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Title: Redlands Mall closing (Documenting California's Collapse is Fun Update!)
Source:
The Sun
URL Source: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_15987772#ixzz0yfdzLzFz%3E
Published: Sep 6, 2010
Author: Chantal M. Lovell
Post Date: 2010-09-06 17:55:05 by Nebuchadnezzar
Keywords: None
Views: 16473
Comments: 52
Redlands Mall closing Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer Posted: 09/03/2010 06:46:59 PM PDT REDLANDS - Redlands Mall tenants - about six in all - received a letter dated Aug. 2 informing them their leases were being terminated and they need to exit their stores by the close of business Sept. 30. Thereafter, the Redlands Mall will be closed. "They (GGP representatives) came in and told us that they're out of bankruptcy and things were going to look good and then the next thing we know they come in and say they're closing the mall," store owner Wes Hayden said Friday. Hayden is owner of three stores in the mall: Eyeware Specialist, Rittman's Tuxedo and Hayden-Brothers Coffee. When reached Thursday, David Keating, vice president of Corporate Communications for GGP said that the Redlands Mall will fall under Spinco, a subsidiary company that was created as GGP moves back into business. He stressed that Spinco will not abandon or neglect its properties. He did not mention the closure. "The properties that are staying with General Growth are our regional and super regional malls," Keating said. "With the emergence from bankruptcy, we are focusing on our core assets. These properties that are going to be under Spinco are not bad properties. They really have a lot of potential and Spinco is going to pay attention to them, determine how best these properties can succeed and bring them up to their full potential." But the mall business owners said they have been told a very different story. "They said they're going to put a fence Advertisement around it until the economy picks up," Hayden said. "Why would you blight a city like this by putting a fence around the mall. We're not a prison." Oscar Orci, director of Development Services for Redlands, said the city - which owns the parking lot at the mall - has been in talks with GGP about how to keep the property safe while it is vacant. "We're talking to them so we can maintain the grounds and the lights, maintain the parking areas," Orci said. "We're working to make sure the mall is, or at least appears to be in good maintenance." Redlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathie Thurston said the chamber and city are trying to help relocate the mall businesses and want to keep them downtown if possible. She said they are all still looking for new locations. Ana Duarte, a sales clerk at Sterling & Company, said they are looking for a new spot downtown. "We're looking at State Street and have looked at a couple places," Duarte said of the store that has been in the mall about 10 years. "I don't know if I expected the mall to close, but businesses have been closing since Gottchalks left (summer 2009). We stayed OK - we didn't lose too much business but we did see a decrease in new customers who would come in while shopping at Gottchalks." "I was expecting something to happen," said Kram Daudi, who has been in the mall five years with his store Gamestop. "I was thinking maybe a department store would come in. At this time in this economy, I can't afford to relocate. I'm going to put everything in storage. Nobody is going to be OK when they've lost their business, but I believe in God and I believe something good is going to happen. I was happy here." Hayden said he has been in the mall for 34 years and is sad to go. He said the short notice given by GGP is bad business. "This has been a heart-breaker because I talked businesses into staying here. If I had any idea they didn't play to keep the mall open, I never would have done that. I would have told the other businesses to pick-up and run. They had to have known months ago. They didn't just decide to close overnight. They made us think everything would be OK." Orci said the city is working to make the mall into a valuable, thriving asset and does not want to see it empty for long. "It's going to be closed but that doesn't mean it's going to be abandoned for the next 20 years," Thurston said. "We have to have life in the center of downtown. We are doing everything in our power to make the best outcome of this." Keating said he is unaware of any plans to sell the mall. Keating did not return calls Friday to discuss the closure. The mall's Senior General Manager James Harris could not be reached for comment Friday. The perimeter stores, including CVS Pharmacy, Denny's restaurant, Mattress Showroom and Union Bank of California will remain open, Thurston said. Poster's Comment: DON'T SHOOT, THEY'RE CALIFORNIANS, LET THEM BURN!!!! BURN MOTHER FUCKERS BURN!!!
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
#1. To: Nebuchadnezzar (#0)
What ever happened to this California?
A bunch of rich east coast assholes moved in, followed by millions of illegals.
Hey Stone - Why is this worthless little Tracking Weasel and mini-me spy, Skid Mark still here??
Why should a 'Jesus gave me a free card into heaven' freak care? Just raise your cross and quote some more from the bible. Too bad it hasn't cured your manic depression.
#7. To: mininggold (#6)
Still hittin' the Gilbey's pretty hard, eh?
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#2. To: jwpegler (#1)
What ever happened to this California?
#4. To: Skip Intro, A K A Stone (#2)
#6. To: Liberator (#4)
Hey Stone - Why is this worthless little Tracking Weasel and mini-me spy, Skid Mark still here??
Replies to Comment # 6.
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