I used to live in Seattle and I loved that I had so many choices to shop at.  Downtown alone there was the Nordstrom, Macy's, Westlake Center, and Pacific Place amongst others.  And across the lake there was the fabulous Bellevue Square.  I know our demographics keep some big names out of our town, but some I hope to see one day are definitely a Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Nike Town, Tiffany's, Fossil, an actual Godiva store, Something Silver, Brookstone, J. Crew, L'Occitane, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and a Cheesecake Factory!  And not a tiny Cheesecake Factory either, a huge one! They seem to scale down the restaurants here in town for some reason.  That's my wish list :) I dream big.

1) A bookstore. Why does Bakersfield hate books? I mean, other than to burn.
 

2) A toystore. This is perhaps the largest mall in America without a toystore (or a bookstore, come to think of it). Why does Bakersfield hate children?

3) Less stores for women. Because honestly, isn't 80% of stores (women's clothing, jewelry, shoes, makeup) enough? Sweet jebus on a stick, even the "mixed" stores (men's and women's clothing) are at least 75% women's clothing (and increasing). The only exceptions are shoe stores (the athletic shoe stores are at least 50% men's) and arguably the video game stores (which suck- I mean, I don't do in anymore because I can't stand trying to squeeze past people to get what I want. Guys, get a bigger store or something).



Rxgirl, we will never get any of those. Hell, we're having problems getting a waterpark, and we are one of the hottest places in California. Between our poverty/unemployment rates and the ignorant politicians, you can't really blame them for wanting to stay away.

Given the number of shootings and related gang violence I keep reading about at the Plaza, I'd think an Urgent Care clinic might do land office business.

The shoe stores at the mall are horrible. I usually have to leave the area to find anything decent.

rxgirl, there might be some hope with the Riverwalk shopping center.

all i want is an Urban Outfitters....is that too much to ask??

Matt, you're an intelligent guy so it escapes me why you use phrases like "why does Bakersfield hate" when discussing the lack of something you want.    Why do you use the word "hate" in context with your subject?

I'm an avid reader but I don't buy books at a bookstore.  Does that mean I hate books?  I buy toys for the little ones in the family but not at a toy store.  Does that mean I hate kids?  

People who don't believe politically as you and others on here have been accused of hating America.  Do you bellieve that too?

Nancy, Why do you hate mattloch? just kidding

bakobornandraised,

Seeing that this is not an Urban area, I'd be surprised if they were to even consider putting one here. Now a RuralOutfitters might consider it.

It isn't a shop, but I sure would love to see the koi pool back at Valley Plaza. But I suppose this day and age, that would be too much of a "liability".

An URGENT CARE CENTER is an excellent idea. People will need them when they see the prices at Coach.

(As for Coach Purses they are way OVER PRICED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Let's bring some realistic stores to the mall such as a medium priced furniture store or perhaps a Carters Childrens Clothing store. Or better yet a Dave and Barrys.....they are the best!

~JAT

How about a Rubios ? They have great fish tacos and awesome chicken quesidillas. Also a Dave and BUSTERS would be great ! You can take the kids and after hours are fun for the adults. Godiva would be great. AND... a Krispy Kreme !!! I love those doughnuts.

Alot of these places are in Orange County where I just moved from but even in smaller cities ( Stanton,Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Orange etc.... ) that are like Bakersfield have these places.  I agree we should have some more toys stores other than A Toys 'R' Us and a KB Toy store and more bookstores would be nice. I see more Starbucks then anything else out here. And 40 million Fastrips and liqour stores aren't needed.

A water park would be nice. Not at Valley Plaza of course. We need more stores at The East Hills Mall. Sad that we have to go out of town because Bakersfield doesn't have more places to shop at. It makes me miss Orange County even more.

THE HAT !!!!!!! Better than anything here. The Pastramis and chilli fries and hot dogs are great !!!!

Dave & Buster's...yep...I'd be there. When I was in Fontana, it was but a hop, skip & a jump to Ontario Mills and Dave & Buster's. For those unfamiliar, think Chuck E Cheese for adults with a bar and grill. Awesome place!

Lgroth- We had a Krispy Kreme at California and Stockdale, it didn't last long...

 1) A bookstore. Why does Bakersfield hate books? I mean, other than to burn. ~ Mattloch
 

WOW! -- Yes......Words of Wisdom -- .......and from the original Bako-Guru-Gore Vidal -- if not erstwhile ego entwhistle ergo bastion of bloviatiation cum pipe sucking pseudo-condescension Mattloch. The former debating (star?) at BC has such antipathy for those of lesser station in literary life (ol Chico and Sam for two) as he is so published.

Random House is at his door........... Advances abound (TSM haha) .......... He is such a figure in the literary world.....cutting a swatch hitherto unknown in the annals of the mudstark anthologies.......

He is a literary (albeit other wiki driven avocational pursuits) pantheon......... We must now collectively bow......

To the veritable Bakersfield (lucky he is that he operates in the environs of etymological escutcheon esquale) Guru of those of us unpublished and unrealized denizens of the unwashed. herein.......

We must be forever beholding to this paragon of pantheon ............ he will lead us to the land of enlightenment.........

BOOKS ......... for it is herein that he will silence the very essence of what he inveighs against ........ BOOKS  (that is unless they purvey the partisan punctilio's acceptable to the pipe sucking master.............

A moment of silence is requested (in keeping with his  "Bakersfield burn the books anti-intellectual ennui") now............

{not worthy}

{not worthy}

{not worthy}

{not worthy}

eso me gusta............. (for him and microcephalic minions of me tooism replete hereon)

Mattlock

I love books.  I adopted one  today from Target.  

A woman's "do it yourself" store. 

Staffed with women employees who won't look at you like you're a worm while you try to describe what you need.  Like the thing in the toliet tank that aattaches to the handle on one end and has the chain at the other end.  You know THAT thing!

LOL Audrey - I'm still laughing!!!  I have many things in my house that I have a hard time knowing what they are called so that post really hit home with me.

Aud -- being of the great un-Mattloched Minions unwashed, I have endeavored to find books of a more, shall we say, non-currently popular genre (i.e. of a conservative or even realistic bent) in our local establishments de tome and have either been eschewed out of hand by body language viz former hippy dippy hourly employee of said establishment, or directed to  "self serve"........

As before, you remind me of betrothed......... she generally relegates  herself for the aforementioned to the likes of Loews or Home Depot).......  they actually have a  "book section".......

I'm quite sure your  "couch potato by license"  will fix said problem however, poste haste, by re-affixing chain or adjusting same to the handle to effect the proper  "flap control"..... failing in that, the entire assembly is but a pittance.....

I have always hated bein a landlord....... especially at my own address.................

Chico

In lieu of a real woman's DIY store staffed by women, I go to ACE Hardware.  The young guy in there must be used to old ladies asking for plumbing supplies because he found what I wanted on the first try.

I want the BIG DOG store to return.

Just remember Aud, what happened to Ned Flanders'  "Other Handed Store"

Is that the Ace H on Rosedale?

I think I know that dude {haha}

They fired the only one who knew poop from goop

When I used to live down there I always went to Ace for  "honey-do's"

They cleverly seemed to have  "just what ya need" for the little  "momma-driven" projects.....somewhow......

Chico...you been reading the dictionary again?  Or are you trying to compete with the other intellectuals here??  Let em have it bud, ain't no need for fancifying up the lingo.  It's juz us ole hicks hangin' round.  I speaks okie real good.

Audrey, all unknown things are thingamajigs, thingamabobs or whatchamacallits.  It's official.  It's also another reason I like OSH over the big box stores, there just isn't one in my area...too far to drive at 4.41 a gallon.  Wattenbarger is good but limited and a little pricey.  It's handy though.

The Plaza used to have a Pickwick book store, but it was small and now B&N and Borders are way bigger with more books.  And they are quieter and easier to browse than what was at the Plaza.  Toy World and then KB failed because they were so much more expensive than Toys 'r Us or Walmart.  Bakersfield hasn't been the same, toy wise, since this place burned down.

Sorry Nan -- I get a few pops in me and I might go off in any direction (or predilection) ............... (I get in the novella mode and its not appropriate for every occasion I submit........)

OSH will have PVC fittings and electrical (breakers, etc.) that you cannot find at big box or mom n pop Ace's either.

Nancy, I have a side that come out (bad chico) when I see naked (and I might add, totally unwarranted) condescension like Mattloch's

He's no bettern' us oakies, no matter what color we iz....................... (in point of fact I sometimes wonder if I might just add more to the good of the order than ........... OK .... I'll stop....._

Gotcha Chico and I understand completely.  I always say that people who are educated and literate don't need to prove it..we get it.  (not talking about you here)  I may not show it but I'm a fairly smart cookie and fairly well read.  I don't need to be told I'm a hater because I don't feel we need 4 jillion of the same type of stores and restuarant...toys, books or otherwise.  I don't need a pseudo intellectual telling me that I'm an ignorant, naive unworldly hick because I live in Bakersfield.  Ah my, I went off on a tangent didn't I?  Too bad..lol.  Sometimes attitudes give me a rash..and all this time I thought it was allergies.

To sum up........

We have two large book stores in town complete with coffee houses.  We have two branches of a family owned book store and every department store in town carries toys.   People complain because places like Walmart drive small businesses out of business all the while begging for more chain restaurants to come to town because we don't have enough
good restaurants around.  No mention of how that drives the small restaurants out of business.  No one sees the double standard, they just see that we don't have what they want...and everyone wants what they want.

A Slot-Car raceway.