I didn’t even have to read Dave Bossert’s brief piece in the West Ranch Beacon. From the headline, I knew the story:
Stevenson Ranch La-Z-Boy is out; Goodwill Industries is In
I knew the second I read that headline that there would be opposition to Goodwill. And indeed, the story confirms it. SR community members have “concern” over the new store and one worried about the image it would have on SR since it’s near the “Gateway” to Stevenson Ranch.
Why did I know this story before hand?
Cause it’s like a bad repeat of the fear, uncertainty and doubt in Newhall/Valencia circa 2005/2006 as Vallarta announced its plans to move into the Old Orchard Shopping Center.
“It doesn’t fit in with our neighborhood,” some said then.
“It could attract the wrong elements,” others said.
“We would prefer to have a Trader Joe’s,” yet others said.
In these kinds of stories, criticism is always focused on the business, but they really mean “Why can’t those people stay on their side of town?”
The only difference I can see between this burgeoning controversy and the Vallarta one is that the customers of Goodwill won’t just be dark people, they’ll also be poor, which in many ways is worse than just being dark skinned.
From SR’s standpoint, they already suffer the indignity of having a Wal Mart on their doorstep. It has a reputation for having some of the most vicious and spectacularly violent murders in all of Santa Clarita and its proximity to the freeway attracts bank robbers and other get-in/get-out crimes of opportunity.
All of that is just barely tolerable for the people of Stevenson Ranch, but this?
Actually putting Goodwill, an organization that attracts those less fortunate than us, in close proximity to the million dollar homes? That’s simply too much. We moved here to get away from that kind of thing!
But they won’t say that. They’ll couch it in “it doesn’t fit in” terms.
Look forward to this becoming a major controversy in the weeks ahead.
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Well said.
We are experiencing one of those rare synchronous moments when we agree.
Is the opening of a Goodwill store the kind of thing people in SR wring their hands over? “It’s near the gateway.” Gateway? Since when did SR have a gateway? Should we erect an arch or something? A Lazy Boy store makes a better statement at the entrance of your gateway than say a Goodwill store, or Wal-mart for goodness sake, or IHOP?
One thing you are a tad overstating: Goodwill does not attract just the low end impoverished people. That’s something of a myth. Granted they shop there, but I know tons of well-to-do folks, even some from SR’s side of town, who pick up stuff from Goodwill. Their kids entire wardrobe is Goodwill stuff. Pretty much all of our furniture is Goodwill finds. The things people want to “get rid of” amazes me at times, so I see a super Goodwill store as a welcomed opportunity to take advantage of the wasteful living of a community of rich materialists.
Fred, very very well stated.
Fred:
You nailed it brother! The fear is never about the actuality of these establishments it is always about the idea.
The Vallarta is a case in point. When the Albertson’s was winding down that center was crum bum dead dog, but Vallarta cleaned it up, inmproved the parking lot, and increased traffic incredibly. (The people in the Auto Parts store there will tell you how big a help that was.)
I shop at Vallarta’s. I especially like the cane sugar Coca Cola from Mexico.
Is it just Santa Clarita or every suburb in California that thinks a Trader Joes is a cure for everything?
Shopping at used stores has been the in thing for a while. You can find a used stores in some very nice areas of Los Angeles from Sherman Oaks to Beverly Hills.
I am hoping they will except donations. I hate driving to the truck off of the 14.
I have always donated and have often shopped at Goodwill. Goodwill offers fine and ‘gently’ used items at their storefronts. Wonder if the same people who complain about a business going into an area (that’s starting to look like a ghost town,btw) also have no problem holding garage sales to raise money off their used items in order to shop at a higher end store, eh?
I’m glad there will be one closer then the one on Bouquet!
Is that shopping area even ‘in’ SR? I’m always confused about the land in that area. I thought that SR was considered L.A. county, so money’s being spent in that part of town go to L.A.? Could someone set me straight..:)
I haven’t donated in about a month but I usually donate at the Goodwill truck that is parked in front of the Do It Center store (saves me a few minutes from driving up Bouquet). I think the truck is still parked there.
Ivogel – “ghost town”? I think you got the wrong shopping center in mind. I think you are thinking about the Ralphs shopping center across the street.
I am happy that large retail businesses are moving into the empty shells left by bankrupt companies (ie Mervyn’s, Circuit City). I understand malls are entertaining stores like a 99 Cents store to establish themselves in empty stores. I wish something like a Fry’s would move into the empty Circuit City location (I understand a new Fry’s was to have been built in that empty, stalled development next to the bowling alley on Soledad).
oops… got confused on where the Lazy Boy store was. I forgot the name of the store that it replaced… my how time flies with respect to stores/chains.
I hope that Goodwill puts up a big sign similar to the one at the Santa Clarita Athletic Club so that everyone in S.R. can see it.
Yeah, perhaps ‘ghost town’ is a bit of an exaggeration Valencia Joe. However, it seems since Circuit City closed several other did in that area as well. While driving through that parking area just 5 months ago at around 7pm on a week night, there were literally no cars parked in that area! Went into Staples to pick up a few items and wondered if that was closed also! My first thought was that it looked like a ghost town and half expected a tumble weed to go roll’n by. But that was my thought at the time and perhaps those storefronts are now occupied.
I have been to Goodwill 3 times in the past year and not to drop off items. I was pleasantly surprised to find them clean and well organized. I think the new location will be good. It will also save me from another trip to Saugus which is always a painful experience.
This is but one more example of Nimbyism. I was a strong and vocal supporter of the Vallarta in Newhall. Not because I am Hispanic but because that shopping center had really gone downhill after Albertson’s moved out and I am a firm believer in the free enterprise system. I also had a problem with those who did not want any of “that kind” in their neighborhood. Clue, we are already here whether you approve or not and like any other group have decent people and jerks too. If Vallarta provided decent merchandise, reasonable prices, and good customer service it would succeed, if not they would fail. Time has proven it a success. On the rare occasions I have shopped there since it is a bit far from Canyon Country, the store has been very clean, service great, nice produce, and reasonable prices. Their baked goods are quite good too. I always run into many “Anglos” and other races/ethnic groups of my acquaintance also shopping there.
The same will happen with the Goodwill store. If the community shops there, they will remain open at that location. If not, close up shop. As has been mentioned by many, people of all economic situations both donate and shop at Goodwill. People need to get over their fear of anyone who is different than they are. We have more commonalities than most people think and our differences are what make life interesting. Goodwill stores are generally good neighbors.
Berta Gonzalez-Harper….,
RIGHT ON!!!
Thanks!!
What Berta said – and I live in Happy Valley in Newhall. My grandparents immigrated from France (on one side) and Bohemia (on the other) in the early 1900s – and were the non-preferred so-called whites in their day, and considered 2nd rate by other white ethnic groups. They survived and thrived – probably because they were decent people with a work ethic. I wholly respect decent people who run a decent business with decent products. When they have a social mission, like Goodwill, they get bonus points. I would bet that the Goodwill store draws more custom per day than the Laz-Z-Boy furniture store does! Go, Goodwill!
Great to see support for Goodwill here.
BRING IT, I need some new shirts man!!
CC, on behalf of Petz, I am outraged by your comment!
This valley all ready has Four Goodwills do we need a 26000 sq goodwill?? In SR ?? The other thing this the staff at LA Z BOY are losing there jobs. Have any of you ever been into this store and worked with them. The staff is great always there to help. I feel so sad for them all.