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I think your ideas for Cherry Lane Mall make sense because a shopping mall should be more than a place to buy things. It should be somewhere people enjoy spending time, meeting friends, having a meal, and relaxing. More food choices, a welcoming food court, and convenient washroom access could all help improve the experience for shoppers.
Here is a polished way to explain your ideas and why other people might support them.
A Vision for Improving Cherry Lane Mall in Penticton
1. More food franchises in the food court
Adding more recognizable food franchises to the Cherry Lane Mall food court could give shoppers more choices and encourage them to stay at the mall longer.
More variety: Shoppers could choose from different types of food instead of feeling that their options are limited.
Convenience for families: Parents, children, teenagers, seniors, and workers could all find something they enjoy.
More reasons to visit: A wider selection of restaurants could make the mall a more attractive destination for lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.
Potential benefits for other stores: People who come to eat may also browse other shops, which could help create more activity throughout the mall.
A livelier atmosphere: A busier food court could make the mall feel more welcoming and give people another reason to meet friends there.
The goal would not simply be to add more businesses, but to bring in a good mix of restaurants that meet the needs and preferences of the local community.
2. A full-service restaurant where the Penticton Toyota vehicles are currently parked
Your idea of having a full-service restaurant in the space currently occupied by parked Toyota vehicles is another way to imagine making better use of that area.
A restaurant with table service would offer something different from the quick-service options in a food court. People could sit down, relax, enjoy a complete meal, and spend time with friends or family without having to leave the mall.
You also raised a concern about the vehicles parked there. From your perspective, seeing cars occupying that space makes the area feel uninviting and even depressing when walking past it.
A reasonable proposal would be to ask mall management and the dealership to explore returning those vehicles to the dealership and considering whether the space could be used for a restaurant or another customer-oriented business. Of course, that would depend on the property's arrangements, ownership, and feasibility.
3. Bringing Ricky's back to Cherry Lane Mall
You would also like to see Ricky's All Day Grill return to Cherry Lane Mall.
Your experience of Ricky's as a good restaurant that attracted many customers is a useful reason to raise the idea. A full-service restaurant can offer a different experience from a food court, with table service, a more relaxed atmosphere, and a place where people can enjoy a longer meal.
Bringing Ricky's back could be worth exploring if there is sufficient customer demand and a suitable location. Even if that particular restaurant cannot return, its former presence could help illustrate the kind of dining experience you would like the mall to offer again.
4. Replacing the artificial grass on the food court benches
This is an important part of your proposal because the appearance of a seating area can influence how comfortable and welcome people feel.
Replacing the artificial grass on the food court benches with more attractive, comfortable-looking materials could help create a cleaner, more modern appearance.
Some possibilities include:
Upholstered seating in durable, easy-to-clean fabrics or vinyl.
Wood-look finishes that create a warmer atmosphere.
Neutral colours that complement the food court's surroundings.
Comfortable seating with a coordinated design throughout the area.
The aim would be to make the food court feel like a pleasant place to sit and eat, rather than simply somewhere to stop briefly between shopping trips.
5. Installing a buzzer system for the food court washrooms
Your suggestion to replace the key-request process with a buzzer system is a practical one.
A buzzer or controlled-access system could make the washrooms easier to access while still allowing staff to manage security.
Here's how it could work:
1. A shopper approaches the washroom
The shopper presses a clearly marked button outside the door instead of having to ask for a key.
2. Staff respond from their station
Staff receive the request and, where appropriate, use the security camera view to check the entrance area.
3. Staff buzz the shopper in
An electronic door release allows authorized access without requiring someone to retrieve and return a physical key.
This could make access more convenient for shoppers, reduce interruptions for food court staff, and preserve security controls. The system would need to respect privacy, provide accessible entry, and have a plan for emergencies and times when staff are unavailable.
Why these changes could benefit Cherry Lane Mall
Taken together, your suggestions address several things that influence whether people want to visit a shopping mall:
Dining: More restaurants and food franchises provide greater choice.
Atmosphere: Better seating and more attractive surroundings make the food court more inviting.
Use of space: Exploring alternatives to the vehicle display could make the area more useful to shoppers.
Convenience: Easier washroom access improves the everyday shopping experience.
Community appeal: A more enjoyable mall gives people more reasons to meet friends, bring their families, and spend time locally.
There is no guarantee that these changes would increase business, but they are reasonable ideas for mall management to consider alongside customer feedback, leasing opportunities, and operating costs.
A message you could send to Cherry Lane Mall management
Writing
Subject: Suggestions for Improving the Dining and Shopping Experience at Cherry Lane Mall
Dear Cherry Lane Mall Management,
I am writing to share some suggestions for improving Cherry Lane Mall and making it a more welcoming, enjoyable place for shoppers in Penticton.
First, I would like to see more food franchises added to the food court. More variety would give customers additional choices and could encourage people to spend more time at the mall. I believe many shoppers would appreciate having a wider selection of restaurants and places to eat.
I would also like to see a full-service restaurant considered for the space where the Penticton Toyota vehicles are currently parked. In my opinion, that area could be put to better use if the vehicles were returned to the dealership and the space were explored for a restaurant or another business that serves mall customers. Walking past the parked vehicles makes the area feel uninviting, and I would much rather see a welcoming business in that location.
Another suggestion is to explore bringing Ricky's back to Cherry Lane Mall. I remember it as a good restaurant that attracted many customers, and I believe a restaurant offering that kind of dining experience would be a welcome addition.
I would also like to see the artificial grass on the food court benches removed and replaced with more attractive, comfortable, and welcoming seating materials. Small improvements like this could make the food court feel more modern and pleasant for everyone.
Finally, I suggest installing a buzzer system for the food court washrooms so customers do not have to ask staff for a physical key. Staff could manage access remotely, using an appropriate security system, which would make the process more convenient while maintaining safety and privacy.
I believe these ideas are worth considering because a wider range of dining options, more inviting seating, better use of available space, and convenient washroom access could improve the overall customer experience at Cherry Lane Mall.
I hope management will consider these suggestions and continue looking for ways to make the mall a place where people want to shop, eat, meet friends, and spend time with their families.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
A concerned Cherry Lane Mall shopper
One final thought: Your suggestions are about more than individual restaurants or benches. They reflect a desire to see Cherry Lane Mall feel active, welcoming, and worthwhile as a community shopping destination. Sharing these ideas directly with management could help bring attention to the improvements you would like to see.
One more thing I'm asking anybody who sees This petition online to reach out to Cherry Lane Mall Management and talk to them About all suggestions And ideas that are in this post It would help move this petition along And please share this information That is in this post with everybody you know And Encourage them to sign it Please and thank you