I love living in a big city.
Everything you might need is mere minutes away – theaters, shopping, sporting events, big-name concerts, museums, downtown, distinct neighborhoods, a bevy of outdoor recreation activities.
And the restaurants! As a foodie, I love the idea of dressing up on a Saturday night for a six-course, fine-dining experience, and then on Sunday morning discovering a hole-in-the-wall eatery that satisfies not only your stomach but also your soul.
I was born in San Francisco and, after a few years spent living in my parents’ native India, I am back in the City raising my two young daughters with my wife. I also attended the University of San Diego for my undergraduate studies, so much of my adult life has revolved around a metropolitan lifestyle.
But I also get the draw of smaller towns, especially as a businessman. I relish identifying a need for a small community, and then working with its leaders and citizens to fulfill that need.
In fact, three of the most recent projects by my business, LRE & Companies, are in the smaller markets of Roseville and Rocklin, both part of the Gold Country in Placer County, whose total population of 404,739 is less than half of San Francisco’s.
Social Connection, the Roseville project, is a one-of-a-kind beer garden that will feature a variety of food and beverage venues. The popular brewery Fieldwork Brewing Company will serve as the anchor tenant.
The beer garden will provide a unique gathering space – thus the name Social Connection – that does not exist anywhere in the region. We, along with project partners American Hospitality Group, wanted to pair great food offerings with a first-class brewery, as well as bring together a diverse set of tenants to create a lively and unique culinary, hospitality and family entertainment experience.
Additionally, Social Connection will be part of the highly anticipated Roseville Junction that will function as a sports and entertainment complex in Placer County. The mixed-use development, which is another collaboration between LRE & Companies and American Hospitality Group, will include two select-service hotels – Caption by Hyatt Roseville.
Less than seven miles away in Rocklin, LRE & Companies is hard at work on University Square, a 10-acre mixed-use development project that will feature more than 20,000 square feet and 5,000 square feet of space for quick service restaurants with drive-thrus; a 123-room Hilton Garden Inn; a 10,000 square-foot daycare center; a 3,700 square-foot convenience store; and a car wash.
University Square is adjacent to Estia Rocklin, a build-to-rent townhome community with 181 units, and is located across the street from William Jessup University, a private Christian university with more than 3,000 students. Most of the area’s major employers, including Oracle, UNFI, K-LOVE, and Thunder Valley Casino, are within a two-mile radius of our project.
Social Connection, Roseville Junction and University Square are bold ventures in smaller communities seeing tremendous growth. LRE & Companies’ goal with each and every one of our projects is that, in time, they will not only be a source of pride but will also help define the communities that they serve.