SANTA MARIA - It's that time of year when Christmas wishes are on the minds of young and old.
At the Santa Maria Town Center, shoppers we spoke with know what they'd like to see come to the mall.
"Forever 21", says shopper Shanna Dunson, "some more men's stores too."
"I would say more affordable stores", adds shopper Chanse Love.
The demolition of the former Gottschalks department store on the southwest corner of the mall is to make way for a 14-screen, stadium-seating cineplex movie theater that mall owners hope to have open by fall of next year.
"Its highly critical ", says Cris Zertuche-Wong of Arcon Inc., the Texas-based asset management firm that has come in to handle future change of the Town Center, "its a very visible change to the Town Center and we fully expect this to a be very popular destination. "
Town Center patrons and tenants have been waiting for the promised movie theater for years.
"I heard about that, I'm excited about that, I can't wait.", says shopper Chanse Love.
Other changes planned for the mall include new food courtsTand larger, renovated bathrooms.
The goal of Town Center owners and asset managers is to create a new family-friendly environment at the mall with unique attractions that will increase foot-traffic to the benefit of everyone, shoppers, tenants and the city.
"Some things that we are looking at are a skate park, a sports complex that includes batting cages and other athletic activities", adds Zertuche-Wong.
Town Center owners know they are competing with shopping destinations to the north and south.
"Truthfully, I prefer to go to Ventura", says mall shopper Shanna Dunson, "but its just local so if I have to pick up something from Footlocker, because Lompoc doesn't have a Footlocker."
Many of the changes Town Center owners have planned are expected to be completed within the next two years.
