Renovated Oaks Mall Reopens : Retailing: Officials hope $7-million make-over of the complex, which also marked its 15th year, will spur the Thousand Oaks economy.

After seven months of renovations aimed at attracting new customers and more upscale tenants, The Oaks mall reopened Friday to the praise of city officials and hundreds of enthusiastic shoppers.

Officials said they believe the $7-million make-over and the addition of several new stores will firmly establish The Oaks as Ventura County’s premier mall, which they hope will help the local economy by luring new customers.

“The Oaks mall is very crucial to the quality of life in Thousand Oaks,” Mayor Elois Zeanah said during Friday’s ceremony, which also celebrated the mall’s 15th anniversary. “The Oaks mall generates $2 million in sales tax revenues every year, which in turn provides funding for many city services and programs.”

Zeanah voted against the mall’s proposal to spruce up its entrances with purple and green canopies and to install highly visible monument signs, which nonetheless was approved. But she said Friday she was pleased with the work on the mall’s interior.

The mall’s face lift added two indoor staircases, a glass elevator, iron railings, new light fixtures, restyled domed ceilings and extensive landscaping.

Zeanah was joined by council members Judy Lazar and Frank Schillo during ceremonies in the mall’s center court, decorated with rows of purple and green balloons to match the mall’s new color scheme. Music and entertainment were provided by the Disneyland Sax Quintet and a dancing Mickey and Minnie Mouse, on hand to promote the mall’s new Disney Store.

Several customers said they were excited about the new shops, which include, among others, Eddie Bauer sportswear, Naturalizer shoes and the The Museum Company gift store. Although 10 stores are being added, not all have moved in. With others departing, the mall will have the same number of stores, 150.

“I think the new stores add new life to the mall,” said John Feeney, a regular shopper from Westlake Village. “And I think some of the new stores will help attract customers from other areas.”

Lana Sanchez, a resident of Ventura who frequents the mall, agreed, saying she preferred The Oaks over the Buenaventura Plaza in her hometown.

“It has more stores and it’s a nice atmosphere,” Sanchez said. “And now it has more to offer.”

Others, however, were not so sure. Several customers said they did not care for the new green and purple color scheme used on the mall’s floor tiles and iron railings. And some said the new stores were too pricey.

“I think it’s pretty,” said Sandra Price, a Camarillo resident and a regular customer. “But I don’t think you’re going to have more people coming here because they put a new marble floor in. I come here because it’s convenient.”

But Chamber of Commerce President Steve Rubenstein, who emceed Friday’s celebration, said he believes the renovations will help drive up business at the mall, which generates about $200 million in annual sales.

The San Diego-based Hahn Co., which owns the mall, also hopes the renovation and addition of new stores will help the mall replace one of its five department stores with a Nordstrom or other upscale anchor store, said Barbara Teuscher, general manager of the mall. The Oaks now has two Robinsons-May department stores, the result of a merger last year.

Teuscher said because the mall does not have a customer base of 500,000 as required by some retailers, such as Nordstrom, the only alternative is to attract more customers from outside the area.