Mill Creek Antique Mall latest downtown Bakersfield storefront targeted by vandals
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Driving down 19th Street can look like a display of plywood due to continuous vandalism striking downtown businesses.
The latest target happens to be the Mill Creek Antique Mall.
“I’m feeling very frustrated, seems like it’s a never-ending story here,” said Jose Flores, owner of Mill Creek Antique Mall. “Seems like once we fix it, we come back next week with another broken window.”
It’s been only 9 months since Flores took over the business.
“It’s six windows broken within July of last year,” said Flores.
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The cost adds up too.
“The cost involving the vandalism is going to be about around just over $5,000,” said Jason Mitchell, with Beacon Studios.
Mitchell is also paying the price at Beacon Studios, just 400 feet from the Mill Creek Antique Mall. Two of their windows were smashed two months ago, and they’re still waiting for replacements.
“There’s so many questions that go unanswered but, you know, it’s kind of the nature of downtown unfortunately,” said Mitchell.
Moving the business is not an option, according to Mitchell.
“We moved down here with a purpose, because we want to be a part of the revitalization of downtown,” said Mitchell.
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A sense of hopelessness lingers.
“It’s going to happen again, I’m not going to sit here and say that it’s not going to, it’s going to happen again,” said Flores. “It is what it is, we just need something better and the City needs to figure it out.”
Community members say they understand this is a complex issue to tackle, but still want to see results.
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