Firebaugh is looking to give its retail sector a major boost by adding two national chains with an Autozone on its way and a McDonald's not too far behind.

City officials are also hopeful a Payless Shoes or Subway will come too.

“This means quite a bit of sales tax revenue, especially during this time when everyone is hurting,” Firebaugh City Manager Jose Ramirez said. “We’re looking at a little over $2 million total from all three retailers’ income sales tax every year.”

The three retailers will be located off of Highway 33 between 11th and 12th streets.

Autozone is looking to complete construction and be running within four months. The preliminary work has been done for McDonald's, but no formal plans have been submitted to the city. Ramirez said he realistically expects McDonald's to open sometime in the summer of 2011.

“We hope this is the beginning of attracting other major retailers, by showing them that these two national chains believe in the city of Firebaugh, in its infrastructure and in its people,” Ramirez said.

Firebaugh is in negotiations with both Payless and Subway, but hasn’t ruled out another major chain from entering the discussion also.

Ramirez estimates the three retailers will create about 150 jobs, both full- and part-time, which could provide a source of employment for the young people of the town.

“That’s an area that I’m concerned about, because we want to give the youth of the area a reason to stay in town,” Ramirez said.

The project is being developed by Manhattan Beach-based Gryphon Capital Group.