San Antonio Shopping Center: I would like to see stores not now in Mtn. i.e. Pottery Barn, Container Store, Gymboree, Crate & Barrel, Dress Barn, Borders,Gap, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy, Gap, Talbots, Lane Bryant etc. or a block of outlet stores similar to the ones located in Folsom, CA. Stores that offer quality products with affordable prices. This would unable people to shop in Mtn.View and not have to travel to Palo Alto or San Jose and keep the revenue in town.

"A younger man suggested that the city allow more office buildings in the area... "

Oh, please! The last thing Mountain View needs is more office buildings. We already have a glut of them. Office buildings in next-door Sunnyvale are suffering at a 50% vacancy rate.

Old Navy all the way!!! A *good* shoe store too (I am tired of trekking to Valley Fair for leather shoes and Stride Rite quality kids shoes). I think outlets are a great idea too. Hairdressers, kids cuts places would all be more convenient at this location too.

"a woman countered, "This end of town has always been poor,..."

Yeah, "poor" enough to dine at the German Bakery and Chef Chu's, and buy specialty groceries at Whole Foods and coffee at Pete's. "Poor" enough to use up gas driving down El Camino to Borders, where they have to fight for parking. The locals aren't quite scraping the bottom of the barrel. They're just spending their money in neighboring towns because that's where the nice stuff is available.

Maybe by "poor" the woman meant anyone whose home cost less than a million dollars. Well, ours is worth a little less than that, but I have bought furnishings at Crate & Barrel (a Crate & Barrel outlet would be great!) and I'd rather buy Christmas presents at REI or a kitchenware shop than Wal-Mart or Target. How about a Pier 1? I think my budget could handle that. The last time I tried to shop at the Sears, I couldn't find a decent suit, so I left and went to another shopping center to spend my money. I thought the store could use a make-over. A Borders or Barnes & Noble or other nice bookstore (with coffee bar) would probably do well, as the locals appreciate books - the local libraries enjoy a lot of community support. How about an educational toy store? (I don't think I've yet mentioned the high level of education of many of the local residents.)

Yes, the "poor" locals (of Mountain View, and Los Altos - just across the street!) might like a nice shopping environment where they can safely walk around in their new leather shoes, buy a sweater and a book, and relax with a mocha in a sidewalk cafe, watching the world go by...

We want Beard Papa!!