Northridge Mall adding family entertainment

With malls across the country struggling to compete with online retailers, one Central Coast mall is getting creative to keep shoppers coming back.

As convenient as online shopping is today, many people still like the brick and mortar stores.

“I enjoy going in the store because sometime I just like to pick an item up, check it out,” said Sherri Jeska of Salinas.

“I like the idea of going to the store, touching the stuff, checking it out,” said Joe Munoz of Clovis, New Mexico.

“Because online you can only see a digital picture of it. You’re not going to get the real thing online,” said Gerald Butler of Salinas.

But many malls around the country have seen a decline in sales because of sites like Amazon or Jet.com.

“Online for convenience, it’s easy to do, you get a nice selection,” said Jeska.

And that’s why places like the Northridge Mall are making big changes to keep people coming in!

“We’re so happy to announce that Round One is coming in the fall of next year. So that’s a family entertainment center but they have bowling and karaoke and ping pong,” said Northridge Mall Director of Marketing, Jen Filice.

Because it’s roughly impossible to buy a night out on the town with the family online.

“Salinas is a family town, that’s what we have here, so we want to offer something to people that they want and they’ve been asking for,” said Filice.

Round One will be accompanied by twelve new retail shops, and people are excited for new entertainment in the area.

“Whatever you can do to bring families in where it’s safe and its fun, I think it’s a great idea,” said Jeska.

“Something like that would be more exciting, it would make me want to get out of my seat at home and not watch tv, and actually go somewhere,” said Butler.

Well, almost everyone is excited.

“It doesn’t make any difference…I can’t dance!” said Munoz.

Round One is set to open in the Fall of 2018 at the Northridge Mall, while many of the twelve new retail shops should be opening this September.