I always hoped that building on the east side would finally take off but it never did.  At least not in the numbers, nor in time, to save the mall.  I really like that place for some reason.  I liked the layout and the skylights.  My grandkids moved out by the old Mesa Marin developments and they love it out there.  Both agree that it's so easy to get around and especially with the Fairfax interchange.

They have all the eating places that one could want or need (other than Elephant Bar type places) and since they're Target shoppers they're covered there too.  Home Depot and Lowes have been blessings for them since they bought a new house with all the "stuff" one needs to buy.

We ate at the new Mexican place in the old Cadillac Ranch building on 178 and it was really good.  Not much on ambiance but the food was good.

Anyway, I was hoping and cheering for the East Hills Mall but with Valley Plaza struggling, it doesn't bode well for East Hills.

Likewise, I was sorry to see the mall fade away. I'd like to see some quality stores open and maybe revitalize it but I'm not hopeful.

One really nice place to visit there is the Art Assn. Gallery.  I love wandering through there.  And then Ben and Jerry's.  Speaking of..wouldn't you think that was an odd choice for them?

I remember going to the opening of East Hills mall. I worked all night, got off at 7am went home,  woke up my wife and we went over there. Even though we live in the SW we were real excited about a new mall coming to town. It seemed like a nicer place to shop to us, not so crowded and with a little "easier going feeling" than VP. We always went to the movies there until Edwards opened up. I for one will be sad to see it go. I am just as guilty as the next "guy" as far as its demise... I really don't do any mall shopping to speak of. EH or VP.. to pricey for my taste... and yes I have to admit most of my dollars are spent in Wal-Mart, Lowes, Target and Costco... so lay the blame on me and the millions of others who just want to get the most or "least" for our money.

Thanks for the post... I have not been there in quite a while and I really had no idea it had become such a "ghost town".

Never fear, ACORN's here -- ready to shovel the stimulus money into the mall and turn it into job-making machine that for sure won't have any unions standing in front with their "Shame on" banners. So line up, kiddies, and follow Ben & Jerry's lead down the path that is wide and easy toward an Alice in Wonderland utopia as the following Wikipedia entry shows:

They renamed a flavor, Yes Pecan, in reference to Barack Obama's winning the presidency.

For the month of September in 2009, Ben & Jerry's temporarily changed the name of one of its best-selling ice creams, "Chubby Hubby," to "Hubby Hubby," in celebration of the legalization of gay marriage in its home state of Vermont. The new "Hubby Hubby" tub features a picture of two men getting married, as well a picture of a rainbow.

pax, Today the Census Bureau severed ties with ACORN. Yea!

Okay, I just checked in for a moment and I guess no one is buying the garden idea. Here's another link:

latimes.com/features/printedition/food/la-fo-watt les23jun23,1,6589678,full.story

Inspirational, no? 

By the way, can someone tell me if my links are even working for you all?

vanity, Yes your links are working. The recipe for blackberry strudel at the bottom of that page sure sounds yummy. I think the garden idea is a lot better than it sitting there empty. It will likely just sit empty for years though.I think using it for school children to learn gardening would be worthwhile. Most children that are subjected to gardening love it. I know my own grandbabies love watching the strawberries, and tomatoes grow. They get quite anxious to pick and eat. Sweet!

Proam, that calls for a celebration ... let's hit B&J's for a triple-scoop cone of Oh My! ACORN Bye! (formerly Oh My! Apple Pie!) ice cream!

pax, I heard about it, then questioned whether I heard right. I logged onto foxnews.com to see if they had anything posted and yep, sure enough, I heard right. I guess the head of the CB was hearing from the public about acorns involvement, and not feeling comfortable about it. I sure wasn't going to be giving my info to an acorn employee.

I have often wished that IKEA and Trader Joe's would come to the east side. They should both consider this mall.  If  Michaels were to show back up in the vicinity of  East Hills I would end my personal boycott of them.  What stores would you like to see at East Hills? 

 About that garden idea.... I think the dirt slope between Target and the 24 hour fitness would make a nice retreat.  It would need terraced beds and a gentle walking path that curves its way up hill.   Plenty of park benches would be nice too.  If BC teaches any classes in landscape architecture this area could be turned into a semester long competition to pick the best design.  Then the next semester could be spent building it.   The squirrels there would probably love some fresh produce.

trully sad.  I helped open up the Mervyns @ the EHM back in 1988 when I was in college(one of my many jobs i had in college)

to wish that an Ikea or other big hip store would roll to the east side of Bako is daydreaming, pure and simple. I read that the home depot that is there is one of the lowest grossing home depots in the NATION right now.

I highly doubt we have a big enough market for IKEA..

A community garden on that valuble piece of property? Really?

I spend thousands and thousands of dollars every year on construction materials to improve or repair my many rental properties.  I never go to Home Depot.   Never.   Not in California and not in any of the other states where my properties are.  I have been their customer in the past and they have consistently gotten my orders wrong.  I refuse to subject myself to their ineptness any more.   

The current economy limits the potential for any new stores opening anywhere.  I would say that the chances of IKEA opening a store anywhere in Bakersfield are slim and none.  However if IKEA were to open a store in the East Hills Mall I would think that folks from other parts of town would be enticed to shop there.  The IKEA stores are fun to shop at.  In answer to anyone who discredits the value of day dreams here is a quote from a song from the musical South Pacific.   "You gotta have a dream. If you don't have a dream how are you gonna have a dream come true?"    Years ago who would have looked at the old Woolworth's/ Lucky store eye sore at the College Heights Shopping  Center  and envisioned a Lowes,  Subway, Farmer Boys, etc?    Why someone with a dream that's who.  

Loving the idea, Vanityfair.

A community garden on that valuble piece of property? Really?

 Yes, socalmuscle, really!! Perhaps you read my LA Times link and thought that was the model I propose; it is not, I posted that link more for the descriptive imagery of what a garden could be, not as a business model. My first two links in my original post have more relevant information. 

Perhaps I'm just being my old cynical self, but I do not believe that ANY legitimate retailer - EVER - is going to touch that site. The demographics on the East side simply can't and/or won't support anything more than Wal-Mart or Ranch Market. That's not to say that there aren't consumers who patronize Green Frog and other independents ... of course they do. But the numbers simply are not there to revitalize that waste of commercial real estate known as East Hills Mall.

Why let a property sit in blight for years? Zody's, anyone? One way or another, I'm pretty sure some kind of redevelopment money will fund the future of East Hills Mall. Wouldn't it be great if it was an endeavor that accomplished the goals of educating people, providing healthy organic produce, and eliminating depressing blight? Who knows, maybe the surplus produce could actually be used by the school districts to feed the children lunch. Just a thought. 

Brick and mortar retailers are becoming more obsolete every day. 

-off topic- ARRGGGHH USC. Get it done!

Robin, thanks for your comment! It was a ray of sunshine here.

Proam, thanks for letting me know that my links were working. And I'm encouraged by your supportive comment about the learning aspect of such a project.

I have a small orchard of fruit trees in my backyard that live only because I have a drip system ... I've been known to kill many a houseplant. My kids love to pick the apples, peaches, plums, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates. 

Hey Vanity, Robin would be a good one to teach the skills to the students AND market the benefits because of her Journalistic abilities. A deal like that would be right up this kid's alley.

If it ever comes to pass, Id vote for her to be the one to run it and make it a success.

-another off topic- WOOHOO! Fight On! USC pulled it off.

Tony, I agree.