Building to Start at Shopping Area

Construction of a long-awaited shopping center in Meiners Oaks is slated to begin next month after six years of delay.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for mid-July on the proposed 19,000-square-foot Clocktower Center at 225 E. El Roblar Drive, said Leslee Hopkins, spokeswoman for the Ventura-based development company Priske-Jones. The project, delayed because of the sour economy, is expected to be completed by January.

The center will house between 10 and 15 shops and more than 100 parking spaces in a landscaped New England-style development with trellised walkways and a centerpiece clock tower. Although just one carpet store has leased space, the developers are optimistic that more shops will sign on, Hopkins said.

Residents of the sleepy unincorporated community said they welcomed the new shops, which, under county ordinance, must not be chain stores.

“It’s about time it gets built,” said Cindy Cowlishaw, a clerk at Andy’s Liquors. “The town needs it. It’s so boring around here. Maybe it’ll give us something to do.”

Carolyn Villines, who lives one house away from the now-empty and overgrown lot, said she’d rather shop in Meiners Oaks than drive to nearby Ojai.

“The prices are too high in Ojai,” Villines said. “Whenever we need odds and ends, we have to go to Ojai. You can’t really shop for clothes, shoes, art and crafts and such in Meiners Oaks right now.”

Charles Williams, who lives across the street from the site, said the town could use the business.

“It’ll be good for the economy,” he said. “This town could use a little growth. Besides, it’ll make shopping more convenient.”