• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About

Modesto’s $60,000 “Study”

February 19, 2016 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

In Modesto?
In Modesto?

The Modesto City Council’s latest great idea is to spend $60,000 on a study to determine whether the community is ready for high end shopping. Apparently, our councilmembers think that we don’t have enough upscale retail. They may believe that a store like Nordstrom’s Rack could generate more sales tax revenue.

Deja Vú? Phil Testa was the Director of Economic Development under the Carmen Sabatino administration, between 1999 and 2002, and prior to Mr. Sabatino assuming office. During his tenure, Mr. Testa actively sought out new retail for the community. He facilitated the landing of a number of retail businesses, including many of the stores in shopping centers along Sisk Road northwest of Vintage Faire Mall.

Mr. Testa searched for all types of retail stores, from budget stores like Walmart and Target to high end stores like Nordstrom. He knew retail very well. When asked at a city Economic Development Committee meeting whether Nordstrom would be willing to open a store in Modesto, he delivered an emphatic “NO!”

When asked to explain, Mr. Testa stated that Nordstrom did an extensive study of the Central Valley, including Modesto, and determined that Stanislaus County does not have enough customers who would buy the high end products that Nordstrom sells. When asked about Nordstrom Rack, he said that even the lower end Nordstrom store was still too high end for the community.

Fourteen Years Later

In 2016, has the composition of the community changed so that Modesto could attract a Nordstrom store?

The population of Modesto is about the same as it was in year 2000. Surrounding communities have grown in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. Retail growth has mostly happened in the surrounding towns of Riverbank, Turlock, and Patterson. None of those communities have attracted high end stores beyond Vintage Faire Mall.

If a high end store were to come to Modesto, the mall would probably be the location of choice. It is near a freeway and the major population center of the county. Undoubtedly, the management of Vintage Faire Mall has been doing its best to woo high end stores. If a company wanted to locate at the Mall, a store would have been added on like the recent annex on the south side containing the Apple Store.

The mall has been unable to attract a Nordstrom store; one wonders why the Modesto City Council would attempt to do something that private enterprise has been unable to achieve. Instead of spending $60,000 on a study, why doesn’t a city council person just call Nordstrom or other merchants directly?

Filed Under: Featured, History

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America's largest rainforest
Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America’s largest rainforest
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, a focus of political battles over old-growth logging and road-building in forests for decades, has received new protection from the Biden administration.
theconversation.com
As California?s climate heats up, Valley fever spikes ? especially on Central Coast
As California’s climate heats up, Valley fever spikes, especially on Central Coast
Because the fungus that causes the disease spreads easily in hot, arid conditions, the number of cases will grow, UC Berkeley study says
www.mercurynews.com
Activists sue to block Newsom's homeless mental illness treatment program
Activists sue to block Newsom’s homeless mental illness treatment program
Gov. Gavin Newsom championed compelled mental health treatment for homeless Californians. Now, activists are trying to stop it before it gets off the ground.
sjvsun.com
The Rise of Spirit Warriors on the Christian Right
The Rise of Spirit Warriors on the Christian Right
How an extreme transformation in American religion poses an existential threat to our democracy
newrepublic.com
Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Liam Dillon and Ben Oreskes of the L.A. Times interview Mayor Karen Bass about homelessness and housing problems in California.
calmatters.org
A Water War Is Brewing Over the Dwindling Colorado River
A Water War Is Brewing Over the Dwindling Colorado River
This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
At Last, a Real Possibility to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change
At Last, a Real Possibility to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change
After decades of minimal action, Congress passed the largest and most comprehensive piece of climate legislation in U.S. history. Will we make the most of this opportunity?
www.audubon.org
ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless sweeps, citations
ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless sweeps, citations
The ACLU of Arizona has filed a lawsuit against the city of Phoenix over cleanup sweeps of homeless encampments.
www.azcentral.com
'Full-on crisis': Groundwater in California's Central Valley disappearing at alarming rate
‘Full-on crisis’: Groundwater in California’s Central Valley disappearing at alarming rate
Excessive groundwater pumping has long been depleting aquifers in California’s Central Valley. Now, scientists say the depletion is accelerating.
www.latimes.com
San Francisco?s homeless sweeps are unlawful ? and the city will pay for it
San Francisco’s homeless sweeps are unlawful and the city will pay for it
San Francisco’s campaign to remove homeless people from the streets clearly violates…
www.sfchronicle.com
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.'s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here's why
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here’s why
The Cecil Hotel was supposed to be an innovative new model for permanent supportive housing in L.A. Why is it struggling to fill rooms?
news.yahoo.com
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student?s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student’s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Suddenly, Bay Area schools are playing a critical role in combating the alarming rise of fentanyl that is spilling onto high school campuses. But a Bay Area News Group survey found most may not be….
www.mercurynews.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design