Few Retailers Show Up for Party Promoting Palmdale

The slick invites had been sent, the fancy brochures prepared and the favors--popcorn-filled plastic wine bottles labeled “Things are popping in Palmdale”--were ready to hand out.

It was all part of the latest effort by the city to lure high-profile retailers to Palmdale. Representatives of dozens of retailers--including such yuppie favorites as Ikea, Crate & Barrel and Adray’s--were invited to a luncheon at the local Holiday Inn and a 30-minute bus tour of the city.

But only about a dozen showed up. And only two took the bus tour.

Despite the turnout, city officials said they were pleased with the event, noting that it could help solidify negotiations for restaurants and stores to come to Palmdale.

“I think there are three deals that will be made as a result of this lunch,” said Dolores Buddell-Teubner, Palmdale’s economic development coordinator. “Some of the key retailers we wanted came. All in all, we got a good representation from some of the ones we wanted.”

Representatives from T.G.I. Friday’s, Malibu Grand Prix, Cost Plus Imports and Adray’s were there. Ikea was among the no-shows.

John Fisher, owner of a diner in Palos Verdes, said he is considering opening a second diner at the Antelope Valley Walk, an entertainment and retail development proposed for an area north of the city’s auto mall.

Fisher seemed sold on the city. “Palmdale is very active, very aggressive in wanting growth,” he said at the luncheon.

This is just what Mayor Jim Ledford wanted to hear. “We’ve got the hottest regional marketplace in the Antelope Valley,” he told those at the luncheon.

Austin Bettar Jr., representing Adray’s, said he believes that the discount electronics chain will eventually open a store in the Antelope Valley, but not until there is a larger population in the area. Still, he said he came because he wanted to hear firsthand what was happening in the city and wanted to keep tabs on the competition. “It helps us understand what’s coming in,” Bettar said.