DRAGON OF THE MALL— Simi Valley Town Center is the home of a mosaic dragon, found just east of the mall’s center court, near the play area. Following the grand opening festivities last week,111 retailers are ready for customers. The Simi Valley Town Center mall is located on the north side of the 118 Freeway, with access from both First Street and Erringer Road. Fireworks, stilt walkers, performers in carnivále masquerade costumes and a big band orchestra welcomed the hordes of shoppers who attended the grand opening of the long-awaited Simi Valley Town Center last week.

The 1.5-million-square-foot Town Center encompasses a 600,000-square-foot “lifestyle” open-air mall, with a 500-unit luxury apartment complex behind it and the 300,000-square-foot Town & Country retail center, with anchor Lowe’s Home Improvement, to the west of it.

Most of the mall’s 120 tenants were open for business during the grand opening. Others, such as Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and several restaurants are still getting ready to open.

But Simi Valley resident Bernadette Ingle, 19, didn’t mind. The Albertsons grocery store cashier admired the mall’s architecture and design features. The 10-foot double-sided outdoor fireplace is her favorite.

“It’s nice; it’s really nice,” she said. “It’s more than I thought it would be, definitely. The stores really are high-class.”

Katie Wagner, a freshman at Royal High School, came to the mall’s opening with her mother, Beckey.

“It has a lot of new stores and a lot of happening stuff,” said the cheerleader, who had a sizable shopping bag in hand.

Beckey Wagner was happy to see two of her favorite stores, Coldwater Creek and Brighton Collectibles, at the mall.

“I did back flips when I saw them next to each other,” she said.

City officials, who’ve worked several years to draw major retailers to town, celebrated with the mall developers at a private party.

Said Mayor Paul Miller of the grand opening that drew hundreds of people: “I think it’s an outstanding event. I think it reflects the enthusiasm this city has for the mall.”

Miller said the city could begin seeing revenue from mall sales early next year. Revenue from retail sales tax, property taxes and business license taxes are expected to generate over $3.6 million for the city.

But more than the money the mall will bring to the city is the convenience to residents who no longer have to travel to the San Fernando Valley or Thousand Oaks to shop in major department stores, he said.

The Town Center mall is anchored by Macy’s at the west end and Robinsons-May at the east.

“It exceeded my expectations,” said Councilmember Glen Becerra of the mall. “I think the community should be really proud of what was accomplished here because it took a whole town to pull this off.”

On Monday, Simi Valley Transit added bus service to the mall and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. New bus schedules are available at middle and high schools, city offices, online at www.simivalley.org or by calling (805) 583-6456.