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An abandoned Southern California mall is getting a dramatic revival, with a massive new retail and dining complex set to transform east Bakersfield.
The 350,000-square-foot City Lights development will feature major retailers and restaurants, including In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Ulta, Boot Barn, Hobby Lobby, Marshalls and Five Below, with a spring 2027 opening planned.
The city previewed the outdoor shopping center in an interactive social media video, showcasing the lineup of businesses coming to the long-vacant site.
Mayor Karen Goh unveiled the project Wednesday during Bakersfield’s State of the City address, calling it the result of years of collaboration across the community, ABC23 reported.
The development replaces the former East Hills Mall, which opened in 1987 before declining as shoppers and retailers left in the late 2000s. Developers bought the abandoned property for $7.2 million in 2021, and the remaining structures were demolished the following year.
“There are good wins, and many more are coming,” City Manager Christian Clegg said, according to a report from KGET.
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The addition of the popular fast food chain restaurants is great news for those living on the east side of the city, as Chick-fil-A notched the highest customer satisfaction score, at 83, according to the latest, American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI)
The chicken chain-started in 1946-has more than 3,000 locations throughout the U.S and Canada, while In-N-Out boasts 400 locations across the country.
Harry and Esther Snyder opened the first In-N-Out in 1948 when they launched California’s first drive-thru hamburger stand in LA’s Baldwin Park, according to its website.
The popular burger joint has been busy expanding outside of California with locations opening in Colorado, Washington and Tennessee.
Once the new fast food chain locations are built at the complex, it will be Chick-fil-A’s third location, while the popular burger joint will occupy its fourth spot in the city.
