The site of a new Jack in the Box in Signal Hill.
BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer
Even though restaurant and retail chains all over the United States are either closing outlets or scaling back expansion plans, plans for a fast-food restaurant and two stores still seem to be pushing forward, as well as new facilities in Signal Hill. Gary Jones, the city’s director of community development, noted that construction has already begun on the Jack in the Box restaurant at the Signal Hill Gateway Shopping Center near the intersection of California Avenue and Spring Street. “They have broken ground and are working on the foundation and the plumbing,” he said. “I believe this is about a six-month project, so it could be up and running by late spring of 2009.” He said Jack in the Box has already pulled all the necessary building permits for the development.
Jones noted that the new facility will be an upscale version of Jack in the Box. While the familiar drive-thru window will be present, the restaurant will contain a fireplace visible from inside dining areas or outside the building. According to Jones, studies have shown that fireplaces attract more customers into a facility. The building’s exterior was also designed to attract customers. It will also showcase panels depicting scenes from Jack in the Box commercials
“It (the building) has very nice finishes and materials inside and outside that will surprise people,” Jones said. “Other than the familiar signage, you won’t recognize it as a traditional Jack in the Box.”
Currently, only two tenants do business in the Gateway Shopping Center: Home Depot and Circuit City. Two more stores, PETCO and Party City, are planned directly adjacent to Circuit City. Jones said he is cautiously optimistic that those stores will be built, but the downturn in the national economy could change that.
“We have been working on the building plans of the two stores, but we are not sure that they are going to go forward,” he said. “We have not heard anything from those companies about a change of plans, but we are speculating on how Circuit City plans could impact them.” Jones explained that Circuit City recently announced plans to close many stores in various places throughout the U.S., including some in Southern California.
“The Circuit City in Signal Hill is not on the list of stores to be closed,” he said. “But I think they are going to evaluate after the holiday season. They could have additional closures.”
Jones noted that if the Signal Hill Circuit City closed, the Gateway Shopping Center would be a less desirable site to locate new stores. He noted, however, that PETCO and Party City already have the momentum going toward building stores there and it might be wise to be up and running before the expected upturn in the economy— although that might be more than a year away. “They have spent a tremendous amount on plans and entitlements to get ready to build,” he said. “They’re doing everything they need to do and already have a big investment in the building plans, but at some point someone is going to have to make a decision as to whether they are going to build or not.”
PETCO is a national pet food and supply retailer similar to Petsmart. Party City is a discount superstore that sells party supplies for birthdays, weddings, graduations, national holidays, religious occasions and a wide range of other celebrations.
Jones said that the City of Signal Hill has also approved plans for a 7,000-square-foot store at the corner of California and Spring, but no specific plans or tenants have been proposed for that site. He said, however, that the city would like to see more restaurants located at the Gateway Shopping Center.
“We are happy to see the Jack in the Box is at least moving forward, and we certainly would like to see the rest of the Gateway Shopping Center built out,” Jones said. “Home Depot is doing well, and they have recently upgraded their landscaping so I think they are expecting to be there a long time.” Jones did not offer any suggestions as to what large retail outlet might replace Circuit City if that store did close.
Phone calls to Signal Hill Petroleum, the developer of Gateway Shopping Center, were not immediately returned.
