Bob Walter: Sunrise Mall owners have a new vision

Sunrise on the rise: The new owners of Sunrise Mall have big plans for the venerable shopping center, inside and out, with a goal of "substantially growing" the mall's estimated $200 million a year in sales.

The Steadfast Cos. of Irvine closed its purchase from the Cordano Co. last week (in a deal that, ahem, was first reported in this space in December).

On Friday, Steadfast Commercial Properties officials talked about their plan to move Sunrise into the Arden Fair/Roseville Galleria tier of capital region shopping areas.

"We hope to create a much more vibrant property," said Jim Yoder, senior vice president. "We want to bring people from greater distances who want more entertainment and dining options."

Jim and VP Dean Curci had just met with Citrus Heights City Manager Henry Tingle and Rhonda Sherman, economic development and city information director, and came away enthused about the city's vision for the entire Sunrise MarketPlace trade area.

It will take coordination with the city and cooperation from other property owners – the sale included one Macy's store, but not the other Macy's, Sears or JCPenney – but the Steadfast VPs are confident that they can add new offerings to the 96-acre property.

They also hope to strengthen the retail mix in the 95 percent occupied mall – they mentioned boosting women's and children's fashions and apparel aimed at Generations X and Y – and spur cross-shopping between the department stores and specialty shops.

Steadfast owns major retail properties in California, Oregon and Washington, including the Yuba Sutter Mall in Yuba City. Since buying the then-moribund Yuba mall in 2004, Dean said, Steadfast has spent "millions" on interior and exterior renovations.

They also added new tenants – including Shoe Pavilion and Fashion Bug – that have boosted average sales "and put us in the terrific position of running out of space for new stores," Dean said.

Despite the uncertain economy, Jim said, an ongoing major market study is showing that national retailers are poised for expansion, new stores and new concepts.

He said they love the fact that Sunrise is surrounded by established residential areas – nobody is waiting for new rooftops – and many homeowners who have discretionary income.

Stay tuned. …

History on display: There won't be any real football on TV (the Pro Bowl doesn't count), so why not spend part of Sunday watching some history?

It's the Second Sunday Open House at the History Center, 1 to 4 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse, 7997 California Ave.

The Fair Oaks Historical Society's center is worth a visit and Trude Peterson Vasquez, my new society correspondent, promises that docents will be on duty to explain just about anything. Trude also said school groups are invited to tour the center; for more information, call Lois Frazier at (916) 967-2967 or Rose Anne Lamb at (916) 728-6653. …

Volunteer watch: Fair Oaks reader Dave Shigekawa e-mailed this idea a (long) while back. It's a good one.

Dave, who has lived in Fair Oaks on and off since 1971 and steadily since '78, wants to know where he can help. He asked for a regular feature that profiles a local organization in need of volunteers.

"I'm sure there are a lot of groups looking for volunteers," Dave said when I got back to him. "And there are a lot of people, especially retired people like me, who want to help."

Many aspiring volunteers don't want to go outside their communities, Dave said, and don't know where to look close to home.

Dave's idea was to list the basics – name, purpose of the group, how volunteers can help and some contact information – for one organization at a time. Many groups already get plenty of ink – Rotary, libraries and such – but I know there are other organizations out there looking for help.

Fair enough. It won't be too regular, but if you organizational types will send me your info, I will spotlight them when I have time and space.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Bob Walter, (916) 608-7448. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walter.