Comings & Goings in Kern Business
| Monday, Nov 09 2009 03:55 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 09 2009 03:55 PM
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Images:
Casey Christie / The Californian Customers head inside the new super Wal-Mart, Wednesday, on Colony Street, during their grand opening.
A Wal-Mart Supercenter opened on Panama Lane Oct. 28 after being tied up in lawsuits and environmental studies for six years. About 360 workers from the White Lane location, which was to close, are moving to the Panama Lane store, said Harry Fenske, store manager at both locations. An additional 455 new jobs were created to fully staff the mega-store.
Hooters opened at 4208 Rosedale Highway. General manager Teejay Scharf said Bakersfield is a perfect location for Hooters because of its demographics and the size of the population. “We consider ourselves a restaurant first, a bar second, and sports third,” Scharf said. The opening created 135 jobs, Scharf said.
State regulators shut down San Joaquin Bank and its five branches Oct. 16, citing inadequate capital and liquidity. Ontario-based Citizens Business Bank agreed to purchase virtually all of San Joaquin’s assets and liabilities. It reopened the sites as branches of Citizens.
Specialty Apparel, which provides same-day executive wear and professional apparel to high-end clients, plans to expand to Bakersfield and two other California cities Dec. 1. Bakersfield clients will be served from the company’s Los Angeles office. Along with upscale uniforms, Specialty Apparel offers pick-up and delivery, custom dry cleaning, same-day outfitting and while-you-wait alterations.
Chico-based Tri Counties Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK), opened a second Bakersfield location inside the new Wal-Mart Supercenter, 6225 Colony St., open seven days a week. Tri Counties Bank, which also has a branch at 5201 California Ave., has been in Bakersfield since 1996.
Affordable Pet Hospital opened at 8150 Hageman Road. Dr. Ann Hamilton’s 3,400-square-foot hospital includes four exam rooms, a dental room, a surgery suite, X-ray, pharmacy and in-house lab. Adjacent to the waiting room is a boutique, PawMart, where people can buy dog and cat toys evaluated for safety by Hamilton. Pet owners can shop for supplies and medications at www.affordablepethospital.com.
Big Popy’s Deli opened at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, 1660 Pine St. It replaces Courtside Cafe, which operated there.
A new Target opened in the anchor spot of the Shops at River Walk, and it will soon be joined by the city’s first Panera Bread. The Target is about 140,000 square feet and includes an expanded grocery section.
Elements Venue, a new banquet facility, opened in June in the historic Ice House building in the space formerly occupied by McGee’s, 3401 Chester Ave. The 5,200-square-foot facility can be rented for wedding receptions, parties, reunions, quinceaneras and other occasions, as well as corporate events, according to owners Sheryl, Julian and Jasmine Rodriguez.
Vintage Limousine has moved to a new location, 3001 Auto Mall Drive.
The Marcom Group Inc. purchased House of Production, a local video production company. The acquisition adds more video services to Marcom’s marketing portfolio.
In Shape Health Clubs opened its fourth Bakersfield location at 2681 Oswell St. The 30,000-square-foot gym features an indoor pool, a children’s activity area, a fitness section exclusively for women and group classes.
Clothing retailer Forever 21’s new department store format is to open in the former Gottschalks at Valley Plaza mall in mid-November. The store is to carry Forever 21’s signature trendy clothes for women, as well as the company’s other lines — Heritage 1981, a men’s and women’s casual brand; Twelve by Twelve, an affordable couture brand; Faith 21, a plus-size brand; and Love 21, a contemporary brand.
Construction was expected to finish in early November inside a large District Boulevard warehouse expected to employ 61 workers when it reopens as a Men’s Warehouse tuxedo processing center. The plant would eventually support 125 full-time jobs — potentially more if the company decides to transfer additional functions from its headquarters in Texas.
New restaurant Victor Victoria’s opened in the spot formerly occupied by Kosmos Restaurant & Sports Bar. The 5,500-square-foot eatery at 1623 19th St. opened to the public Nov. 3, said owner Alia Brost, following private events. The menu is a mix of American and European cuisine.
Thompson Law has a new downtown office at 11009 Chester Ave. Six employees, including criminal and family law attorney F.L. Thompson, moved into the 2,000-square-foot office.
Yoga Links, a 1,200-square-foot studio, opened at 4200 Stine Road in southwest Bakersfield.
Tommy T’s Toys and Treasures opened at East Hills Mall. The store offers new and vintage comic books, action figures, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts and record albums. The 1,100-square-foot store’s sole employees are the five collectors who jointly own it.
Two new Spanish-language FM radio stations have begun broadcasting in Kern County. KEAL-FM (106.5) and KXTT-FM (94.9) are owned by Oxnard-based Lazer Broadcasting Corp. They went on the air June 15. KEAL-FM plays music popular with young Latinos, as well as contests; KXTT-FM broadcasts Spanish oldies, the company said this week in a news release.
Skechers, a Manhattan Beach-based manufacturer of trendy sneakers and other footwear, has opened an outlet store at 5951 Rosedale Highway, just west of Mohawk Street.
The Curves location at 1817 Eye St. has closed. The women’s fitness center franchise opened in 2006. The closure does not affect Bakersfield’s four other Curves locations, which are separately owned by Greg and Sandy Hamilton.
— Send news of comings and goings to business@bakersfield.com.
