Victor Valley, CA: Destination of Choice for Businesses, Families

Learn why the Victor Valley stands out as the destination of choice for businesses looking for a location that will help them grow and for families looking for a high quality of life.

By Bill Lewis on May 31, 2016

From businesses searching for a cost-effective real estate location that will allow them to expand, to families looking for affordable homes and attractive job opportunities with a high quality of life, the Victor Valley is increasingly becoming a destination of choice.

“Low crime, good schools, affordable housing with large lots and great weather make the Victor Valley attractive to residents and businesses alike,” says Steve Lantsberger, economic development director for Hesperia. “People can find a variety of housing, from apartment and condo living to mini-ranches.”

Those amenities are spurring business and residential growth across the region, says San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood.

“At the top of the list is pro-growth, pro-business local leadership,” Lovingood says. “Unlike some other parts of California, the Victor Valley has a long tradition of welcoming job creators. There is an eagerness to solve problems and make employers feel welcome and wanted.”

The region’s advantages include an abundance of affordable land, low labor costs, favorable air-quality regulations under the Mojave Desert AQMD, affordable housing and strategic links to Interstates 15 and 40, along with access to rail and the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA).

“Many middle-class families in Los Angeles and Orange counties have been priced out of the housing market and are moving inland,” Lovingood says. “The Victor Valley remains one of the most affordable communities in the state. Families find the Victor Valley a good place to put down roots. We offer a family atmosphere, a growing retail sector, clean air, lots of sunshine, outdoor recreation – all within a reasonable drive to Los Angeles and Orange counties.”

Hot Spot for Retail, Restaurants 

Retailers and restaurants are taking notice of the region’s growth and expanding across the area, creating jobs, as well as new shopping and entertainment opportunities close to home for the Victor Valley’s rising population, says Ron Barbieri, an agent with Coldwell Banker Commercial.

“The population is growing, and household incomes are growing,” Barbieri says.

Newcomers to the retail scene include Petco, which opened a new 10,000-square-foot store at the Marketplace on Main shopping center in Hesperia, joining Walmart on the 44-acre site. Tractor Supply Co., the nation’s largest retail farm and ranch retailer, also selected Hesperia for a 19,000-square-foot store.

National pizza franchise Pieology arrived in the Victor Valley with locations in Apple Valley and Hesperia, and two of the nation’s largest retailers have settled on the region for distribution operations.

“Walmart has a big distribution facility in Apple Valley, and a 1.3 million-square-foot Big Lots distribution center is on the horizon,” Barbieri says.

The new Yucca Loma Bridge in Apple Valley will pave the way for rapid development of The Fountains at Quail Ridge, a planned 33-acre mixed-use commercial center. Growing vehicle traffic and nearby median household incomes that are close to $100,000 are expected to attract retailers to the center.

Businesses that have recently opened in Victorville include the Tilted Kilt restaurant and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, as well as the desertFIAT automobile dealership. Adelanto welcomed new locations for Family Dollar and Dollar General, and Barstow recently broke ground on a 200,000-square-foot shopping center, which will be anchored by a Super Walmart.

On the Horizon

More projects are in the works for the future, including a new 800,000-square-foot Spanish Trails shopping center planned for Barstow and a new 3.5 million-square-foot commerce center for Hesperia with a half-mile of frontage along I-15.

Growing demand for new homes in the region is underscored by Hesperia’s ambitious Tapestry project. The master-planned development is slated to include more than 16,000 homes in walkable, energy-efficient neighborhoods, complemented by parks and trails. 

At the center of the project will be a premier town center featuring upscale restaurants, retail and other amenities that are expected to make the development a destination for the entire area.

“The Victor Valley is attracting young families, but the low cost of living makes it a good retirement area,” Barbieri says. “The population is growing; incomes are growing. That is attracting even more businesses to the High Desert and strengthening our economy.”