small business climate Escondido (Carlsbad, Poway: income, living, shopping mall)

[goldminer]

Hi, I would like to know if you have to be bilingual to run a small
shop in Escondido.

Is there high end areas or should one head for Carlsbad to set up shop?

Is the commute just to horrible from Escondido to Carlsbad?

Is there nice areas less than 1h away from Escondido that
would be a god market for a specialty shop?

[Judy P.]

First of all it really would help to know what kind of business you are talking about.
You do not need to be bilingual to have a shop in Escondido but of course it would help. I think if you are talking "high end merchandise" you would be much better off being in Carlsbad, Del Mar, La Jolla etc. Escondido really isn't going to be what you are looking for IMHO.
I hope this helps and good luck to you wherever you decide to go!

[goldminer]

I have never been to Escondido but I lived in L.A. for some time Korea town,Silverlake and even in O.C and there are areas of L.A. Where you just could not set up a shop of anything connected to finer living and you would be doomed to failure.

I wonder if Escondido is more like east L.A. or something.

[Judy P.]

I think you would have a REAL HARD time making a go of a business like you mentioned. It really isn't something that would do well here IMHO.I am afraid you would fail in Escondido. We have wealthy people who live here but most people are middle income or less.
You would be much better off in the cities I mentioned, but my suggestion to you would be to come here and talk to some business owners to really see what you think. It is a big risk opening a business wherever you go, but you really need to check out the place for yourself. Good luck to you.

[goldminer]

What about Westfield North Country shopping Mall? Is there no other developments around there? Just housing ?

[Judy P.]

If you were to open a business like you described Westfield North Country shopping Mall would be your best location for sure. That way you would be able to attract people from Rancho Bernardo, Poway and Escondido.