What’s next for mall?
Future of facility remains high priority for local officials, but not much has happened in the past few years
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Friday, November 21, 2008 11:12 AM PST
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| The interior of the West Park Plaza, as seen Wednesday. Both Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick and newly-elected City Council member Norm Crume expressed support for discussions to revitalize the mall because it would bring more interest to the western side of Ontario. |
Ontario — The future of West Park Plaza continues to be a priority for both city and mall officials, and a number of ideas to improve the area landmark are possibly on the horizon.
Newly-elected City Council member Norm Crume said he would like to see the council, county and city’s economic developer director sit down with the mall’s owners to discuss adding new businesses to the facility.
Crume said this type of discussion is an important one because it would allow the city to know who the owner, Vien Bui, has spoken to regarding relocating to the mall. Crume also said it would show city leaders have an interest in what happens to the mall. Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick said he believed the project would be a good one for the city’s new economic development director, Alan Daniels.
Crume called the West Park Plaza “a diamond in the rough” and said he would like to see it brought back to the attraction it once was. Doing this, he said, would alleviate some of the traffic on the eastern side of the city. Dominick also expressed support for “pulling traffic away from the Wal-Mart area” and toward the downtown area and Southwest. Fourth Street.
Crume said he believed the mall would benefit from adding a “well-known” store, such as J.C. Penneys, because smaller businesses would follow suit.
Though much of the mall is empty, West Park Plaza manager and maintenance supervisor Mellissa Coon expressed appreciation for the recent addition of Hickory Farms, which she said will be open “through the holidays” and moved into the space across from Sears, Oct. 29.
“They’re doing pretty good,” she said.
She also said the store Mrs. C’s Consignment Shop has also recently opened in the mall.
Coon said more businesses are still looking to set up shop within the West Park Plaza’s walls.
She said she has been spoken to by “a couple of people” regarding opening a clothing shop in the 6,000 square-foot space that used to hold Maurice’s.
She also said she has been contacted by two brothers from Weiser who may be interested in opening a boat-covering business in the mall.
“They kind of like my office,” she said. “So I might have to move.”
Coon said her office is a prime location because it offers a window view for businesses to display their wares.
Coon also spoke highly of the Joy Luck Restaurant, which is currently under construction and should be completed in March. Coon said much of the work is being done “in house,” with the assistance of the owner, Paul Xiang.
Though much of the restaurant’s amenities have already been purchased — such as tabletops and menus — the opening of the establishment was postponed in July.
Xiang put the plans on hold because he needed to care for his family in his native China, which was recovering from an 8.0 earthquake that left nearly 70,000 dead in May.
China was also hit by floods, which caused billions of dollars worth of damage.
“With all the bad things in China, he got delayed,” Coon said at the time.
However, she said plans are back on track now.
“That’s still a go,” she said of the restaurant plans.
However, Coon is also looking toward more current events.
“Santa Claus is coming back,” Coon said.
She said the mall plans to take pictures of residents who wish to be photographed with jolly St. Nick and offer those pictures for sale. Coon said she plans to advertise for the event through fliers, as well as utilizing the flashing sign across the mall’s parking lot. She also said she plans to decorate the mall to prepare for Santa’s arrival, slated for Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 as well as Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.
“We plan to make a big spectacle of it,” she said.
However, this will not be the first time Santa has been connected with the mall. Coon said he appeared on the mall’s Veterans’ Day float.
She said she first started getting questions about Santa’s arrival in August from people in Boise and Caldwell and decided to make arrangements for his visit.
However, Santa will not be the only one visiting the mall this holiday season. Coon said his visit will coincide with two craft fairs slated for the first two weekends in December. Coon said she believes those crafts fairs will be the last ones the mall offers until February. Coon said the November craft fair was especially well-received, causing her to “open every door the mall has” and fill the hallways from end to end. She said she recently applied for a restaurant license, allowing the mall to now be able to cater to food vendors as well.
“We’re encouraging everyone to come in for all of the crafts,” she said.
