Lack of shopping options

Editor: I am writing about the planned East Washington Place-Regency-Target shopping center on the former Kenilworth Junior High site. I have been a citizen of this city since I was born in 1990. I attended Kenilworth Junior High in the years 2002-2004 and I’m currently attending SRJC, Petaluma Campus.

Here we are, almost six years after the property was sold, and to my surprise the piles of rubble that once were the walls of Kenilworth still exist on the property.

As I grew up, I watched my mom for years being extremely frustrated over the lack of selection of stores at which to shop in Petaluma, and having to shop in Rohnert Park on a weekly basis for the last 22 years that she has lived here. Now, as I begin to shop in this town for myself, I have quickly realized the same issues.

Shopping centers in Petaluma have a lack of stores I’m interested in. Off the top of my head, Kmart, Ross, Payless Shoes, Big 5, Kohl’s, Staples, Safeway, Lucky, G&G, Whole Food’s, Longs/CVS and OSH. Seems like a good mix of stores, but more times than not, I can’t find what I need. As for the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, there is nothing good to buy there, other than trinkets and clothing. Sure, Petaluma might have what I’m looking for in some tiny, overpriced downtown store, or I may need to go looking in a few stores, and eventually find it. When the desired item is finally found, it usually costs 70 percent more than it would at a Rohnert Park store.

I am so sick of Petaluma holding us back because we have a “historic downtown.” Sure, it’s something cool to look at, it’s fun to eat lunch there and it’s fun to go watch a movie there. But I can’t ever see myself ever satisfying my mainstream shopping needs in a little boutique downtown.

We have a serious retail leakage issue at hand. I think the data from the 2004 study still holds true, if not more true. In 2004, it was a time of economic growth; people may have been more willing to try overpriced local shopping choices. In 2009, shopping in Rohnert Park has improved, and the demand for better prices is stronger than ever in this economic recession. Stores like Target are needed in times like this to provide the basics at a good price.

I look forward to the future of Petaluma.

Austin Allen, Petaluma