In Mall Shopping

President Bush is proposing a temporary tax rebate to put more cash in people's pockets to get them spending and stimulate the economy. Word on capitol hill is that the president favors $800 rebates for individuals and $16-hundred for married couples. The checks haven't even been mailed out yet, but already people are planning on how to spend the extra cash. News of a tax rebate got some shoppers at the Empire Mall a little stir crazy. "I would go shopping and spend it in the mall all in one day, it wouldn't be too hard to do," said Brook Petersen. While how much of a rebate taxpayers would get hasn't been decided yet, Crazy Days shoppers say any amount would help. But most of the people we spoke with wouldn't go on any big shopping sprees, but rather would spend money on necessities or even save it. "I think it's a good idea as hard as some people work," said Sarah Bentley. Sarah Bentley has three children and says $16 hundred dollars wouldn't last long in today's economy. "I would buy groceries, because groceries are so high, grocery and gas, that's the main thing, grocery and gas," said Bentley. Ali Adamson is planning to get married soon, so the money would not be spent on any luxury items. " $800 dollars, I'd like to say I' d put it in the bank, which I would probably do with a wedding coming up," said Adamson. Others would save it to cover future expenses. "Probably save it for my kids for school or college," said Caron Wipf. "We would save it for a house, we are planning on buying a house or building one in the next few years and after that save it go on vacation," said Sharon Hofer.

Council Defers Financing For Bellevue Center

Investors with Foursquare Properties, developers hoping to redevelop the Bellevue Center Mall, will get more time to come up with a financing package.

The Metro Council deferred legislation on financing the huge project Tuesday night.

Foursquare Properties was hoping to get $12 million in tax incentives but the mayor's office couldn't support the proposal.

The group wants to turn the old Bellevue Center Mall into a lifestyle center, with open-air shopping.

Developers must now come up with another proposal on how to pay for the project.

The Bellevue Center Mall is located on Highway 70S, just off Interstate 40 in... .

Sushi bar wrapped up in assaults

FREMONT — A new sushi restaurant and nightclub kept police busy early Sunday morning — as it has on other weekend nights — and now officers plan to pay more attention to it.

"We're going to put that place on our extra-patrol list," Sgt. Chris Mazzone said of Kaenyama Sushi, Teppanyaki & Bar at 43785 Boscell Road in the Pacific Commons shopping center.

Police were called to the bar shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday to break up a fight in which one man was struck in the head with a beer bottle.

Then at 2 a.m., police were dispatched to the ampm gas station at Grimmer Boulevard and Auto Mall Parkway where two men, who had been at the restaurant, beat up a third man while he was pumping gas, Mazzone said.

The attackers shouted "gang-related terminology" at the victim and punched him in the face several times before two bystanders chased them away, Mazzone said.

Five Wal-Mart Supercenters planned for Victor Valley

Five Wal-Mart Supercenters are expected to open in the Victor Valley over the next two years. Three stores are proposed for Victorville, one for Apple Valley and one for Hesperia. All will be Supercenters, which means they’ll be nearly double the size of a regular Wal-Mart and will sell food, including fresh produce. In Victorville, the project that is furthest along will be in the Dunia Plaza shopping center on Bear Valley Road, just south of the mall. It will include a Supercenter combined with a Sam’s Club, as well as three additional parcels for future development. The city anticipates approving the project in either March or April, after Wal-Mart completes their environmental review, said Yvonne Hester, spokeswoman for the City of Victorville. If approved, the center could be open as early as next spring.

Retailer and manufacturer Tommy Bahama launches new e-commerce site

Apparel manufacturer and retailer Tommy Bahama has launched a new web site incorporating advanced imaging and shopping features as well as web 2.0 technology. The new Tommybahama.com was the result of several months of research and development aimed at building an online shopping experience that bridges the gap between traditional brand-focused sites and those that rely heavily on e-commerce applications, according to its developers.

For example, the new site offers a magnifying glass function shoppers can drag over any product image to show details as small as the thread color on a pocket seam. The site is built on extensive Flash development as well as detailed, customized templates to facilitate easy movement throughout, Web 2.0 elements that streamline and facilitate product views.

BREC trail plan advances

The East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation and Park Commission gave conceptual approval Thursday to a plan to develop a 12-foot-wide bike and walking trail from the Mall of Louisiana to the Siegen Lane Marketplace.

In addition, the BREC gave the green light Thursday for Jack to pursue talks with landowners about building a trail along Dawson’s Creek that would tie into the Ward’s Creek path, and allow access to Perkins Rowe and the Bluebonnet Village Shopping Center.