Glad to see surge at mall

It would be hard to find a more enticing place to shop in Los Angeles County than the area surrounding the Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand.

Judging by the feedback from a number of residents over the last few months, though, it’s also a troublesome place to park — in part because of the contested meters along Brand Boulevard, and in part because of parking fees at the Americana.

So we were glad in February when the Americana began offering free parking Mondays through Thursdays — and doubly glad this week when officials said the mall had seen a surge in visitors since the change. In the midst of a recession, with a tough holiday season behind us, that’s certainly good economic news.

Of course, a number of shoppers had already taken advantage of the free parking at the nearby Glendale Galleria and walked across the street. But if the increased crowds at the Americana are any indication, getting to park legally must make for a more relaxing outing.