Santa Clarita Shopping…Or Not!

Leaving Santa Clarita to go shopping is kind of common around here.  I mean let’s face it; we have a pretty crappy mall.  I know we just got Macy’s, but it still has the Rob May feel.  Typically when you walk into a Macy’s you feel ready to shop and spend money on high quality items.  There is something about walking into a Macy’s or Nordstrom that is somewhat exhilarating.  Our Macy’s just doesn’t have that.  The store still seems a bit cluttered to me and dark.  There are still departments where you are looking around to try and find help.

There was an article in the Signal this morning about residents leaving the valley to shop.  The article didn’t even address the mall issues.  The focus of the article was building shopping in downtown Newhall.  I really don’t think that is a resolution at all.  In my opinion, residents that can take the time and have the resources to leave the valley to shop would do just that rather than shop in downtown Newhall.  I just don’t think that adding a few specialty shops to that area is the answer.

It’s all about the mall.  Build it out, and then build it up.  Add Nordstroms.  Buy the land across the street, add a bridge and grow to the other side of McBean.  Add another movie theatre.  I mean there are all sorts of resolutions I would have expected to read in this article, but to focus on downtown Newhall is not one of them.

Signal article

Cingular Wireless Store

I had a pretty bad experience at the Cingular Store on Valencia Blvd and Magic Mountain Pkwy(by Baja Fresh).

Basically I bought this PDA phone, the Cingular 8125. I wanted to download the Shakira ring tone. Thought it was pretty easy. It wasn’t. I spent an hour on the phone with the Cingular tech support testing different settings, etc to see why it wasn’t working. My kids also are not able to download ring tones but that is because I have the Internet turned off on their cell phones. Anyway, after spending an hour with the Cingular guy, he fixed the problem. He also told me that I could download the ring tones for my kids and then blue tooth it to them. So cool right?!

Wrong. Apparently, when I tried it it did not work. I spent another half hour or so trying to figure it out before I took it to the Cingular store to get help. Basically, after another half hour the figured out that the ring tone is locked and I can’t do it. Okay, so fine, but I am very frustrated because I have just spent way too much time on this whole thing.

So I tell the guy, fine then please refund the $5.00 I spent on the ring tones for the kids. I don’t want them on my phone, yada yada. The sales clerk tells me he can’t refund $5.00 and that I have to come back between 9-5 when the store manager is there.

Now let me ask, what the hell kind of store won’t allow a sales clerk to refund $5.00 to a customer? I don’t think I’ve ever been in a store that had set times for refunds. I couldn’t believe how lame their policy was. I mean what happened to customer satisfaction, blah blah. I guess the Cingular Store doesn’t have a clue about that. We’re talking 5 bucks here.

At any rate, I am returning the phone today. I won’t go back to the same Cingular store ever again because anytime I’ve been in there, I’ve left upset. The store over by Lowe’s on Newhall Ranch and Bouquet Cyn is much better and the people working in there have a clue.

Related Post

Santa Clarita Macy’s

I went in to Macy’s today to check out the newest addition to the city.  I kind of was expecting more of a change.  I mean they made the purse area a bit nicer and the junior department is not as cluttered, but it still feels like RobMay.  Hopefully they will be transitioning more things in and out over the next few weeks.  It was nice to see they added a Benefit counter.

25 Score Card

I am ashamed to say that I have lived here for about 15 years or so and I just got my 25 Score card.  Believe me, I have always wanted one.  I just never really knew how to get one.  I saw applications all over, but now a days, who fills out applications?  I mean I do everything online.

Well, guess what…you can join online at 25 Score. 

I love it.  There are so many great discounts to take advantage of all over our city.  Simply get in the habit of asking before you pay if the merchant takes the 25Score card.  If they do, most discounts are about 10%.

Santa Clarita Street Art Fair - formerly “Bella Via”

Street painting at it’s finest.  This festival of multi-colored chalk was also once known as Bella Via.  It used to be held at the Valencia Town Center, but for whatever reason is now in it’s second year in downtown Newhall.

This is a fun event and great for the entire family.  There is food, shopping, street painting and many other activities to entertain all ages.

Save the dates for this great event.  October 7-8 2006.

Click here for more info on the Santa Clarita Street Art Festival.  AKA Bella Via

Map of Bridgeport Marketplace

I think this is the last empty lot left in our city. For years I remember the lots on McBean and Valencia before the Valencia Town Center and Lowes made it their home.

I wonder what the hold up is at the Bridgeport Marketplace? I mean it is crazy that it isn’t developed yet. Is there something wrong with the land? Is there some sort of secret indian burial ground or something ? I mean with all of the revenue the city stands to make when the marketplace is open, you’d think breaking ground would be a priority.

When Bridgeport Marketplace does open it will be home to some nice restaurants and retailers as well as having a good size amount of office space available. Some of the new tenants are: Bristol Farms, Walgreens, California Pizza Kitchen, Hollywood Tans, Therapy Hair Lounge, Kabuki Japanese Cuisine, Daphne’s Greek Grill, Piccomolo Italian Ice Cream, Juice It Up and of course…a Starbucks.

I found this map on Loopnet.com, looks like a nice size park too. Hopefully they’ll add lights.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - To Sell or Not To Sell?

When the news first broke that Six Flags Magic Mountain was for sale my initial reaction was sad to wonder what would happen to all the tourism and revenue Six Flags brings to our beautiful city. What would happen to the employment opportunities for our local youth in Santa Clarita? When I’m traveling I would no longer be able to say “I live in Valencia. You know where Magic Mountain is?” I mean Six Flags is a staple in our community. How could anyone think that mowing it down to build more homes could be a good thing?