Westfield Plaza Camino Real

by Carole A. Lane on February 7th, 2007

I dropped by the Westfield Plaza Camino Real on Tuesday afternoon to pick up a Museum Brochure from Macy’s. No sooner did I open the door than I walked right smack into the bikini section. In February? Really? Only in California!

What’s new?

There are music videos now showing on monitors throughout Macy’s, and shoppers are stopping in their tracks to watch the more captivating ones. It’s a little strange, and a bit eerie in a nearly unoccupied store.

Heading out into the mall, it occured to me that it’s been a while since I’ve been there. There are so many other shopping areas around town that I prefer, so frankly, I’ve avoided it.

I was pleasantly surprised that the crowds I’d dreaded never materialized. In fact, there were so few customers wandering through the mall that I began to wonder how they stay in business. The guys in one of several cell phone kiosks were laughing at each other to stave off the boredom, and the few customers in Borders Express (books) stood or sat around reading, while their little ones made new friends and shared treasures found in the children’s section. Rather than a frantic day of shopping, it felt very much like a lazy afternoon in the park.

So what could be better on a lazy afternoon than a carousel ride? For the cost of a $2 token, my daughter and her newest girlfriend (of 5 minutes) had their pick of all of the circling and bobbing animals on the mall’s new attraction.

For each of the new stores or restaurants, another is lost. Robinson’s May has disappeared, being replaced by Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear on the lower level, and Bella Furniture on the upper level. According to the mall directory:

Westfield Plaza Camino Real is pleased to welcome our newest retailer Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear! Steve & Barry’s plans NOW OPEN in the bottom level of the old Robinsons May building on the east end of the shopping center. Steve & Barry’s has 130 stores across the United States and carries casual clothing including jeans, sweatshirts, jackets, cargos and collegiate wear for men, women and children. They will remain open on the first level of the building until their permanent store space is available in Summer 2007.

As for Bella Furniture:

Come visit Bella Furniture on the upper level of the Old Robinson’s May building. Lots of furniture to choose from and friendly faces to greet you when you enter.

The new playground is charming, very much like the previous playground. It’s now the scene of Children’s Story Hour.

Join us on Thursday, February 15th from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, in our NEW Playtown in front of Sears for a time of magic and make believe at our Children’s Story Hour. Wonderful stories, activities, snacks and goodie bags. Come meet Westie the Kangaroo!!!

A paint your own pottery studio, Color Me Mine, is now sitting next to McDonalds on the lower level, attracting both children and adults.

Sadly, O’Nami is gone - no more sushi at the mall. Subway has replaced Burger King on the lower level, across from Pat & Oscar’s. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Old Town Rootbeer are new temptations.

The University of Phoenix has opened a site on the second level. A college in a mall? I hope they teach marketing.

There are a few new clothing stores, Aeropostale (for teens), Beach Bound (for children), and Against All Odds - in addition to selling the hipper designer labels, the later has a DJ spinning on Friday and Saturday nights.

Dell Direct has also opened a kiosk in the mall, selling the same computers I’m typing on now.

More than anything, I think I’ll miss the clock. It was such a beloved icon for the whole community, where I sat with each of my fascinated children watching billiard balls roll, drop, bounce and make their way through the intricate clockworks.

Shopping Concierge Services

If you spend $50 shopping in the mall one day, you can get free gift wrapping at the Shopping Concierge Center. This is also the place to go for Free Kiddie Kruzzer Rentals, Wheelchairs, and free balloons for the kids. A family lounge has also been added to the center of the mall, including restrooms, nursing stations, a baby changing area, and a play area with a TV featuring children’s programming.

What hasn’t changed?

JC Penney and Sears are still two of the anchor stores, and shoes, clothing and jewelry stores remain plentiful. Children still stand outside Suncoast Motion Picture Co. to watch family films showing in the front window before heading up to the pet store on the second floor. The smell of Cinnabon continues to fill the center court, while Mrs. Fields draws the cookie crowd upstairs. Moms take their toddlers to Gymboree for music and activity classes, and the “Mallwalkers“ walk the mall on Tuesday mornings. It’s nice to see that not everything has changed at Westfield Plaza Camino Real.

(See the complete list of stores.)

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The San Diego Traveler