I've heard of your website, but have not checked in with you before. Decided it was high time I checked our neighborhood to see what's going on, since the Mercury News doesn't have much news about it.

What in the heck has happened to our local shopping centers? Both Bloom Plaza and the Lucky Shopping centers have steadily gone downhill, but the prices of homes are still up there. Granted, I went into the Ranch 99 market one time and couldn't make it much past the door. The smell was atrocious, so that cured me of trying that. Glad it closed, but it still doesn't help our end of town-we're still short 2 markets. And, while the Lucky store was no great prize, it was convenient, had most items I would want or need, and the employees were pleasant. Also, I think about some of the older folks who live in the complex by the hospital who depended on that store for most of their needs. Where do they go now?

Maybe we should petition Safeway to put in a small store at Santa Teresa and Cottle; it would certainly be poetic justice in the Lucky/Albertson corner. I read the letter from Trader Joe's and thought 'snobbery is alive and well'. Probably they don't realize how much money is spent by folks in our neighborhood. They are probably right about a specialty store's not doing very well out there; maybe the 98 Cent Store has something to do with it? Could be the general appearance of the center. I've lived in the neighborhood since 1975, and that center was there then. It does look a bit tired, even with the new paint job.

Any late news on who may be interested in that location or the one in Bloom Plaza?

Helen White
6552 Radko Drive
SJ 95119