Construction crews, bulldozers and dirt mounds have overtaken several lots at the corner of North Judge Ely Boulevard and East North 10th Street to make way for another addition of a well-known drugstore.
The popular intersection will soon house a Walgreens, replacing the Mexican restaurant Alfredo’s and an already vacant Shell gas station.
The site of the soon-to-be Walgreens will be the drugstore’s fourth location in Abilene and will sit directly across from a CVS/pharmacy. Two other Walgreens are positioned near CVS/pharmacy locations, one on North Willis Street and the other at Buffalo Gap Road.
Crystal Rodriguez, shift supervisor of the CVS/pharmacy on North Judge Ely Boulevard, said she is curious to see if she loses a significant number of customers.
“It’s competition,” Rodriguez said. “It may slow business down because of different products offered, but I’m not worried.”
Rodriguez has worked at CVS/pharmacy for more than a year and said she is used to serving a large number of ACU students, especially during flu season. Rodriguez said she predicts the Walgreens to take full effect on the CVS/pharmacy in the next coming months, when they are busiest.
Although the new Walgreens will replace Alfredo’s, Manager Armando Ortiz said he plans to relocate to 2549 S. 1st St. and reopen either October or November.
“The move will be good for our business,” Ortiz said. “Our current location is good too, but this new area gets a lot of traffic and will keep our daytime business high.”
The Mexican food joint has sat at the same intersection for five years. The moving process began Sunday when crews cleared the restaurant’s interior and removed all equipment. Demolition of the building will begin soon, Ortiz said.
“We get a lot of service from different kinds of customers,” Ortiz said. “Seniors, ACU students and teachers; not just from the Mexican community.”
He said he enjoyed the location but will be leaving the North Judge Ely Boulevard site before the 2015 expiration on their lease arrived.
“It’s always been popular here,” Ortiz said. “I’m kind of nervous but it will be a great change. A new start with a new name.”
Ortiz said he plans to name the new restaurant after himself.
“Armando’s will be the new name,” Ortiz said. “Follow us to our new location.”
Ortiz said Armando’s will continue to specialize in tacos, burritos, tortas and the other Mexican food staples of Alfredo’s.
