Recently, local historian Hal Durian’s weekly “Riverside Recollections” column spotlighted several local history books, including the very popular photo history books from Arcadia Publishing. The Arcadia series includes several topics, including Images of America, Postcard History Series, Then & Now, Black America Series, Images of Sports, and Campus History Series. Locally, several communities have been…
This weekend marked the grand opening of Forever 21 clothing stores inside former Gottschalks/Harris’ buildings at Riverside Plaza and Hemet Valley Mall. The stores are part of the Los Angeles-based retailer’s aggressive growth plans that includes new large-format stores, many of which are currently taking up residence within former Mervyn’s and Gottschalks stores. In excess…
This past weekend saw the end of an era as Fresno-based Gottschalks closed for good on Sunday. For local folks, this also means an end to what once was the remnants of San Bernardino-based The Harris Co., which operated 7 department stores across Inland Southern California before the chain was sold to Gottschalks in 1998….
On the heels of the worst holiday shopping season since 1969, the nation’s retail landscape is likely headed for moderate changes as weak and battered retailers file for bankruptcy protection, close stores and/or shut down entirely. The transformation could see shoppers, both nationally and locally, greeted in the coming months with more than a few…
Since 2004, Inland Southern California has seen an influx of large-scale retail developments, redevelopments and expansions. From new malls in Rancho Cucamonga (Victoria Gardens) and Corona (The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos), expansions (Galleria at Tyler) and revivals (Riverside Plaza) in Riverside, continuing growth within the periphery of Ontario Mills, to a number of “power…
With a fast-growing population and surging retail market, it’s no real surprise that another mall has been proposed within Inland Southern California. The latest proposal calls for a 1 million square foot “lifestyle center” to be built on the northeast corner of the intersection of Florida Avenue (Highway 74) and Warren Road in west Hemet…
Thanks to tens of thousands of retirees, most of whom flocked to the area during the 1960s through the 1980s, Hemet once had one of the highest savings account averages in California: … Because of the large number of retirees who move to Hemet — with their savings accounts — the town has 24 savings…
