City’s Vegas Trip Fails to Win Mall

City officials have returned from a trip to a Las Vegas shopping mall convention with no deals for a regional mall.

But Brian Gabler, the city’s director of economic development, said they did lay the groundwork for some moves to enhance Simi Valley’s retail offerings.

“No deals were struck,” Gabler said. “But a lot of exciting things [are] in store for Simi Valley.”

For years, Simi Valley officials have sought to build a mall composed of giant retailers at 1st Street north of Highway 118. The city bought a small parcel there, and officials say several other landowners are ready to sell if and when the idea moves forward.

But officials must first strike deals with developers to build the mall and sign major retail anchor tenants, such as Macy’s.

Last week, a delegation of city officials, including council members Barbra Williamson, Paul Miller, Glen Becerra and Steve Sojka, as well as Gabler, Assistant City Manager Laura Magelnicki and City Manager Mike Sedell, went to Las Vegas to begin planning for those deals.

City officials toured the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson, Nev., about 12 miles southeast of Las Vegas, early last week.

Gabler said the mall’s owner and developer, a company called Forest City, has shown interest in building Simi Valley’s regional mall.

City officials met with Macy’s representatives, Becerra said, hoping to bring the department store chain to the planned regional mall.

Becerra said a Macy’s representative told officials that the Simi Valley demographics look suitable for the store.

But before Macy’s decides to expand into the city, a company representative told officials it must work out some new marketing and retail strategies.

“You’ve got so many things that have to be considered,” Becerra said.

“The huge growth of Internet sales, catalog sales. There are so many things affecting the way people shop today. So all these traditional mall tenants are making sure they have a place in the changing world.”