Westminster : Council OKs Sign at Center’s Food Court

Things are looking up for vendors at the Westminster Center Food Court.

Business has been so bad lately, Food Court merchants said, that many may soon be forced to go out of business.

So last week the City Council voted 3 to 2 to overrule the Planning Commission and approve a sign in front of the center on Westminster Boulevard advertising the Food Court.

“We want to assure the success of the retailers,” said Raymond Floyd, owner of the Floyd Co., which manages the Westminster Center.

“Based on our experience in other shopping centers, without question a sign will help. There are customers who come into the shopping center and say they didn’t even know the Food Court was there.”

Westminster Center has been open about nine months and includes Edwards Cinemas, Home Depot, Ralph’s grocery store, Thrifty Drug Store and two clothing stores. Merchants say that the Food Court, which features Italian and Chinese food, a deli and an ice cream shop, is buried behind the cinemas.

“People miss the Food Court,” said Shawna O’Bryan, who works at Capone’s in the Food Court. “I think a sign will definitely add to business.”

The city’s municipal code allows only two free-standing signs on the street fronting a business. The center already has 11 signs, which were approved because of the expanse of the site.

“I want to see the Food Court succeed, but there is plenty of existing sign space” within the center, said Councilwoman Charmayne S. Bohman, who voted against the sign along with Councilman Frank Fry Jr. “People get overloaded with signs and can’t process them all.”

Councilman Tony Lam, who owns three restaurants in the Westminster area, said that although he agrees signs should be regulated, he is sympathetic to the plight of the Food Court merchants. “They need visibility to attract customers,” he said.