A few months ago, some Stevenson Ranch residents were “concerned” to learn that Good Will Industries was going to convert the old La-Z-Boy/Good Guys space into a new retail shopping and drop-off outlet. Better the block-shaped building on the corner of the Old Road and Pico Canyon sit empty and rotting than house goods donated by rich people and sold to poor people, some figured, though they would never say it like that.
But if the reaction to that store (now nearing completion) could be termed snobbish, their reaction to what’s going into the old Circuit City space may be off-the-charts hysterical.
Ross.
Yes, that’s right, Ross Dress for Less, the home of budget-conscious shabby dressers like me and a magnet for poor-mannered customers nationwide, is opening a store in Stevenson Ranch.
There goes the neighborhood.
Oh SR, how far you’ve fallen. It was only 10-15 years ago that you thought yourself on par with Valencia. Oh sure, Wal Mart is bad for any community’s rep, but it was pretty nice back then, and while you had no paseos like Valencia had, you had one thing going for you the people across the 5 didn’t: shiny newness! That plus all those wonderful big box retailers- cha-ching! You were the new hotness in the SCV. Showtime even made a TV show based off your community!
Alas SR, I think your days atop the SCV’s planned communities are coming to an end. You’re all built out now, aging, and all the new development is going to the east and north sides of town. And let’s face it, if people wanted to live near a Ross AND a Good Will, they’d just move to Saugus.
Yes. As unpleasant as that sounds Stevenson Ranch, you are now a newer version of Saugus.
We here in Newhall understand your pain. We, like you, wanted a Trader Joe’s to move into an old vacant space. Instead, without even asking us, “the invisible hand of the market” (whatever the hell that is) determined that we needed a Vallarta. I don’t know what a “Vallarta” is, but I do know that the people who would shop at a Vallarta are better off on their own side of town! I know you feel the same about Ross and Goodwill shoppers.
Maybe you SR folks should take a second look at that barrier wall Dave Bossert was thinking of building.
Loading ...
Ha, love it
Just a comment to say I like the new look Jeff!!!
The land of fools
Your “million dollar tract homes”?
So basically there will be a Ross and a Marshalls right next to each other? And within walking distance from my house? Maybe now I can afford to dress myself.
Jeff,
Your original story had this:
“It doesn’t fit in with our neighborhood,” some said then.
“It could attract the wrong elements,” others said.
“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.
All very vague. Some people? Others said? How many people? You make it sound like the vast majority of the community is up in arms but are we taking quotes and opinions from 2 people.
Many folks from the same socioeconomic class who shop at Walmart will be the same folks who shop at Ross and Gooodwill. And who is it that is complaining about Walmart?
No Fly:
Obviously it is an aquarium of rather limited self selected fish that is making these comments. In Joe Messina’s inaugaral radio show he made the assertion that “we” love our politics in Santa Clarita. Well, 17% anyway that vote in local elections. I am sure the names of the City Council and school board members (and Joe Messina) would be news to the other 83%.
When the Valencia Marketplace was originally constructed the then Stevenson Ranch Town Council was vehemently opposed to ANY retail development on that spot, particularly a Wal Mart since it would attract the “wrong kind of people.” Then Town Council member Gary Schamber told me directly that the customers would come up from Pacoima and then burglarize houses in the neighborhood. He also told me their was NO POINT in building the Paseo bridge that crosses the Old Road since NO ONE in Stevenson Ranch would patronize any of the businesses in the hated Marketplace. Obviously this cannot possibly be true. Try to get into Chili’s on a Friday!
So forgive Jeff for his own hubris. Obviously this blog caters to a chosen group that likes to stay informed on local issues.
I blame myself. After being a Saugus resident for 17 years I recently relocated to Stevenson Ranch (Although I still proudly wear my “Saugus, California” tee that I got at Walgreen’s for $5).
It was me who brought Saugus to Stevenson Ranch. Goodwill and Ross followed me here. I’m working on bringing Saugus Drugs in where the Linen’s and Things formerly resided.
Once I’ve accomplished that feat, my plan is to replace Cost Plus World Marketplace with Mabel’s Roadhouse….MUAHAHAHAHAHAAAA (Evil diabolical laugh)!!!
I used to drive past Mabel’s Roadhouse on my way to the Metrolink Station at 4:45 am and there were cars, presumably customers, in the parking lot!
SR will not be Saugus until it has a Lampost Pizza, the capitol of Saugus.
Do we know when the new Goodwill will be officially open? I’m looking forward to not having to drive to Saugus every time I clean out the garage or want to “bargain” hunt. The selection at Walmart is sometimes limited.
I’m with you. I like everything, including my million dollar tract home for 50% off.
Your right Jeff. SR is not up to par with Valencia yet. Were still missing a Vallarta and a 99 cent store!
Valencia is missing those too. But we like to keep those on the West side of the freeway guessing. A Vallarta would be nice.
Radsville just got a little less rad? The good thing is that now I won’t have to drive to Ross, I can just walk there instead to buy the only clothes I can afford since my house here in SR has a third of the value it had when we moved in. Good times!
Where is this Steve Son’s Ranch you speak of? I live in Saugus (AKA North Valencia) and with BOTH La Cocina and now Bella Cucina within walking distance, Ralphs and Albertsons just down the street (they sell t-shirts and shoes you know) and Walmart just over the (Copper) hill (when I feel like getting out), who needs anything else?
Unless it’s a Cheesecake Factory or another Walmart…
One time I took a wrong turn and found myself in some fancy-schmancy SUPER market called Bristol Farms. I mean, how many kinds of olive oil do you need? AmIRight?
Haven’t been able to find it since … boy I really musta been around the bend if you know what I mean…
Anyway, All In the Family is coming on in a few minutes (I love that show, true Americana) so I’m gonna sign off now.
I think if the people of Steve Son’s Ranch need more stores they should head on over to Lyons cause they have more stores than anybody. There it is.
That Goodwill sign looks like a comedy mask on the upper left side, not so much a fancy g.
I agree that Spamtown is looking its age. Why would we want them as part of our city now that they are so needy?
Let LA repair their streets and other infrastructure. We have our own crumbling streets in our city to take care of.
Sauguson Ranch?
Payback for all those lousy tips from years ago when I was delivering pizza. Yes I got the worst tips there(so did the other pizza hut drivers) so I coined it ‘Stiffenson Ranch’ In fact I got better tips on average from Newhall across the tracks (race street, arch street etc) and I had that job (as a second job, a few nights a week) for 9 years so it wasn’t from just one or two experiences there.