Stores Go Dark at Horton Plaza

Photograph taken 03 February 2009

You can see the effect of the failure of the holiday season on the map at Horton Plaza. Instead of having a new map made up, how much could this possibly cost anyway, it seems the mangers of Horton Plaza have simply taped over the names of the newly departed with electrical tape. This did not yet warrant an entry on my Tacky San Diego Blog because they at least had the decency to apply the tape below the glass, and because I am loath to label things as tacky that are the result of misfortune.

The mall has been in decline for some time. The last job I had was actually at Mervyn's before the store was closed several years ago. It is ironic that all that is left of the Mervyn's website is a reminder that you still must pay your Mervyn's credit card bill. When I was employed the first thing they told us was that the store was basically a front for the credit card business. Nothing mattered but getting customers hooked on more high interest consumer credit.

I feel that what we may be seeing is the end of brick and mortar retail as we know it. Many will blame the internet. I blame another source however and that is the debasement of the profession of sales person. My Grandfather's brother worked at Sears and was well paid and retired with a pension. In those days salesperson could inform you about the product. Presently the salesperson is likely making near to minimum wage and can't afford the product let alone tell you anything about it. If Internet hadn't killed Brick and Mortar plain old mail order would have. There is just nothing to be gained by shopping in person anymore.

I hope that if the Horton Plaza continues to decline they will raze the monstrous eyesore and restore the area to the Hippie Paradise it was before.

Though the Mall Map did not make the Tacky San Diego Blog, The faux distressed murals outside the Westin Hotel in Horton Plaza did. Read the entry here.

Aloha Hilo Hattie-Store of Hawaii

For those who have never lived in San Diego, it hard to describe the relationship that people in San Diego have with Hawaii. One would suppose that living in San Diego people would be satisfied with the ideal weather and beautiful beaches. One would suppose that the many transplants from the cold, hot, and lets just say it uncool, parts of the country would recline in satisfied enjoyment of their coastal paradise. One would of course be horribly wrong. Having shown the moxie to follow their dreams to the land of eternal temeprate sun, the wandering souls of San Diego are not about to settle for some vague approximation of earthly paradise.

Only the real thing, Hawai'i will do. Almost everyone who has the means vacation in Hawai'i and plans to retire there. More than that they often speak of their existence in San Diego as already being in the passed tense. In their mind they are already gone. So it was only natural that when decorating their temporary San Diego residence or outfitting themselves that they would turn to Hilo Hattie. I will miss the giant Hawai'ian shirt and the Hawai'i themed Christmas trees. But for many San Diegans they will just pick up there Hawai'ian goodies when they are there hunting for retirement properties and living their "real" lives. The address of the building is:

301 5th Ave
San Diego CA 92101

The Sun Cafe / Funky Garcia's

10 January 2009

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of the Sun Cafe. The Sun Cafe has been a fixture of San Diego life for decades. It has been own and run by the same family. The art deco building is topped by letters that obviously sported a neon sign at one time. You can see an entry on the cafe at Neon San Diego. More recently one of the more pedestrian beer advertisement neon sign. That is gone too. The Cafe used to display and sell local art on its walls and in its window. The patrons were welcoming of the homeless who often find a hard time fiding a place to dine because of the hygiene problems inherent to the condition. The address for the building is:

421 Market St.
San Diego CA 92101