It's great news that the Valley Plaza is close to finding a replacement for the Robinsons-May store.
As the mall's marketing director says, the new tenant, "represents an opportunity for the future of not just the mall, but the community as well."
Let's not read too much into that hyperbolic statement. Hopefully no one believes our gang problems will be solved if a Nordstrom's moves to the mall or our horrible air will be no more should Calvin Klein sets up shop in the Plaza.
But, Bakersfield has come on leaps and bounds fashion-wise in the last decade or so.
The preponderance of high-priced boutiques in town must mean there are fashion-conscious residents among us (or just those with money to burn), while the impending arrival of Banana Republic (April 30 in the mall) is also a step in the right direction.
Who do you think will fill the empty Robinsons-May?

I have to admit, had it not been for a few nostalgia nuts in the Californian newsroom I would never have heard of Big House. Subsequently, by the time I had heard enough that I wanted to go to Thursday's concerts the tickets were all sold out.
Erik Loyd's review is fantastic — written from the knowledgeable perspective of a true music lover. But that's just my opinion. What did you think about the gig?