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Valley Plaza Mall
Categories: Shopping Shopping Centers Mass Media Shopping Centers, Mass Media [Edit]
2701 Ming AveBakersfield, CA 93304
(661) 832-2436
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 8 pm
Sun 11 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for Valley Plaza Mall
18 reviews in English
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Review from Bill C.
Bakersfield, CA
Updated - 1/21/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Getting busy on a Friday evening. Hmmmm.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2012
Its the mall. Well kept. Good stores and all full. The oasis needs more trendy stores in it but I… Read more »
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Review from Chandra D.
Delano, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
When Forever 21 is the main store in the mall, you know there's a problem. This mall probably wouldn't be so bad if the ugly, er, atrocious people of Bakersfield and surrounding areas didn't shop there.
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Review from Sandra L.
Bakersfield, CA
10/23/2011 21 Check-ins Here
The only mall in the area. It has decent stores. Parking is free.
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Review from Mark S.
11/8/2010
I chose the lesser of two evils with this review.
Because I can either go this mall or to East Hills Mall, and have you been to East Hills Mall recently? They are in such a dire need of tenants that they went so far as allowing a church to take up rent. Not that I'm berating the church, but I'm just saying that East Hills Mall is desperate. How it's still open I don't even know.
So it leaves me with no choice but to award Valley Plaza Mall 3 stars. On the real, the mall has a crime problem. I heard someone say an "urban" problem once (which is a Bakersfieldian way of saying, "There's too many minorities"), but seriously, it's becoming over-ridden with "gangstas." Alright, someone rationalize to me why there are 12 year old kids running around the mall on a Wednesday early afternoon (11 AM), and why are none of the security guards are doing anything? Don't they realize that this blatant truancy is the reason there is so much questionable activity going on at the mall? I've even seen BPD walk past these kids numerous times. Those kids should be in school. Or jail. Or Vista West (a continuation school; basically a school and a jail in one).
The stores are alright. But can someone tell me why the hell there are FOUR shoe stores right across from each other selling the SAME shoes at the SAME price? This is almost as bad as the Walgreen's next to Rite Aid on Panama and Wible. I mean, who does that? That's like putting a Vons and an Albertson's adjacent to each other. You only need ONE in ONE location. Same thing with the skate stores: Impact, next to Beach Works, next to Tilly's, next to Pacific Sun, next to Zumiez? Who the hell is running the mall? All those stores are selling the same exact products (skateboards, t-shirts, sweat shirts, etc.) at the SAME EXACT PRICE. There is no competition going on!
(Readjusted score at another's recommendation.) -
Review from Casey R.
Bakersfield, CA
2/14/2011 6 Check-ins Here
This mall would be far more acceptable if it were in a town let's say with 150,000 less people in it. It has a good amount of stores I guess or maybe it's just the fact that I'm used to it now. It has most of the brand name clothing stores like Banana Republic, Lucky Jeans, Ambercrombie and so on. This mall is not in the best area of town so you do get some of the scary looking crowd but if you live long enough in Bakersfield it doesn't bother you.
This being said it is still by far the best mall we have in Bakersfield. There's a fairly nice movie theater next door but parking seems to be lacking and/or frustrating especially during holidays/weekends. I really wish that The Marketplace would take most of the stores from the Valley Plaza so I wouldn't have to venture out closer to Union Ave so often. With all being said I've never really had a problem with the service or selection at this mall however. Most of the employees although young are friendly and mostly helpful when needed.
I'll continue to come here because I don't really have any other option. However for a town as large as Bakersfield we should have something a bit more large and nicer.Listed in: Bakersfield
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Review from Jenny O.
Bakersfield, CA
6/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
1 star for the mall experience itself - not for all the individual stores. Some of the stores have good selection and excellent customer service.
Dear wannabe gang bangers:
- 4 guys trying to start a fight with one guy isn't tough - it's nonsense
- there are better things to do than walk around the mall and stare people down all day
- since when did thug life involve picking a fight in front of the Bebe store at the mall?
Dear drug user who walks around the parking lot and uses the "my car ran out of gas and I need $20" line:
- do you realize that you're high as a kite?
- you may want to carry car keys on you to make your story a wee bit more convincing
Besides those two factors, this mall is always ridicously crowded because 1) it's pretty much the only mall in Bakersfield with good stores 2) the youth have few activities available to them so the only alternative is hanging out at the mall.
Thanks to this mall, I've learned to like internet shopping a lot more. -
Review from Alicia U.
Bakersfield, CA
So it's no shocker that Bakersfield has only one real indoor mall. Aside from a slew of burgeoning strip malls, not much else that we have to offer in terms of notable stores are located anywhere in town except for the Plaza. More recently, the Coach Store and the Guess Store came to town and graced the mall with higher end fashion alternatives. However, the Plaza is and always will be for me my favorite place to avoid if at all possible.
A few decades ago, on my eighteenth birthday, a teenage wish came true when I landed a job at Macy's (then, Robinsons May) and continued to work there until I got too busy with wedding plans for a second job. While I enjoyed working in the office (never did have a floor job), my desire to be at the Plaza for anything that wasn't work related grew. And unfortunately many years later, I still look for a reason to quickly duck in and out of Macy's without traipsing through the mall corridors whenever possible. Can you blame me?
As a shopping experience, it's fair to say that you never know what to expect on any given evening or weekend. The crowd is diverse and borders on creepy at times. However, I find that my most enjoyable visits have been weekdays, when it opens and during the school year Monday-Friday. -
Review from Lorrie M.
5/24/2010
I'm surprised at the not so good ratings this mall has gotten considering when I came here I had a great time shopping, even better than some malls in the Bay Area with more stores and more people around.
I think the main theme I experienced at these stores were great organization and cleanliness. The only thing I have to complain about is that the bathrooms are halfway around the mall, if you need to go be prepared to search quite a bit before you're able to find one.
The stores here are all very nicely kept and organized even when there are sales. You can always find your size and people here are so friendly. Yes they work at the mall but they actually care if you need a size or can't find something. They're helpful like retail employees should be unlike the ones in the bay area that just don't really care whether you're in, out, or need to try something on or buying something at all. I love the attitude here. I would love to come back here to shop again! -
Review from Jovelyn T.
Bakersfield, CA
10/16/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I ABSOLUTELY agree with everything Jenny O. has to say about the mall. But yet I find myself heading back. I agree that people at the mall do have a staring problem, but then again that's just a majority of the people in Bakersfield and I'd rather not get into that conversation right now..
The mall does have some of its perks.. when I think about them i'll update this review. -
Review from adam z.
Bakersfield, CA
2/16/2011 5 Check-ins Here
they have gotten more and higher quality stores lately but it's still really crowded with wannabe's. we basically need another mall option in the west or another story on this one. East hills is a joke and really far east. if one popped up around Rosedale or where they had just put in the new walmart in the SW. I think both could stay open and would be a more pleasant experience.
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Review from Justin H.
Bakersfield, CA
7/15/2010
Needs more food. They need a larger food court with more fast food. They also need more full service restaurants.
There are some hotties that shop/hang out there that make for good 'people watching', but it's a mostly younger crowd.
Currently there are only two full service restaurants (Que Pasa and Red Robbin), and they're just ok. Not bad, but overpriced for the quality you get. Price to quality ratio: I prefer Que Pasa.
There is also a food court with fast food type restaurants, but it's too small and needs a better selection.
They did a renovation a few years ago and it looks a lot nicer than it used to be, but still kinda boring compared to malls I've been to in L.A., S.F. and Vegas.
There is a movie theater (not connected to the main mall) out in the southwest parking lot. I haven't been but have heard it's ok.
There is also a G.E.T. bus station (not connected to the main mall) in the west parking lot. It's small, dirty and outdated. They really need to upgrade it and expand into the adjacent parking lot.
Don't go anywhere near the Valley Plaza during the holidays. Traffic on the surrounding streets make it almost unbearable and the freeway gets jammed near the Ming Ave. off ramp due to the mall traffic. The BPD (police) imposes traffic restrictions during the holidays diverting all traffic exiting on Ming Ave eastbound to Wible Rd. southbound. That's really annoying if that's not where you want to go.
They tore down the Macy's building and are building a huge Target store, but it looks like they stopped construction half way through. I'm just guessing but maybe they stopped/delayed construction due to the bad economy.
Note: there's a Target right across the street! Are they gonna close the old Target when the new one opens?
There is an issue with crime. There have been many fights (mostly gang related) and even some stabbings, shootings, muggings etc.
Overall: 2.5
Not bad, but not that good. -
Review from Sunny D.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2010
The mall sucked..
but it has potential.
Sephora..Macys..Forever 21...Aldo...it has enough to come out with a decent looking outfit...
however it was rat infested. not like animal rats. human rats. hoodrats.
when thats the case..the shit can go down and drama can pop off.
i like my shit to stay mellow.
and i like the drama sealed - air tight.
which basically means i'd shop here during it's off peak times.
early morning..weekdays..etc.
when the actual shoppers crowd is there.
it is what it is. -
Review from Deborah S.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2007
This Mall made me hate to shop. I have not darkened its hoodlum lined hallways for years. Shopping in Bakersfield is hard enough; then they consolidate all the crappiest stores ever in one place--the only good thing about the place is the fact that is makes me feel good that I no longer live there and have to settle for the Gap or now--Banana Republic.
Also, when we go home for the holidays--we make sure we have finished our shopping--because there really isn't any place to go in the Patch. -
Review from Stevey P.
Phoenix, AZ
5/29/2007 2 photos
Valley Plaza is the mall of choice for people in Kern County. I remember this mall in the 80s when it was only Sears, JC Penney and Brock's. It was not well lit inside, with a reflecting pool near center court and with crazy 70s murals throughout.
It's improved and expanded since then and now offers a wide selection of stores and four department stores: Macy's, Sears, JC Penney, Gottschalks, and a store that was formerly Robinson's May. The store mix has also gotten more "upscale" in recent years with new places including Abercrombie and Fitch, Cache and Banana Republic. I'm not a fan of many of the stores here, but the mall manages to still remain popular and relevant in Bakersfield.
One less star for the following:
* Crap food choices they have here -- either fast food in the Oasis food court, or Red Robin way at the end of the mall.
* Hoodlum teenagers roaming the mall every weekend. -
Review from Rebecca H.
Dublin, CA
10/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have fond memories of coming here during high school. That's about it. It's a decent mall, and it's a nice place to go on a hot day. The restaurant selection is limited, it's dingy, and people walk around like the zombies in "Shawn of the Dead." I tried it in the parking lot, making "Unnnhhh" noises, teetering about with my arms outstretched, and nobody noticed, because I didn't stand out. It has the usual stores, kiosks, etc. There's nothing to hate, nothing to love. It's just a mall.
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Review from Lesly S.
8/19/2008
No matter what I do I always end up at "The Plaza" when I go home. I can't think of any mall I actually like, and VP is no exception. The stores have improved greatly over the years (Sephora-woot!) but this place is still more of a meeting place for bored locals, than an actually shopping destination. I do appreciate the prices in the bigger stores like Macy's--they are generally cheaper than similar stores in my adopted home.
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Review from Michelle B.
Santa Maria, CA
4/13/2010
I love this mall because it's definitely better than the mall we have here in Santa Maria, but it's always crowded. You constantly need to play "Snake" when navigating through this mall. Overall, it's not that bad.
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Review from Gerald L.
Bakersfield, CA
8/26/2011
Any reviewer from Bakersfield will understand that this is the best mall in Bakersfield with most stores closer to an out-of-town shopping experience versus anywhere else in Bakersfield. However, the Valley Plaza Mall has been a questionable and sometimes dangerous place to be when it is busy. One of the occasions we were there, a stabbing occurred not far from several stores we are shopping and it occurred inside the mall! Other than that, this is the only place in Bakersfield that has a Macy's, Old Navy, etc. (you get the picture). Another important thing about Valley Plaza is that it is close to the 99 freeway, does not have parking pay/price to park, and you are able to usually find a parking spot (given that it is not on Christmas shopping season or back-to-school countdown shopping). I give it two stars because security and store selection (my opinion only) is what I am basing this on.
