Progress continues in the downtown, with a brand new health clinic being built in a historic building that started out as a dry goods and tailor shop in early Riverbank.

Most recently it was briefly a hair salon, but both large rooms held shelves making the aisles of Sorenson’s True Value Hardware Store for many years.

With the current remodel, 16 exam suites, an orthodontics facility, labs and other necessary facilities have been partitioned off, with electric, air conditioning, networking and lighting improvements throughout. The dental facility will serve those under the age of 21, according to Roxanne Millan.

Last week, employees of the health care clinic, from Merced, were unpacking and setting up chairs for the waiting room and other locations around the clinic. They said that, initially, employees would come from the other clinics, but hiring of local workers would happen soon.

They said that final insurance company inspections are expected next week and the clinic would be able to open soon after.

It’s being built and will be operated by Horison’s Unlimited Health Care, based in Merced. It will be the company’s fifth location in the Central Valley.

Built on the south side, at 3234 Santa Fe, the clinic will sit between City Hall South, a former Wells Fargo Bank branch, and the former A.J. Meyers saddlery shop. It’s directly across Santa Fe from the Riverbank Historical Museum.