Realities of retail reveal some stores win and others close
Despite denials from a company spokesperson and "Now Hiring" signs in store windows that indicated the department store would survive restructuring, Mervyns in Thousand Oaks is joining another Janss Marketplace store, Linens 'n Things, in closing.
Both stores are promoting sales as they prepare to close their doors in the city's oldest mall. A huge banner outside Mervyns announces its closing. Hundreds of giant black, red and yellow signs offering up to 50 percent off hang from Mervyns' ceiling.
Under those signs a store clerk waited to assist customers. When asked how she felt about the store closing, her eyes filled with tears, and she explained she'll be out of a job as of Nov. 1.
"I don't know where I will work. I don't know how I will pay my bills," she said.
According to Gary Wartik, manager of economics for the city of T.O., she doesn't have to worry.
"Our only concern is for those specific employees, but good retail people are always in demand in Thousand Oaks," Wartik said.
He's not concerned, he said, about retail spaces in Janss Marketplace being vacant for long.
"There is already significant interest in those spaces. There are a number of prospective tenants," Wartik said.
He noted Toys R Us has expressed a desire to expand into the Linens 'n Things space that's next door to the toy store.
"It would be premature for me to say Toys R Us is expanding. We don't legally say anything until leases are signed," said Heather Danko, marketing director for Janss Marketplace.
She would confirm that much interest in renting spaces at Janss Marketplace has come from what she described as very strong, exciting retailers.
"There are some retailers in growth mode who realize there is no other space in Thousand Oaks like this," Danko said.
She listed Ross Stores Inc.'s new low-priced dd's Discounts store along with Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market as retailers in growth mode but wouldn't say if they were contenders for space at Janss Marketplace.
"We don't want to see anyone leave, but change can be exciting," Danko said.
One of the store owners at Janss Marketplace said she was hoping for a Nordstrom Rack but admitted she was probably just dreaming.
Wartik said that Mervyns and Linens 'n Things were leaving not because of the economy in Thousand Oaks but because of specific issues that affected their national companies.
"Kohl's has done better than Mervyns. Bed, Bath & Beyond and Linens 'n Things have gone headto-head and Bed, Bath & Beyond and department stores have won," Wartik said.
That's the natural evolution of retail, he said, and customers of the stores that are closing will take their money and spend it in other stores in Thousand Oaks.
Resident Debbie Hedges, who was recently shopping at Linens 'n Things as the store offered 20 to 40 percent off, said she would do just that.
"I think it's sad they're closing, but I don't usually shop here anyway because I think this store has been overpriced. I'll just go to Target," Hedges said.
Next door to Mervyns is The Invitation Spot. Owner Laura Schneider is hoping a strong retailer moves into Mervyns' spot quickly to keep traffic up in the mall, she said. She's also hoping residents will support Thousand Oaks retailers.
"It would help us if everyone buys local," Schneider said.
