1ST SHOP ROLLS OFF ASSEMBLY LINE AT PLANT.Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer It was more than the grand opening of a store. The first day of business for Party City on Monday was a sure sign that the former General Motors plant where it's located would once again be an asset to the neighborhood, not an eyesore eye·sore n. Something, such as a distressed building, that is unpleasant or offensive to view. eyesore Noun something very ugly Noun 1. and reminder of the 2,600 jobs lost. Six years after GM pulled out of its Van Nuys Boulevard site, area residents said they are looking forward to having new places to shop and work. ``Finally,'' declared Chris Batiste ba·tiste n. A fine, plain-woven fabric made from various fibers and used especially for clothing. [French, from Old French, perhaps after Baptiste of Cambrai, 13th-century textile maker. , a Van Nuys resident who went to Party City to pick up a wedding ring pillow, bridal invitations and a wedding album for his upcoming nuptials. Party City is the first of 35 new businesses to open at what is being called The Plant, a 370,000-square-foot commercial center that will include an industrial section with two manufacturing companies. A portion of the GM plant is being considered to house a Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . traffic division, a decision that hinges in part on a bond measure the City Council is in the process of approving to be placed on a ballot. Party City, part of a national chain of party supply stores, threw open its doors earlier than the other stores to catch the Halloween season shoppers. It also caught its share of job applicants, among them Fleurette Guerrero, who trekked from Babies-R-Us to Ross Dress For Less to Party City. ``I think the site is doing good for the community because it's offering a lot of job opportunities,'' Guerrero said as she stood outside Party City. ``Hopefully there will be less poverty in the area.'' Not only was she applying for herself, but sometimes Guerrero took as many as three applications at a time for friends or relatives. Six years ago, Guerrero's aunt lost her job at the GM plant, but today the new commercial site might hold possible employment for Guerrero, a 21-year-old stay-at-home mother from Panorama City. Jobs, jobs, jobs Steven's chemistry professor tells him that he is wanted at the bursar's office immediately since his college tuition hasn't been paid for yet. He finds out later on that his father ran through the savings account after getting fired. The new commercial center is expected to economically revitalize the area, bringing in a total of 2,000 new jobs - 1,000 at the industrial site, which will include Ricon Corp., a manufacturer of wheelchair equipment, and an apparel manufacturer that has not yet officially joined the site. ``The jobs that will be provided both on the retail side and on the industrial side are competitive with jobs elsewhere in the Valley,'' said Councilman Richard Alarcon, who has spearheaded the effort to redevelop the plant. Although some have criticized the commercial center for offering lower-paying jobs than those held by the former GM workers, Alarcon said that, on average, jobs at the industrial site will pay from $10 an hour to some as high as $100,000 a year for engineering positions. ``There are a lot of people who have ideas of what should be there, but it takes an investment to make this development work,'' said Alarcon, who represents the section of Van Nuys including The Plant. ``The jobs will be much better than the average jobs within five miles of the site. I think it's a good match for the community.'' At the Babies-R-Us store, manager Lessell Jackson has been swamped with more than 700 applications over the past six weeks for 70 positions that he already has filled. ``The community is really hungry for jobs,'' Jackson said as employees scurried about stocking shelves. ``The community is excited about growth and jobs that become available.'' The store, scheduled to open next Monday, will be the first Babies-R-Us in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . The nearest stores are in West Covina West Covina, city (1990 pop. 96,086), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel valley; settled 1905, inc. 1923. Before World War II, West Covina was a small rural community where walnuts, wheat, and livestock were raised. and Oxnard. Boosting neighborhood Business owners near the new commercial center also welcomed the new center. Adam Choi, who owns Avila's Liquor Store directly across from the center, said he lost 80 percent of his business when the GM plant closed. ``I love it. I think the new stores will bring in some more business,'' said Choi, who expects business to increase by at least 40 percent. TThe new stores have also brightened the area, he said. ``Somebody said it's like Christmastime because before they started construction, it was all dark,'' said Choi. ``Now we have all kinds of lights from the store signs.'' At nearby L&S Auto Radio and Collision, owner Lee Garbell said the area has received a much-needed face lift thanks to the new commercial center. ``The whole Van Nuys area and Panorama City was really affected by the closure of the plant, so hopefully this new center will bring the economy back,'' said Garbell. ``If we get any added business, it's just frosting frosting the slight graying of the haircoat around the face, particularly muzzle, in dogs with aging and as a regular feature of some breeds such as the Belgian shepherd dog. on the cake.'' Dan Selleck, whose Selleck Development Group Inc. is in charge of commercial and retail development on the site, said he hopes the new center will encourage other business owners to spruce up spruce up Verb [sprucing, spruced] to make neat and smart Verb 1. spruce up - make neat, smart, or trim; "Spruce up your house for Spring"; "titivate the child" their sites along the boulevard. ``You'll have a lot of individual landowners start to remodel re·mod·el tr.v. re·mod·eled also re·mod·elled, re·mod·el·ing also re·mod·el·ling, re·mod·els also re·mod·els To make over in structure or style; reconstruct. their buildings as well, because there will be more tenant demand in the area,'' said Selleck. Patricia Garza, a resident of Blythe Street, which dead ends at The Plant, said she's already noticed improvements in the area, thanks to the construction of the center. She believes the constant construction activity and new lighting around the center might have prompted gang members to move their business elsewhere. AT THE PLANT These stores are confirmed to open at The Plant, a 370,000-square-foot commercial center at the former General Motors site in Van Nuys: HomeTown Buffet HomeTown Buffet is a buffet-style, sit-down restaurant chain headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota with locations throughout the United States. Its wide selection of food include pizza, hot dogs, hot wings, sliced ham among many others. Office Max (opening Oct. 21) Mann Theaters Kelly's Coffee and Fudge Quizino's Chang's Restaurant Pasta Roma Dreyer's Ice Cream Nachos Fast Penguin's Party City (opened Monday) Famous Footwear Famous Footwear is a nationwide chain of retail stores in the United States, which offers a variety of footwear from brands like: Nike, Skechers, Aerosoles, Steve Madden, New Balance, Converse, Puma and many other brands. Famous Footwear is owned by Brown Shoe Company. (opening Oct. 15) Sally's Beauty Supply (opening Oct. 15) Ross Dress For Less (opening Oct. 17) All Amusement Mode Five (opening Nov. 1) La Sirenita Photo Galleria Don Roberto's Wherehouse Records (opening Oct. 21) General NutrTition Center Togo's Radio Shack See RadioShack. (opening Nov. 15) Pizza Express Church's Fried Chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. PWS See personal Web server. Laundry (opening Nov. 1) In-N-Out Burger In-N-Out Burger is a privately owned and operated fast food restaurant chain in the Western United States. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Irvine, California, In-N-Out Burger has since expanded to Arizona and Nevada, and has announced plans to build in southern Utah. Arco Babies-R-Us (opening Oct. 5) Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box (opening Oct. 10) CAPTION(S): Map, Box Map: New shopping center PANORAMA CITY Box: AT THE PLANT (See Text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion