Hispanic meat market cuts into former Longview bowling alley

LONGVIEW – Work should begin soon to transform the former Longview Lanes bowling alley into La Carretta Meat Market.

Construction firm Aedifex has applied to the City of Longview for a permit to remodel the building at 326 N. Spur 63. The project has a construction value of $588,507, according to city records.

Samuel Ruvalcaba said Longview can sustain a third Hispanic grocery store, with the store’s central location being an advantage.

The store will cater to “Anglo” shoppers as well, featuring a meat market with marinated beef and chicken available, a tortilleria, bakery and taqueria — a restaurant inside the store. It will employ about 20 full- and part-time workers at first.

Alaniz said construction should be finished in six to eight months, noting interior demolition has been finished. There have been some challenges, he explained, because the building formerly housed a bowling alley. It had a sloped floor, for instance, where the bowling lanes were.

About 18,000 sf of the 33,000-sf building will be used for the grocery store, and the reminder will be available for lease for office and retail uses.