course, but for us, the biggest challenge was finding the right tenant mix. What do we need to fill the need in the area?”

And with the openings of several first-time-in-California stores, Blue Oaks Town Center will become a must-visit for fans of these popular stores.

Once this summer rolls around, the partners of Mobile Capital can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labors for the past 5 years. By the end of the winter, more than 80 percent of the stores will be open for business, with the rest following soon after.

Smythe is optimistic and confident about the retail center’s success, dubbing it “the nicest open-air mall in California.” And with a distinct tenant lineup, architecturally beautiful buildings and a great location in an affluent area, his prediction might come true.


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