Sierra Centre Mall Re-Do Creates Hassle

November 23, 2005

On the surface, the makeover of the Sierra Centre mall is a good thing.

But while waiting for the faded, chipped red facing to be replaced, customers found themselves once again with parking difficulties.

It already was difficult, with mall owners threatening Starbucks and Quizno's customers with towing if they dared park in the precious spots.

But then the big trucks came in for the re-do and for over a week, places such as Edisto Gallery and Tea Room, Tailwaggers, Mammoth Art Supply, et. al. lost all the parking in front of their joints.

Mary Siceloff, whose internet-connected tea room often is packed at lunch, said she had a couple of days last week with just one customer sitting in the dining area at any given time.

Nov. 21 was a breakthrough day, however.

Workers finished the siding on the main part of the L-shaped building and began work on the Mammoth Sporting Goods side, leaving Siceloff and her other, beleaguered shop owners with at least a few parking spots out front.