New mall an asset to Simi Valley

The new Simi Valley Town Center has opened right on schedule, amidst plenty of fanfare and hoopla. Hear the collective sigh of relief and see the confetti as it settles into the nooks and crannies of these beautiful new stores.

Finally.

The city of Simi Valley has realized its vision in grand style. The mall has been made to look like an Italian villa perched on a hillside. The $350million project offers more than 120 different retail stores comprising 600,000 square feet. There are 3,400 parking spaces, six sit-down restaurants, incredible attention to architecture, smart landscaping and, yes, even a koi pond. (But please don’t throw any coins, they’re bad for the fish.)

The boost to the local economy will be tremendous.

Mayor Paul Miller expressed the feelings of many when he spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of Robinsons-May on Wednesday morning.

“After 22 years, it’s good to have a center of our own,” Miller told the Town Center audience.

It’s the first regional mall to be built in the area in more than 25 years and one of the biggest. We’ve waited a long time to have a shopping center of this caliber in Simi Valley.

Now that all the hard work is done, get out and enjoy the finished project.

We’ll see you at the mall.