New Owners Expected To Expand Outlet Mall

Tulare - Horizon Group Properties - owner of the Tulare Outlet Center - announced June 1 they are agreeing to a mediated settlement that will lead to the sale of nine outlet centers, including the one in Tulare, to an unnamed company.

Principals of the new company are said to be former Horizon Group officials who merged Horizon back in the mid 1990s with McArthur/Glenn, founders of the Gilroy Premium Outlets shopping center.

Horizon Group chairman Gary Skoien said in a company news release the sale of Horizon’s nine outlet centers – which they own with a dizzying list of partners – signals a “constructive conclusion of a long drawn process.”

According to the Horizon news release, the deal dates back to April 2005. Litigation on one small aspect of the proposed sale has held it up until now.

Sources say the sale to the new buyer should be complete in July and that the outlet center will likely carry the name Tulare Outlet Mall and lose the Horizon name.

For Tulare, the importance of the sale will be a likely expansion of the shopping center to perhaps double the number of tenants using their Gilroy outlet center as a model. Sources say, unlike Horizon over the years, the new buyer is well capitalized and plans to complete a purchase on several optioned properties that Horizon had set up nearby - at least three pending sales totaling around 45 acres. “I understand that’s part of the deal,” says mayor Richard Ortega.

That would be in addition to the vacant land on 10.7 acres that Horizon bought – and to where they recently expanded – from William Martin last year. This new wing is where Banana Republic just opened this week.

The Horizon Outlet Center has more than 50 stores but Gilroy has nearly triple that. The new group seeks to expand the Tulare center approaching the scale of Gilroy someday. The expansion would embrace entertainment and restaurants as part of the package say informed sources, unlike Horizon Group who through the years never wanted to attract restaurants to the site wanting to keep shoppers shopping.

Unlike Horizon, the new buyer will have deep pockets to do the expansion, say sources. Over the years Horizon struggled to get funds to add stores in a retail outlet economy that seemed to go up and down like a yo yo forcing closure of stores and mergers in this retail sector.

At one time Horizon was in default on loans on this center for example.

For Tulare officials the development is good news. City manager Darrell Pyle says the sale “shows our outlet mall has a bright future,” that the city and Horizon “have regular conversations on a weekly basis” and was aware of the progress on the talks. He says he expects to see more retail development north and east of the outlet mall.

Horizon opened its Tulare center – with only five tenants – in 1995 after they bought out land owner William Martin who had pre-leased the outlet to some 23 tenants in 1994.

Martin owned the land where the outlet mall developed along with the land that includes the Mervyn’s/Kmart center. Martin still owns 17 acres north of the latest phase expansion of the outlet that are expected to be part of the 45-acre expansion of the mall. Horizon had also optioned the Jacobi property and Hillman property nearby expected to be part of this deal.

The city is excited about the prospect of a mighty retail district that will spread to Cartmill Crossing at the Cartmill interchange too. “I think this will mean we finally will have the critical mass of stores we need,” says former city manager Lynn Dredge.

In a related matter, developer Ben Ennis says he is “very close” to being able to announce tenants at Cartmill Crossing just north of this property. He says he can build some 600,000 square feet of new retail space without making full modifications of the Cartmill freeway interchange by making more modest improvements. He and developers of the new Wal-Mart are working on a traffic study to see how costs for a full interchange might be divided up.

Now in its 11th year the Horizon outlet has had gained revenue year after year and is a prime retail sales tax generator for Tulare that – at least around the Central Valley - only it can boast of. Unlike big box stores that are everywhere, few towns can count on an outlet mall that attracts shoppers from far away.

One traffic issue expected to be resolved under the new ownership, Horizon has limited traffic flow on Retherford heading only north, making a left hand turn to the traditional outlet center entrance illegal. Now that is likely to be changed back to the original entrance and exit options.

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By Robin Kaufman

Tulare - When the sun had set on Nettie Washington's career as an educator at Tulare Adult School in 2001, it would have been easy for her to settle into a quiet retirement.

But for Washington, there is simply no substitute for being a torch bearer of social justice and community improvement. “Everything needs to be fair and equal to everybody,” says Washington.

This three-term former Tulare city councilmember shines as the current president of Tulare Sunrise Rotary, a member of the Sequoia Christian Educators Association of Kings and Tulare Counties and chairperson of the Tulare Community Relations Committee.

Besides being active in numerous organizations, Washington draws on her experience as an educator and local government official to be a consultant on social justice issues. Her business is called NHW Consulting, after the initials of her name.

To add to her list of credentials, Washington has also completed a six-month program with the National Community Development Institute in Oakland. The training helped her develop techniques on how to “let go and delegate.”

Washington recently worked with the California Endowment's Poder Popular program under the Agricultural Worker Health Initiative. The goal of the program is to improve the life, work, and health conditions in farm worker communities.

As a consultant, Washington gives training to change ingrained behaviors in the farm worker community.

“My hope is to get people to work together and to look at what they have in common,” says Washington.

Washington also serves as the chairperson of the newly formed Tulare Community Relations Committee (TCRC), which is an outgrowth of Mayor Ortega's ad hoc committee on cultural diversity.

Through TCRC, citizens can raise concerns over problems they may have in the community. The goals of the group are to showcase cultural diversity and to promote cultural understanding.

The TCRC also opens the door to people who may feel they are not represented in local decision-making processes.

“Government should be open to what my parents called, 'working class dogs,'” says Washington, adding that her parents did not mean that in a derogatory way.

One of the first tasks before the TCRC was to help residents of Tulare neighborhoods to recover after shootings had occurred near their homes.

In figuring out what to do and how to function in the community, the TCRC has discussed whether the committee should adopt a facilitator role or a mediator role when it comes to community relations.

TCRC members have also recently attended two trainings by the Department of Justice on how to be mediators. The purpose of the training is to keep harmony within Tulare.

“We want to have processes in place so that harmony occurs,” says Washington.

The TCRC has adopted a format for giving cultural presentations in the community as well.

Washington moved to Tulare in 1980 with her husband Willie, who was born and raised here. For Washington, family and church are central to her identity. She refers to herself as a “happily involved grandmother.”

Washington raised three daughters in Tulare. Her advice to them was to “get an education and get out of here.”

The reason? “It's still hard for African Americans to find a job here,” says Washington.

Though Washington acknowledges local recruitment efforts to get qualified minorities to come work in Tulare, “Over a year's time they're gone with the challenges they have to face here,” she says.

According to Washington, there is a subtle racism in Tulare that is not talked about. She sees it in the ethnic jokes people tell in whispered voices and in the experiences kids have at school.

“We do a lot of sins of omission by ignoring things that are right in front of our nose,” says Washington.

In Washington's view, one such sin of omission is the previous inattention to the plight of the homeless in Tulare.

“It was a shock to the Euro-American community in Tulare when people began to see homeless people with white faces,” says Washington.

She thinks the homeless in Tulare finally became visible when people began to realize: “This can happen to you,” saysWashington.

Washington's friend, the late Reatha Rutherford, also was concerned about the homeless in Tulare, especially in the cold months. Washington recalls Rutherford was fearless and would walk up to homeless people to ask them what their needs were.

Through Rutherford, Washington was able to meet the homeless and she worked with the National Guard to help provide for those in need.

“I could be three months away from being homeless myself,” says Washington.

She believes that homelessness is often the result of unfortunate planning and that sometimes bad things happen to good people.

“God, thank you to have me be in the right place in the right time,” says Washington.

She would like to see the City of Tulare play a more active role in aiding the homeless in Tulare beyond what has already been done.

“We don't really have a good tool to keep people accountable,” says Washington.

On the contrary, it is people like Nettie Washington, in the right place, in the right time, that keep other people accountable.

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Tulare - The Tulare Aviation Commission (TAC) recently sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration requesting an authorization for the sale or lease of about 24 acres of Tulare Airport property, including the old Mefford hangar.

Tulare Mayor Rich Ortega reports that the FAA approved the lease of the property for non-aviation uses.

Several parties have expressed interest in the property including the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Fresno RV Outlet, Cary Stanley and Ron Overacker, Jr.

At the April 27 TAC meeting, Wagenhalls advised that there are no current negotiations for land sale or lease.

The city has a 60-day process to advertise the disposition of city property to the various public agencies. This is required before the city can begin negotiations with a private party.

This development comes at a time when the aviation commission is in transition. July 10 will be the last day Bill Wagenhalls is on the job. Milt Stowe was named the new airport manager at the May 22 TAC meeting.

At the same meeting, the Tulare Chamber of Commerce (TCC) gave a presentation on how they would like to see the Mefford hangar area developed.

As Economic Development Director of the TCC, Bob Reynolds' primary objective is to bring revenue to Tulare. His proposal for the Tulare Aviation Commission is to resurrect the old Mefford Field hangar and convert it into an air museum with an adjacent 12-acre RV park of 200 RV spaces.

The idea is to encourage tourists to come to Tulare. “If we've got enough to entertain them, they'll stay,” said Reynolds.

In Reynolds' presentation to the Tulare Aviation Commission (TAC) at their May 22 meeting he said, “You see here Return To Glory, the name of one of the planes. But we may as well be talking about the [Mefford] hangar.”

“For this to come to fruition, it would have to be a community supported project,” said Reynolds.

The Tulare Chamber of Commerce has determined that the following elements must be in place for the “Tulare Warbird Museum” to take off:
• A lead agency or organization
• A commitment to the concept
• A business or development plan
• Funding for hanger renovation
• A feasibility study for the RV Park Development
• Infrastructure availability (sewer, water)
• Commitment from City of Tulare for airport location
• An operations Manager
• Start-up capital for development of RV Park

“We're still in the preliminary stages of conceptual development,” said Reynolds.

Through the years there have been various proposals for an RV park in the airport area but nothing with any permanence has developed.

“There is a market for a high quality RV park. However, we have to examine what is the highest and most productive use of that property,” said former city manager Lynn Dredge who attended the May 22 TAC meeting.

TAC records indicate Fresno RV Outlet would be interested in a possible long-term rental use of non-aviation designated airport property for RV sales.

Businessman Cary Stanley would likely build a hotel or store on the property. He has already had a number of meetings with the City of Tulare regarding acquiring the property.

“We've got some wonderful things we want to have happen out there,” said Stanley. Stanley said that he would plan on keeping any development he may propose aviation related.

Ron Overacker, Jr., chief executive of Blue Sky Aviation was once interested in developing in the Mefford hangar area. Recently he has decided to look at other locations for his helicopter training, sightseeing tours and aerial photography business.

“There was too much competition with others with much deeper pockets,” said Overacker.

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“Code One” For On-the-Spot Service at Morris Levin & Son

By Kim Clemons

Tulare - An employee at Morris Levin & Son will immediately greet you as you walk into the store to pick up a filter for your air conditioner. Before you get too far into the store, others come to greet you and ask if they can assist you.

It is this instantaneous service, along with the knowledgeable employees, that are the hallmarks to the success and longevity of Morris Levin & Son's business.

“My father-in-law started a system back in the late 1960s after sitting on the board of directors for the hospital,” says Paul Atlas, president and chief executive officer for Morris Levin & Son, talking about their “CODE 1” system when customers come into the store.

Atlas explains that his father-in-law, George (the “Son” in Morris Levin & Son), tailored the hospital's 'code blue' system of immediate response to work for them with their customer service.

“The 'CODE 1' system lets all employees know that a customer has entered the store and needs immediate attention,” says Atlas who maintains that it is their system that resulted in Wal-Mart having greeters at its stores.

“We are known everywhere for the service we provide,” says Atlas, naming places such as Maine, Missouri, Texas and New Mexico as some of the states where their company has been acknowledged for its good service.

Morris and George Levin came to Tulare and opened their business here in 1934.

“We started out where Ely Auto Parts used to be,” says Atlas in reference to the location on the southeast corner of Inyo Avenue and L Street. Morris and George moved the business to the current location on South K Street in 1937.

Morris Levin & Son started as a scrap metal yard and soon expanded into a plumbing shop and hardware store.

“We ended up being the only hardware store in Tulare,” says Atlas.

Throughout the years, the company continued to expand by adding mechanical engineering that included refrigeration, sheet metal, electrical, sewer and septic installation.

Atlas, who married George's daughter, Marilyn, began working for the company in 1960 and eventually took over the business in 1981 when George retired.

In the early 1990s, Morris Levin & Son went through some major expansions by adding the rental yard across the street in 1991 and the Porterville store in 1992.

David Atlas, son of Paul and Marilyn, remembers working in the store as early as eight years old, doing a variety of jobs throughout his years of growing up.

It was in 1993 when David Atlas and his wife Tracy officially became the fourth generation in the business.

“The entire family has always worked here,” says Paul Atlas.

“We will continue to be family-owned and run,” says David Atlas.

As their business has grown, so has the original building. “You can see the lines in the ceiling of where we have expanded,” says David Atlas.

As for big box stores coming to Tulare, the Atlas family has not seen a decrease in business with the opening of Home Depot and are optimistic that the same will be true when Lowe's opens.

“Seventy-five percent of our business is ag-related,” says David Atlas, mentioning that they added dairy supplies and equipment in 1999.

Both men are quick to say that a large part of their success and growth is due to their loyal customers and employees.

“We have great employees working for us,” says Paul Atlas. “It's not uncommon for us to have employees who have worked for us for 25 and 30 years.”

The most notable employee is Bob Grissom, who has been working for Morris Levin & Son for 53 years.

David Atlas sees Morris Levin & Son continuing to grow and expand with new involvement, products and branching into new endeavors.

“Bulk landscaping products such as decorative rock and barks along with different types of soils as a target, as well as possibly more stores,” says David Atlas.

The Atlases feel the importance of giving back to the community. Not only do they regularly support various local youth sports and activities, they also are involved in city and community projects like the Tulare County Symphony.

Just this week Paul and David Atlas were in Sacramento to receive the Small Business Award for Tulare, Kings and Kern counties from Assemblyman Bill Maze.

Editor's Note: If you know of any business that is third or fourth generation, please contact kclemons@valleyvoicenewspaper.com.