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Alexa Lopez
Prof. Stephen Topf
English 114B
23
rd
April 2014
How the population & income affect the contents of a mall
All over the world there are places that are or appear to be similar to one another in terms
of physical appearance or contents. The Antelope Valley Mall and The Northridge Fashion
Center are a perfect example of two places that can be identified as being similar to each other
due to the fact that they are both malls located each in their own respective town. When it comes
to these two places, each contain quite a few similarities as many malls would have between
each other. Each mall contains hundreds of stores with tons of people spending hours of their day
trying to shop for the new and latest products. Each have customers ready to relax, go to their
favorite stores as well as eat some delicious foods located in the food court. Although they
appear to be similar in some ways, both actually contain many differences that are noticeable if
paid close attention to. As well as sharing the same reasons as to why clients go to their
particular mall, every mall as well as the stores contained within have become a reflection of its
community as well as how each tailors to the needs of the people who live there.
When it comes to the malls, each encounters different amounts of income per year
depending on the location, weather, type of people, as well as the average amount of income its
residents acquire per year. The weather is known to play a key factor in what kinds of clothes
that should be carried and the products that each store/restaurant should carry. When it comes to
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Northridge the average temperature is in the 60s (The Weather Channel) while the Average
temperature for Lancaster is 77 degrees (U.S. Climate Data). With the weather in Northridge
being much cooler than that of Lancaster the department stores inside the mall tend to contain
more fall friendly clothes. With Lancaster being hotter in temperature it contains more summer
clothes due to the constant heat of the sun due to the desert in which the mall is located at. Not
only is this difference in clothes that are carried presented during the summer, but as well as in
the winter. Since the weather during the winter is warmer than in Lancaster there isnt a need for
thick, warm, winter sweaters. Since the average temperature in Lancaster during the winter can
reach into the low 20s and 30s there is a higher demand for more sweaters and products that
aim to keep customers warm due to the cold winds that come from the mountains. Although each
mall may appear to be similar, they actually vary in terms of content. Not only is this presented
in weather and its outer appearance but as well as the amount of stores and the kinds of stores
that are within each one that reflects that of its community.
Due to the fact that the people living in the area receive a much higher amount of salary
the mall is able to stock itself with higher end department stores that is hard to find besides the
Los Angeles. For example the Northridge Shopping Center has more than 140 stores and is
located at a reasonable enough distance to the local University. With a Cal State University being
nearby, a good portion of the customers are college students. Due to the income of local business
as well as the money being received from the university, the Northridge Fashion Center has
many stores that are aimed and targeted to the specific age group that occupies the local
surroundings. As well as the income that is being received this specific mall, the town in which
the mall is located at. According to City-Data.com the average household income for Northridge
in 2011 was $82,705, which was higher than the average for the entire state which is $57,287
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(City-Data.com). Due to such closeness and being in a close constant distance to the University
the average percentage of degree received is a bachelors degree with over 24% of the
population(City-Data.com). With the majority of the people in the community having being
received a bachelors degree much of the community has a higher paying salary and well set
job/career. With a very small percentage of people being classified as lower-middle class or
lower the predominant ethnicity is white with over half of the population (City-Data.com).
Due to this there is a different set of social behavior, stores as well as values that are
deemed acceptable in each respected mall. At The Northridge Fashion Center the outer
appearance of the mall does not appear to be bigger due to the fact that the area is so packed with
many other local stores. When it comes to parking, this mall appears to have what looks like its
own parking structure. The cars located in the parking lot all appear to be of expensive types of
cars, with very few of them appearing to be used or in a rough condition. Inside the mall is
equipped with escalators, elevators as well as a giant television that is announcing ads as well as
upcoming events. This mall is two stories high and contains such stores as Abercrombie & Fitch,
Banana Republic, H&M, Guess, and Steve Madden, all of which are very well known and high
priced stores. Every store is well kept with huge amounts of lighting in each store in order to
give the sense of being fancy and high class. Each store is decorated according to the
theme/color of the store. For example the store Pink is decorated with Pink and white polka dot
wallpaper as well as cute and adorable dog statues located in the corners of the store. The store
gives of the vibe of being cute, girly and flirty which coincides to the theme that they are trying
to present. Every sales associate and cashier is very friendly and helpful to the customers and
greets the customers very warmly and friendly. When it comes to the behavior of the people
who are in the mall many are quietly talking amongst themselves and sitting enjoying something
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to eat at the many small food places located in the hallways of the mall. The majority of the
customers are well groomed, each making an effort to appear presentable.
This in fact is quite different from Antelope Valley Mall due to the fact that since the
Antelope Valley Mall is located in an area with the majority being lower-middle class who at the
very least are High School graduates or College drop-outs. According to City-Data the estimated
household income in 2011 was $47,198, which is actually lower than that the state makes. This is
caused due to majority of the citizens that live in the town are surviving on medium wage due to
the lack of those going to college due to the fact that they cant afford it or have not met the
requirements to enter a four year University. Over the years the percentage of single teen moms
has increased. Lancaster, According to City-Data.com is #6 on the list of "Top 101 cities with
the largest percentage of people in state prisons (population 50,000+)" (City-Data.com). This is
due in particular to the vast majority of people who occupy the area being alcoholics and drug
addicts. The predominant ethnicities in Lancaster is Hispanic and African Americans with over
50 percent of the population (City-Data.com) because of this many of the people are on welfare,
food stamps and disability. Due to this the Antelope Valley Mall does not contain the same types
of stores that would be found in the Northridge Fashion Center. Each mall reflects their specific
community it is located in as well as the people who occupy the surrounding area, who of which
tailors to their needs.
Upon arrival to the Antelope Valley Mall the difference is outstanding. The AV mall has
such a huge amount of parking places that are located all around the mall. The surroundings
make the mall appear to be a bit deserted and it gives off the impression that not that many
people go to there. When it comes to the stores that are located within many are decent when it
comes to appearance, each store is decorated with a simple color choice of paint for the walls,
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the sales assistance are easy to connect with due to the fact that many of them go to the local
schools so it is easier to relate to the customers that are transitioning in and out throughout the
entire day. Although there are not that many stores within the mall due to the fact that the
Antelope Valley mall has only one floor due to the lack of money that the mall as well as the
community makes, it still has its own stores that are popular to that of the area. Stores such as
Forever 21, Macys, Charming Charlies, Dillards, Tillys and Aeropostale are some of the most
visited stores in the mall. In the hallways there are many venders for such things as toys,
paintings/ drawing as well as the majority being in body piercings. There are many stores within
the mall as well as one nearby that contains many body piercings from ears, belly, lip and more.
The community in the Antelope Valley is quite fond of tattoos and body modification, it is quite
common for students to receive piercings and tattoos by the time they leave High School.
Although the people living in the Antelope Valley wish for stores that are found in the
Northridge Shopping Center, if both Malls were to be placed in the others town both would do
poorly and possibly close down. If the Northridge Shopping Center were to be placed in
Lancaster many of the residents would not be able to afford the high prices due to the fact that
many are already struggling to keep a roof over their heads as well as food on their table in the
first place. If the Antelope Valley Mall were to be placed in Northridge it would be looked down
upon due to the fact that it not only contains very fewer stores than they are used to, but it as well
as does not reflect the community that it is presented in. Although each mall varies depending on
the location, people and the income each mall is important as it is a representation of the
community which the community can feel proud of.

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Works Cited
Average Weather for Northridge, CA- Temperature and Precipitation. Average
Weather for Northridge, CA- Temperature and Precipitation. The Weather
Channel, n.d. Web. 21. April. 2014

Climate Lancaster. U.S. Climate Data. U.S. Climate Data, n.d. Web. 21 April 2014.

"Lancaster, California." (CA 93534) Profile: Population, Maps, Real Estate, Averages, Homes,
Statistics, Relocation, Travel, Jobs, Hospitals, Schools, Crime, Moving, Houses, News.
City-Data.com, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

"Northridge Neighborhood in Northridge, California (CA), 91324, 91325, 91326, 91343
Detailed Profile." Northridge Neighborhood in Northridge, California (CA), 91324,
91325, 91326, 91343 Subdivision Profile. City-Data.com, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.