New Esplanade Center Opens Some of Its Doors

Oxnard’s resurrected Esplanade Shopping Center opened its first stores this week to a strong if not jubilant reception.

Under normal circumstances, this might have been an event touted loudly by the center’s management and by city officials eager to replace the estimated $700,000 in annual sales tax revenue lost since the outdated Esplanade mall was demolished more than a year ago.

But with Americans across the country uneasy after last week’s terrorist attacks, it was a more muted event. One store’s grand-opening celebration was postponed until next month out of respect for those who died.

Despite the national mood and an economic uncertainty reflected in the lurching stock market, local shoppers Tuesday flocked to the Cost Plus World Market. It was the first of the center’s stores to open, even as landscape and construction crews worked and concrete barricades blocked outlying parking areas. Bed, Bath & Beyond workers were hoping to open hours later.

“With everything that’s in the news, you have to do something to get away from it,” said Charlene Pemberton, 51, of Oxnard, as she and a friend, Ingrid Mackey of Ventura, left Cost Plus with bags in hand.

The two were happy to see the eclectic food, kitchen and home furnishings store open in town. For months, they had been driving half an hour to the Cost Plus in Thousand Oaks.

Regional economist Mark Schniepp said that even though Ventura County has been largely insulated from the nation’s economic troubles in recent months--and although he sees no anecdotal evidence that the attacks on the East Coast have hampered spending locally--the Esplanade should be an important boost to Oxnard’s economy.

At any rate, he said, chain stores don’t have much room to postpone openings this time of year. “They need to open right now and get known in time for the fourth quarter--back-to-school shopping, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Schniepp said.

About 25 stores in Phase I of the Esplanade are expected to be open by Thanksgiving, said Sandra Dellibovi, property manager for center owner and developer, San Francisco-based M&H; Realty. Large stores, including T.J. Maxx, Borders, Old Navy and Nordstrom Rack, should be open by late October.

The center’s second phase--not yet built--will be anchored by Home Depot, expected to open in February.

The new center will have about 40 stores and encompass about 500,000 square feet--about three-fourths the space of the old mall.