california's last local clothing department store to file bankruptcy... (San Francisco: 2010, buyer)

[the city]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

But again, it is an existing 100,000 sq ft store zoned for General Retail. Walmart probably meets the description of what could go in that spot. Macys also meets it as does many other companies.

The other stores you mention like Costco were trying to build new buildings of a large size so they needed to go further out to meet all the zoning and ordinances as well as find a parcel of land large enough.

As long as a company meets the zoning and other business ordinances the city cannot stop it, even if they do not like it. Heck, DollarTree could probably open a 100,000 sq ft discount store in the building and the city could not stop it.

My point is that Walmart could look at the spot as their chance to enter the SLO market. It doesn't matter that the city may not like it, if the building exists and the current zoning is correct for the business the city cannot selectively block a company.

By the way, since you are interested in shopping centers and retail you might get a student membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers when you start college.
Student Membership

well, the reason i want a macy's here so bad is the fact that the main 28 counties all have malls, but not ours. so if we at least got a macy's, and then we can at least show for something. instead of having a mall, we got the upscale shopping places-downtown fashion streets, outlet center, and fashion/speciality clothing center that most counties dont have. but no mall, so why do we have to be so dang different? it makes me so mad.

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by the city

well, the reason i want a macy's here so bad is the fact that the main 28 counties all have malls, but not ours. so if we at least got a macy's, and then we can at least show for something. instead of having a mall, we got the upscale shopping places-downtown fashion streets, outlet center, and fashion/speciality clothing center that most counties dont have. but no mall, so why do we have to be so dang different? it makes me so mad.

Maybe because SLO is KNOWN for being different, and that's why people come to vacation and live here. I love living here because there IS no mall. Once a mall goes up, this area will start looking like Orange County, LA and all the other boring faceless cities/counties in California.

If it makes you so mad, you should move somewhere else, because I (and many many other people) don't want SLO spoiled by large retail centers that all sell the same damn thing.

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by the city

well, the reason i want a macy's here so bad is the fact that the main 28 counties all have malls, but not ours. so if we at least got a macy's, and then we can at least show for something. instead of having a mall, we got the upscale shopping places-downtown fashion streets, outlet center, and fashion/speciality clothing center that most counties dont have. but no mall, so why do we have to be so dang different? it makes me so mad.

What exactly would having a Macy's "show"? What would having a mall prove?

Do you see how many threads on this board are about moving to SLO? TONS. Do you think people are attracted to it because it's the same as everywhere else? No! The appeal is that it's unique.

Different is good. I realize when you're in high school, as you are, different is SO NOT COOL. But in reality being unusual can be a good thing. Vive la différence!

[the city]

Originally Posted by Adriatica

What exactly would having a Macy's "show"? What would having a mall prove?

Do you see how many threads on this board are about moving to SLO? TONS. Do you think people are attracted to it because it's the same as everywhere else? No! The appeal is that it's unique.

Different is good. I realize when you're in high school, as you are, different is SO NOT COOL. But in reality being unusual can be a good thing. Vive la différence!

well adding santa maria to the county would also be a solution. it has a mall, and other stores not already in the county. and its been in the works for a while, but the county doesnt have much to offer to santa maria yet.

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by the city

well adding santa maria to the county would also be a solution.

You talk about a "solution" like there's a problem. What, exactly, is the problem?

[the city]

Originally Posted by Adriatica

You talk about a "solution" like there's a problem. What, exactly, is the problem?

the problem of not having a mall or a macy's. the county gets more tax revenue, and in return our policies help out the city. santa maria many years ago used to be apart of this county, but went to santa barbara county because they became rich and had the all the money. well look at santa maria now, its a gangbanger city and not the old-school country-style city where tri-trip was invented.

[the city]

btw, i checked on the wal-mart issue. and no general retail that is above 70,000sq. ft. is allowed in the city. costco and home depot and target are able to come in since they were bigger lots of land in the county, and the city council decided to approve the projects because everyone wanted those stores. there is no way that the city council in SLO would approve for an amendment change or any type of approval for SLO to go in that spot. Wal-Mart would ruin that city.

I am guessing Macys wont come, so I know its going to be JcPenneys.

Thats why we need Santa Maria and it's mall and Macys in our county!

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by the city

btw, i checked on the wal-mart issue. and no general retail that is above 70,000sq. ft. is allowed in the city. costco and home depot and target are able to come in since they were bigger lots of land in the county, and the city council decided to approve the projects because everyone wanted those stores. there is no way that the city council in SLO would approve for an amendment change or any type of approval for SLO to go in that spot. Wal-Mart would ruin that city.

But the 70,000 sq ft limit probably applies to a NEW building being constructed. Again, the Gottschalks store is already there so it does not need an amendment change. Anyone (Macys, Walmart, or any other retailer) could move into the building without council approval.

[the city]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

But the 70,000 sq ft limit probably applies to a NEW building being constructed. Again, the Gottschalks store is already there so it does not need an amendment change. Anyone (Macys, Walmart, or any other retailer) could move into the building without council approval.

gottschalks is not general retail though. so it would need an amendment change. target, costco, home depot were general retail and were annexed from county to city by the city council approval. gottschalks is speciality retail-clothing. i think, it will be belk, jcpenney's, macy, dillards, forever 21, burlington coat factory and Wal-Mart that take up most of the gottschalks buildings.

In the central valley, it looks like it will be Dillards. In the central coast it looks like it will be Belks. The Victorville and Palmdale Gottschalks stores seem that Macy's will take them over. The Capitola one is rumored to get JcPenneys. In really small cities, it looks as Wal-Mart or Target will take over. Wal-Mart is rumored to take over some Sacramento area stores and bay area stores. Forever 21 and Burlington Coat Factory are looking into other stores in southern california.

[FresnoFacts]

In a court filing last week, Gottschalks says it might still come back. Chinese investors are still considering buying some of the locations and the company name and starting up again as a smaller chain. This is unrelated to the previous auction.
"One of the potentially interested going concern buyers, Shandong Commercial Group ("Shandong") has expressed an interest in acquiring the Debtor's leases and owned real estate property at various locations, as well as other operating assets and intellectual property. In the event such transaction occurred, Shandong has advised that it would intend to reopen the Gottschalks stores at such locations."
http://www.kccllc.net/documents/0910...0000000015.pdf

Doesn't mean it will happen but a restarted Gottschalks remains possible.

Also you may not have seen this article from an independent paper in Visalia, it speculates about some of the Central Valley stores.
Valley Voice Newspaper