Esplanade Mall - Oxnard, CA: The Rise & Fall | Classic Series
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- čas přidán 24. 06. 2024
- Join me as I revisit the beautiful Esplanade Mall in Oxnard, California. I share family memories and explore the mall's history, its challenges and its downfall.
This is the first episode of my Classic Series, which explores retail places that have disappeared several years ago.
Chapters
0:00 Title Sequence
1:10 Introduction / Early Years
3:29 Memories
6:51 Challenges & Decline
10:25 Conclusion / Credits
Music:
"カセットエクスタシー - ダイヤモンド~♦~" by Dan Mason
danmason.bandcamp.com/album/lost
"Dal Boca Vista" by Surfing
ssurfing.bandcamp.com/album/d...
"Mac Tonight" by S//P
mypetflamingo.bandcamp.com/al... - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I left Oxnard in 1984 to join the military and I was always amazed to see the changes in the city when I returned for a visit. The Esplanade Mall was the biggest and most surprising change to me. Thank you for sharing this story!
Really great video, you did an amazing job. I was born in ‘85 and I have a lot of the same memories. I would visit with my sister and Mom. I remember getting Orange Julius and getting photographs of me and my sister. The first dollar store I ever went to was there. The fountains were really cool and I have the same memories of throwing pennies into them. Thanks for the trip down memory lane ❤
Born in Oxnard in 58 after my Dad died in Nashville in 69 Mom moved us back to Oxnard...I remember with fondness The Esplanade, the Go-Kart track close by along with Straw Hat Pizza in a smaller center not far from the Mall...Thanks for the memories you created in my mind making this video.
They gotta do a documentary about Centerpoint . That’s some real Oxnard shit 💯💯💯
The old centerpoint tho when it was cool not the cheddarpoint 🤣
Lol the cheddar point, I remember falling in that water fountain once.
Lol 😂 right?
Yeah the chedderpoint!!🤣😂🤘🏻
Before it was "Centerpoint", it was called "Twin Centers"
Thank you for putting this together. I have nice memories of the Esplanade. My mom used to take us school shopping there and bought us our first Nintendo upstairs in Sears. I think there was also an electronics department upstairs in May Co, that sold VCRs. Can’t forget Tilt and that coin operated psychic that repeated, “Give me a quarter and I’ll tell you your fortune!”
Was Tilt the name of the video game arcade?
Funny, I'm pretty sure I got both my NES and Nintendo 64 at that Sears. I feel so old.
Wow when I heard Miller's Outpost. It just brought back so many memories.
Wow born in 98’ in Oxnard and never knew about this. Oldest memory would have to be when the Mexican restaurant Yolanda’s used to be at the center point mall along with the CD store where autozone now resides. I also remember mervyns at the center point mall
Yep I was born in 98 also I remember the cd store, mervins where walmart is at , Albertsons where superior is at lol
You just unlocked my childhood. I am from 92 and I also remember the old theater where was located at Lowes and the old shopping center. Also the old building which was an old mechanic shop in front of Tres Sierra at Pleasantvalley.
You guys missed out I was hanging there in mid 70 -early 80 the fun end I got married the mull was for buying & not chilling with my homies no more it was lots young people like me it was a hook up to
meet other girl from other schools that how I spent my Saturday or Sunday .
The CD store was called Ritmo Latino, I used to go there to buy concert tickets all the time
My family spent so much money dining at Yolanda’s over the years, that we practically paid for their move! 😂 but i loved the original location. It was one of the last restaurants that screamed 80s with its separate dining rooms and the booths that were tucked away in certain aisles. Now everything has open floor plans including the newer Yolanda’s off Victoria. At the old one, it was like walking into different dining rooms in a large home. U would find out from someone that went to the bathroom that a certain somebody was at the front dining room or aisle of booths. Or at the bar. I don’t know that’s what it seemed like. A large one story home with different dining rooms. And they had different vibes to them as the front one was more quieter than the one in the back which was larger and ppl were just more rowdy back there. Don’t know if anyone ever noticed that?
Boy! My sister use to act a fool in Robinsons May. She'd dance with the mannequins, pretend fight the female mannequins, and say the masculine mannequins were her boyfriends. We'd have to use our imagination with how bored we get because our mom would shop for HOURS. And God forbid she ran into someone she knew, it was guaranteed they'd be catching up for an hour. Phew. Thanks for posting. This took me way back.
😂 That’s awesome and really funny!! Thanks for sharing these memories. I’m glad to hear the video took you back to that time.
I’m only 19 but this was really fascinating! No wonder The Collection has been doing so good and why they push growth there
I'm too young to know anything about the mall, I was born in '98. I wasn't even born in Oxnard, I just moved here as a kid. But this was so cool and gives me a new perspective on my city. It kind of makes it even sadder that Sears is now gone from Pacific View too, and that the pandemic is kind of killing the mall as a whole. Kind of don't have much of a memory of the CenterPoint though. We just happened to never go that often.
You would of loved it every kids dream movies, foods, toys cloths girls it was magical
theme park vibes
I can't thank you enough for making this video. I am 58 and born and raised in Oxnard. I have fond memories, of the Esplanade Mall, as well as the Center Point Mall that used to be open air Twin Centers.
You're welcome! I'm glad I brought back fond memories.
I remember running from the mall security. They would turn on their lights for me to pull over as I ran parking lot stop signs and they never followed me past the parking lot. :) Also, broke my skateboard off the walls to the loading dock next to the movie theater. I also remember the smell of the fountain. Late 1980's
I loved playing in that HUGE, DEEP loading dock. So cool.
@@jennarobin2748 that loading dock used to freak me out when I was 5! It was like looking down at the Grand Canyon 😂
I remember the Orange Julius best, being a teenager in the 70's. Also, by the 80's, I remember friends wanting to go to the Oaks rather than Esplanade, for better choices and more upscale shopping. Having just past through Oxnard last week, I was shocked by the shopping monstrosity that has replaced this "relic". As an aside, loved the Wagon Wheel Funland and entire Wagon Wheel complex that was across from Esplanade
It’s a hideous 90s mess. Oxnard must regret that horrible decision.
I like the collection 😁 y'all just some old heads
I loved B Dalton's across the way from Orange Julius. And I remember a birthday party at Funland when I was 5. I also worked at a print shop that had the Wagon Wheel sign in its yard.
This was a great flashback!! I had great times and my first job at that mall. That fountain was my favorite! Thank you!!
I was born in 57, remember going to the mall throughout my high school years. My best friends worked at Hardy's Shoes, our motto was, " you're really not a man until you've had a Hardy on ". The good ol' days. I work at Sears in the automotive center, busting tires and pumping gas. I was 15 years old then. I remember when they use to have road bike / 10--speed races / events at the mall, they would ride laps around the esplanade parking lot at night. I use to go, watch / compete in the races. Don't remember many of the stores anymore, but do remember the ones mentioned in this video.
Thanks for sharing those memories! I do remember seeing the name Hardy's Shoes in my research.
This was great! I grew up in Camarillo and spent SO much time at the Esplenade with my parents and then, later, when I could drive myself there. My parents snd I bought many iconic things from my childhood there. Our first ATARI was bought at SEARS there and it was the Sears version called "Telegames". My parents bought a Hi-Fi system at that Sears. I bought concert tickets at that Sears and also rented a Tux for my then girlfriends prom in 1990. I bought my first car stereo there at an electronics store. Bought a cockatiel I had for many years at a pet store there. I watched countless movies at that MANN Theater. "Airplane" in 1979 when I was 10 is one that stands out. I ate at that McDonalds with the curved wooden benches and Orange Julius many times. Bought my first NES system at that Kaybee Toys. I had totally forgotten about May Company until watching this! It's hard to believe it's been 22 years since the old mall was torn down. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the "new" Esplenade and have not really spent a lot of time there. Living in the Thousand Oaks area since 1997, it's been the Oaks mall for me when I needed something. Like you, it's sad to pass on the 101 and see it gone as well as the Wagon Wheel Bowling Alley. All of it has been replaced by apartment complexes now. This was really a cool trip down memory lane and I appreciate the work you put into it. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing so many great memories! The area has definitely changed a lot. I’m glad I was able to take you back in time 😀
As so many years since I been there didn't know the bowling alley was gone. Good memories of Oxnard. But no where the place is was when growing up. So not going back.
So many memories! I remember fondly the Sanrio store, chinese food, Millers outpost and kaybee store
The spaghetti platter at Loop's Cafe and the Orange Julius juice drink at Orange Julius were both my favorites!!! Thanks for the memories...
Such a neat flash back my memories only go back to the 90s. I learned something new today! Thank you
Thank you for putting this together. Well done. The toy store was "Toy World" before it was Kaybee toys. Across from the toy store and towards May Co a bit, there used to be a children's clothing store with a slide built into the front of the store that you could ride down. The Loops Cafeteria had an upstairs that was rarely used but really big and cool. On the other side/middle entrance near See's Candy, there was Kinderfoto and a pet store. Crest's was at the very end near Sears initially but went out of business. That location then became the movie theatre. I think there was a huge Christmas tree that went in the middle where the big fountain was. Good memories.
Yes!! I remember the pet store and Kinderfoto now tht u mention it!! Crazy! So many fun memories. I was so sad to see it go. 🥺
Do you remember the name of the video game arcade at the mall?
I remember that Loops well, as our family ate there every Wednesday before church service. I loved sneaking upstairs just to take it in. I doubt anyone really used it tho, I never saw it that busy. I loved the red jello cubes served in a glass parfait with stiff whipped cream on top. I’d get a steamed fish filet with corn and beans. Good times!
I remember the toy store!
My father and my uncle's worked at "the oyster bay" and the youngest uncle at the arcade. During the 80s
I worked there at Payless Shoe Source and then at Sears Portrait Studio. That place was my second home as a kid. I was surprised they tore it down so quickly.
As a boy of 11 years of age, I watched the Esplanade go up. We lived in the neighboring Northmont tract and couldn’t wait for this to open. It did not disappoint. Nothing compared to the incredible May Co modernist structure, an odd juxtaposition to the Spanish Main structure. But it all worked gloriously. We spent years in that mall, and it remains a treasured memory. Loops, Oyster Bay and Orange Julius were the best.
The loss of the mall and May Co is still a deeply felt one.
We moved into College Park in 1959, and lived until 2004 I remember Northmont. I spent many, many days and night in the mall.
Thank you for doing this! I’ve been very nostalgic of the 80s and 90s. I’ve been obsessed with old malls, ghost malls, and the bygone era of consumerism in the 90s. I remember spending a lot of Sundays at this mall with my family. When my dad had to pay his Sears credit card, it was our chance to tag along. I loved the arcade place and Sanrio. I wish I had pictures of the Esplanade. Not even the newer Pacific View mall was as fun or great as The Esplanade.
So much nostalgia, I love it!
I loved the Esplanade Mall. I remember they had a pet shop and a movie theater. My family spent a lot of time here.
Being born in 2000, I never knew there was an esplanade mall. Thank you for documenting our city.
Thank you for this. I also grew up shopping at the esplanade mall. And I worked at Robinson’s May in the gift wrap department. I loved that mall. The oyster bay restaurant was a special treat for my mom and I.
oh my gosh??? how did i not know that this was a mall????? i’m going to ask my family about this, because how could they have not even told me about this??!!?! im beyond shocked.. thanks for this video!
I had some good times there as a kid back in late 90’s. Thanks for taking the time in putting this together. Brought back memories
Thanks for this fun walk down memory lane. I spent 37 consecutive days ditching classes my senior year in 1986 to play video games at the arcade at the Esplanade Mall. lol!
WHAT A FANTASTIC VIDEO! THANK YOU SO MUCH 💓
Dude, you brought back the memories.
The absolute best time of my life, I miss this mall!!
I was 9 years old when it opened in 1970 it was beautiful then but so was Oxnard. My dad bought me some pretty wild clothes at Chess King which was a hip mod men's clothing store. Sears was beautiful in the early to mid 70s. Those neon signs they added in the 90s were HIDEOUS! It made the place look cheap. It looked better when it was Mid Century Modern.The Wagon Wheel should have been saved and restored. That entire area now looks like everywhere else no charm it's all gone. Pretty sad.
I agree with you about Wagon Wheel!! 100%!!
I totally disagree with that last part. I remember growing up in Santa Paula and always thinking that area and Oxnard in general was ghetto. The past 10 years Oxnard has become a beautiful city and crime is way down. Also there’s now “the collection which is way better than any mall in Ventura county.”
Great memories of wagon wheel. The wagon wheel bowl, The roller gardens, put put golf.
Sneaking into the Koi pond at the Tradewinds restaurant to get coins.
The 101 drive-in and riding my bike to Jim Salzer’s Mercantile, bonfire on the beach.
There was nobody around. We could do what ever we wanted. (population 40,000)
Now the population is 210,000 and growing.
With no sense of community.
North side! John C Fremont junior high.
Ended up moving to Ojai.
Chess king ; Angels flight, double knit,
Bellbottom pants. Oh yeah!
Chess King and Oak Tree were my go to store for gq outfits lol
Omg… thank you for putting this together. That’s a piece of my past too. This was awesome!
It would be great if you did one of the Centerpoint Mall in Oxnard when it used to have Smith’s Grocery store and Montgomery Ward department store. Smith’s used to have an ice cream parlor at the entrance. And the mall it’s self used to have a water fountain inside. It was nice with I’d go with my family when I was a kid back in the 90’s.
NO WAY damnnn thats sad, the architecture looked really pretty, i didnt know that lil line used to a mall, it woulda been cool to see, thank you for making this
It's sad the things in the name of modernity. When the mall was demolished it was considered an eye sore. Now you look at pictures and feel nostalgic, like everything else has not personality. It's like covering beautiful old hardwood floors with hideous carpet, and 20 years later wondering what the hell you were thinking.
I grew up in Ventura, I remember our school went to the Esplanade for a field trip, I too had fond memories of it as well, in 1988 we moved to Northern California, when I went back to visit, I was shocked and saddened to hear of its demise, thank you for giving me a trip down memory lane, I remember seeing Jaws at the theater there
I remember there being a legit italian pizza restaurant next to the arcade called Electronic Experiences. I would eat their all the time and afterward played video games next door. I think it was called Giovanni's pizza. Too much time has passed (now dec 2022). I left that area in 1995. These were good times that you are showing in this video. Must build that time machine.
This brought so much joy but so much sadness. Like 1-11 years where the mall & now the esplanade as is my now. It was so beautiful when it first opened on the 70s!
The story is bittersweet. Oxnard lost a gem, but hopefully this video keeps it alive in some way.
Excellent video! It was a walk down memory lane! I miss The Esplanade and it was sad when they tore it down. Without it, and other big changes such as wagon wheel etc etc etc, Oxnard is not the same. When I was young, I had to put my hands in the fountains every time I passed one, and I remember that chlorine smell too,lol. As a kid, I lived close enough to ride my bike there, so my friends and I were there a lot! The architecture was so beautiful. My mom worked at Sears for many years and I worked in the microwave store as a teenager. Thanks for making this video and documenting the history of the long lost Esplanade.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I grew up in Oxanrd ans spent every weekend at the Esplanade. Saving money to but clothes from Oak Tree and Millers Outpost. Then head to Warehouse Music to buy the latest music. Such great memories 😢
GREAT VIDEO! I REMEMBER DRIVING BY THE MALL ON THE WAY TO A DAY AT THE BEACH WITH MY PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. I GREW UP IN THOUSAND OAKS SO WE WOULD SHOP THERE BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO THE BEAUTIFUL MALL RIGHT OFF THE 101 FREEWAY IN OXNARD. I LOVED THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE LATE GREAT MAY COMPANY DEPARTMENT STORE.
thank you for sharing this video great memories walking to the Esplanade Mall in the 90 s
This brings back so many memories. Thank u
Oxnard resident here. I remember the Esplanade opening. It was huge deal. I worked in three different stores. Sears, Kinney shoes and Koven's Jewelers. Yep some good memories. I enjoyed the many restaurants you mentioned. Also upstairs in May Co. was their restaurant. The "MayCro" which was kind of upscale. I dated a waitress from there. OMG. Thanks for the memories.
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for sharing your memories. The only image I found of Maykro I put in my collage at 3:14. I've heard it was a fancy place!
I have found memories going there years ago ..however the new center is doing amazing in Oxnard!!!
That's good to hear!
Really appreciate you taking the time put this together. I have an entire world of memories tied the Original Esplanade, including my last major purchased there (Sega Dreamcast) and the very sad day watching a wrecking ball take its initial swing at the building.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing your memories. One of the many reasons I made this documentary was for the mall to live in some way besides my memory. Based on comments like yours and many others, I think I accomplished that! Thanks again for sharing your memories.
As a Ventura County resident, I was pleasantly surprised to find this recommendation. Especially considering that the “dead retail” sub-genre of CZcams videos is quite niche haha.
I’m glad you found the video! Yes, it is quite niche. There’s different angles to approach vintage and dying retail. I like document it from a historical and personal perspective.
Just stumbled upon this, and what an interesting review of my own youth it turned out to be.
Omg...I ran into this randomly I worked at Denise's wedding world,at the mall in early 80's.after high school.
This is amazing...I grew up in Santa Paula and The Esplanade was a huge part of my childhood. My husband and I moved to the Bay Area in 2000. I remember seeing movies at the Mann Theater and buying concert tickets at Ticketron. This has brought back sooooo many memories. I remember going to the closing sale of Robbinsons-May.
Hi Eileen I to from SP great memories.
Thank you! And thanks for sharing your memories. I’m glad the documentary brought you back in time.
Great job! I went there often from 1982 till 1993. Thanks for making this !
I moved to Oxnard in 2001 from LA- really like it here..
Also great job putting this video together. I used to go to “La Esplanada” for outings with the family. I also remember those large hanging lights and tall arches in front of Sears. My older brother and I got lost in the Esplanade one time- it was a large mall, crying and holding hands, but lucky are parent found us! Lol 😂
Thank you for sharing those memories!
Oh my gosh Carlos you brought back so many memories and I love all the pictures that you were able to compile, it seems like yesterday! I remember attending a fashion show there and losing in a spelling bee near the fountain in the center. All the stores you mention an air is gone by thank you so much it was a great stroll down memory lane!
I still remember going every weekend and going to the movies when it was 3 dollars for movies good times growing up
Well done, Carlos, thank you for this! I have so many wonderful memories of that place. I miss Saturday shopping, and lunch out. We never do that anymore!
Wonderfully put together! I was blessed to have hung out there multiple times, whether it was going to the movies or just being a mall rat. My first retail job was working for Sears and I helped close the Esplanade Sears and opened the Pacific View Mall Sears. Sadly, both are gone now. Retail is going through a tough time, even before the pandemic. But change is the only constant. But the wonderful memories remain. Thank you for this.
Thank you for this video. I used to go there with my family when I was a little girl! It brought back so many memories. ❤
Aww I loved the Esplanade thank you for putting these video together.
Awesome video !! ....and thankyou so very much Carlos !!
Wow I go to the shopping center a lot but I had no clue there was qn actual mall there!
A time travel machine just to visit the good days
Awesome Video! I have great memories at the Esplanade!
I really enjoyed this! It brought back so many memories from days spent at the Esplanade as a kid. We lived in Camarillo & the Esplanade was our go-to place for shopping & Saturday outings in the 70's & early 80's. I smiled when you said you remember the chlorine smell as you entered the mall thru Sears - I remember that, too! Really a great compilation of pics & memories. Thanks for putting it together :-)
I’m glad you really enjoyed the documentary and that I brought you back to good times! Thank you!!
Thank you for doing this video. I also have so many memories at Esplanade Mall as a kid! As soon as I saw the inside of the bldg again I ran to show my sister! 😆 We immediately started talking about all the memories we have from that place. Wow!! What a blast from the past! Thank you so, so much for this! I'm going to send this video to a few other people who also grew up there! 😀 👍
Thank you!! Doing this video was a great bonding experience for my relatives and I. I’m happy to hear that you watching it brought back memories with you and your sister. That’s awesome!
This is so great thanks for this 👍🏼
Damn the good ole days of Oxnard
*⏩ Very interesting. Thank you!*
I grew up in Santa Barbara and remember occasionally driving down to the Esplanade with my mom. It was so nice. I often wonder if Santa Barbara's La Cumbre Plaza will one day go the way of so many malls. Even the famous Paseo Nuevo in SB has been struggling.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! A lot of retail is struggling and so many malls and shopping centers were built that they end up eliminating each other.
Thank you for this video. You did an amazing job. I also had so many wonderful family memories of shopping and spending time at the Esplanade shopping center. One was when my brother who was in Junior high I believe at the time ditched school and was caught because he and his friend were riding up and down the Robinsons May escalator. 🤣 I was so incredibly sad when it was demolished.
Thank you and you’re welcome! That’s a funny story. Thanks for sharing it! The mall was such a unique and meaningful place and I strove to keep alive in some way with my video.
Thank you for this video! I remember and loved the "old" Esplanada! It was my to-to place for 'everything'!.
I learned a lot watching this and thank you for the history
So many great childhood memories there. I remember having my ears pierced there then going across the mall for Orange Julius. Thank you for this video, it put a smile on my face.🤗
me too!
this showed up on my feed, how cool to see! And all the 805 fam below commenting. I remember those huge lanterns. I also remember the dollar store in there that had the George Washington sculptures on both sides, and someone placing their gum in the nose. Or the comic book/baseball card shop
I remember all this too. I am still in Oxnard after 68 years
This brought back many memories! Thank you so much! The Esplanade was a beautiful new center when I moved to Ventura County in 1971 and I spent many hours there, even working part time at Esplanade Travel! Lois😊
I remember shopping at The Esplanade as a child, in my teens, and as an adult. My son Andrew had his first baby photos taken at the Sears Portrait Studio ☺️❤️
This video brought back so many memories. I didn't realize how much I forgot about that mall. I used to work at Sears in the photos department and they we moved to the Ventura Mall. I totally forgot about Loops until I saw this video. I remember Kaybee's toy store. Oxnard has changed so much and not for the better. Thank you for taking all of us down to memory lane.
it gets a bad rap but its alot better than people give it credit for if you ask me, yeah there are some parts of the south you might not wanna be walking around late at night, but overall its slowley improving if you ask me
Thanks for the video, brought back some good memories :)
Omg .my heart ❤️ is so happy, I remember the entrance and the water fountain ⛲️ thank you!!!
You’re welcome! Yeah, the entrance and those fountains were amazing!
Dang i remember the when i was a kid the theater was the go to
Great video! I have so many memories of the Cyberstation arcade and the two-story arcade that preceded it. I still wonder why it hit such a steep decline so quickly. I guess the Camarillo Outlets and Pacific View Mall were just too big. Now I'm hearing that the Pacific View is about to be demolished. The place is a sad ghost town now. Only about 50% of the spaces are occupied. Thanks for doing this!
Thanks for taking me down memory lane..those our gang deli sandwiches were sure good. U forgot to mention the Wherehouse that was at the May Co end.
This brought back a lot of memories from my childhood and especially high school, I remember going on a date there right after I got my drive’s license to see Next Friday at the All American discount theater and the arcade.
Wow! A great documentary to represent the mall from your childhood. Great job!
Thank you, Ann!
Thanks for uploading this dawg, I was born in the late 2000’s and I’ve always wondered about the malls in Oxnard, never knew the Esplanade was a huge mall now it’s a passing site before the Collection
The esplanade was my childhood in the 80s! Great times
Interesting tale of woe. I’ve been a witness to the demise of malls in OC, the Valley, and I just so happened to visit to Oxnard replacement shopping center between 2006 to 2008 when I worked at the neighboring FedEx station. I usually went to the defunct Fry electronics store, and a great mom and pop Chinese fast food restaurant. The best food bowls ever! I also went to the Oaks in Thousand Oaks to hit their movie theater which was the first theater that I knew of, that allowed you to purchase alcohol and it was brought to you as you watched your movie. I now live in the Bay Area since moving away from Simi Valley. A mall that was thriving back in the late 70s and early 80s was on its last leg when I moved back up here was called Valco Mall. It had a popular AMC movie theater still drawing attendance, and a hand full of shopping locations mainly mom and pop store with only Sears, Victoria Secrets, and Macy’s lingering a few months longer before they too vacated the premises. I had worked at a Pacific Telephone retail store back in its monopoly days. What a difference a century makes. It’s been demolished in the past few years. I can’t bare to drive by there, because I’m sure whatever is being built to replace it is geared towards the Apple employees and it’s neighboring HQ. Just about any store that has been a favorite of mine to shop at has been shuttered and replaced. An exotic and popular lumber store that had been in existence for over a century had closed and been sold to a housing developer. This usually occurs when the parents retire and pass it onto their offspring, and then they just wish to cash out, and cash out big, and also the cost of doing business in the Bay Area is extremely cost prohibitive. The big chain stores had reduced the number of locations here down to just one location, whether or not the other locations were doing well or not. Now, due to the pandemic a paradigm shift in the work force many businesses are closing due to the lack of available employees to maintain regular work hours. So the onion just keeps pealing another layer off the demise of what was once a thriving business model.
I was so happy to come across this. Definitely my favorite mall growing up.
Awesome video! I had never heard of the mall, not even from my parents who have lived in Ventura for years! It was never part of my history since I was born in 02 so I've only ever known the Esplanade as an open mall and the Ventura mall being the big mall everyone in the area went to. Totally wish I could've gone when it was an open mall
Def a different vibe than what it has become.
My folks and I would often go there on Friday nights…do a little shopping and maybe get a freshly dipped ice cream bar at Bob’s Ice Cream.
I would sometimes get a model to build or something for my model railroad at Toy World.
Thank you for this. Some of my best memories are from that mall. My 1st job was at Miller's Outpost.
Oh wow! Flashback!
Thanks for this video. I grew up hanging out at the Esplanade and my first job was working at McDonald's with Howard Cowden as manager as seen in this video. Lotsa good memories and good friendships made at that place. Was sorry to see it torn down so soon.
You're welcome. Thanks for sharing those memories!
Thank you for sharing! 👍🏼👍🏼
Love all the background info. Most other videos don’t have nearly as much and I lose interest mid video. This was great!!!
Thank you!! I did a lot of research and I appreciate you noticing that.
I worked at sears Ventura mall for 8 years. Good memories