Two local businesses are teaming up to host a ribbon-cutting at the long-quiet Smoketree Junction on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, marking both their grand openings and the return of new activity to a familiar Piñon Hills location. The event, organized in partnership with the Piñon Hills Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the official ceremony set for noon at 815 Highway 138.
Smoketree Junction has long been a recognizable spot along Highway 138, once home to a rotating mix of shops including an antique store, a nursery, a beef jerky outlet and, for a time, a record shop. In recent years, however, the property has sat mostly vacant.
That’s changing as JMS Sales / Keller Williams and The Thrift Store and More move in and begin to revive the junction as a place where residents can gather, shop and connect.
JMS Sales, operated by broker Dina Velez, specializes in real estate services and the sale of new manufactured homes, including land-home packages and ADUs (accessory dwelling units). The team also represents Keller Williams Realty and plans to make part of their office space available for community use. Velez said the group hopes to create a welcoming space not only for clients but also for local organizations that need meeting space or public access.
Next door, The Thrift Store and More is being opened by Dave Hooven and Rey Jimenez, two longtime residents with ties to both the creative and construction sides of the Tri-Community. The shop will sell secondhand goods and vendor items, with space planned for a rotating art wall, open mic events and other community-focused activities. Hooven said part of the vision is to provide a low-cost, creative gathering place that offers a spot for a wide range of community activities.
The ribbon-cutting event will feature food vendors, hourly raffle drawings and family-friendly activities, including face painting, balloon animals and, if plans come together, a small petting zoo. Local nonprofits, including the Phelan Piñon Hills Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Piñon Hills Chamber, are also expected to be on hand with information booths.
The event is free and open to the public. Tri-Community residents are invited to stop by, meet the business owners and see what’s happening as one of Piñon Hills’ most recognizable spots enters a new chapter.
