Arden Fair reopens after protests, but mall employees and city took a big financial hit

Arden Fair mall reopened today at 10 a.m. for regular hours, after being shut down on Sunday due to protests.

Arden Fair officials closed the mall through the day Sunday after a handful of protestors staged a sit-in at the mall. Although the protest group remained relatively small and peaceful throughout the day, officials said they closed the mall out of concern that a large number of people would show up.

“The protestors were a peaceful group,” marketing manager Nathan Spradlin said. “They were respectful. But we anticipated large volumes.”

Spradlin said the closure represented a substantial financial blow to the city and to about 1,400 Arden Fair employees who were not allowed to work that day.

“We are concerned about our employees and their livelihoods,” Spradlin said. But we are also sensitive that this situation (the Clark shooting) impacts our entire city.”

City revenue records show the city of Sacramento received $4.87 million in sales tax revenue from Arden Fair mall for a recent one-year period from July 2017 to June 2018. A city revenue official said that represents about 7 percent of the sales tax revenue that flows into the city budget.

Based on those those tax collection figures, the mall generated revenue of $487 million during that one-year period.

The group that gathered at the mall Sunday was protesting the Saturday announcement by District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert that she will not prosecute the two police officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark, 22, in the backyard of his grandmother’s Meadowview home last March. The officers said they thought Clark had a gun. It turned out he held a cell phone.

The group that gathered at the mall Sunday was protesting the Saturday announcement by District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert that she will not prosecute the two police officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark, 22, in the bakcyard of his grandmother’s Meadowview home last March. The officers said they thought Clark had a gun. It turned out he held a cell phone.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Arden Fair mall produces 18 percent of the sales tax revenues received by the city budget. City revenue officials say they calculate the correct number is closer to 7 percent.

This story was originally published March 4, 2019 at 10:10 AM.