Santa Clarita Planning Commission approves expansion of Valencia Town Center Mall.

The Santa Clarita Planning Commission slam-dunked their approval of the expansion of the Valencia Town Center Mall yesterday, which will bring more upscale eateries and stores to the Valencia area as well as an updated mall exterior and more parking.

Mall officials are said to be in talks with restaurants Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, the Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s, and California Pizza Kitchen. Upscale retail stores in talks with the Valencia Town Center Mall include Coach, Sephora, bebe, The Apple Store, Williams-Sonoma, and Kate Spade.

Wolfgang Puck is hanging out somewhere in the sidelines, first declaring that he’d open a pizza restaurant in the under-construction Bridgeport Marketplace, and now apparently considering the Valencia Town Center Mall instead. Is that why there’s a piece of white board covering one of the logos that was placed on the Bridgeport Marketplace signs?

An open air shopping area facing Valencia Boulevard will be featured as part of the updated Valencia Town Center Mall. The expansion plans show an outdoor area with street furniture, public art and water fountains.

"The idea is that we’d bring a lot of the pedestrian traffic and the energy and activity of Town Center Drive over to the Valencia Boulevard frontage," says Lisa Hardy, Santa Clarita’s planning manager.

Katy Dickey, a Westfield spokesperson, says that Westfield hopes to break ground in the fall and open the expanded and remodeled mall in spring 2009. Dickey also says that "There’s a lot of interest from some fabulous restaurants and retailers who are excited to be there".

Once this expansion phase is complete, the Valencia Town Center Mall may consider one or two additional expansion phases. Still on the table is the potential for another anchor store, possibly a Nordstrom’s.

Seems the competition is heating up in the drive to attract the most-desired upscale eateries and stores to various new and updated Santa Clarita area malls and shopping centers. This is probably good news for those wanting to open here, since they can compare the competing offers from each center to create a negotiating advantage. And of course it’s good news for those of us who like to have a good meal and shop here as well!

Clearly the Valencia Town Center Mall will have the advantage over the others in regards to location and foot traffic, but parking there can sometimes be a challenge and is a concern for restaurant owners. Let the games begin as the Valencia Town Center Mall, Bridgeport Marketplace, Smiser Ranch (The Commons) and <gasp> Old Town Newhall compete for the best-of-the-best in upscale stores and eateries!

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