THE CLOSING of the Sears department store in Westminster Mall opens the door to major changes at that center at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street (Flickr/Chris Jepsen).

Interested in shaping the future of Westminster Mall?  Input is being sought on the 2040 Draft Vision for the shopping center at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street through an open house.

The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 in the lower level interior entrance to the former Sears building. There will be an opportunity to speak one-on-one with project team members and learn more about what might be the future of the center.

Westminster Mall opened in 1974, and for a while, was the largest enclosed shopping center in Orange County, with four department store anchors. It began to decline in the 2000s because of competition from the renovated Bella Terra center (formerly Huntington Center) nearby, and then further as major chains imploded. Additionally, newer, trendier malls made the Westminster location seem outdated and out of touch with changing consumer tastes.

Springing into the Spring Festival?

Applications are still being accepted for spaces available for craft, food and commercial vendors at the 2019 Spring Festival hosted by the City of Westminster’s Community Services and Recreation Department.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Civic Center, 8200 Westminster Blvd. It will feature a pancake breakfast, live entertainment, food, a youth art contest, displays and more, including a visit from the Easter Bunny.

For more information, call (714) 895-2860 or go to www.westminster-ca.gov.

26 arrested in raid on illegal gambling

26 PEOPLE were arrested Monday night in raids on illegal gambling operations in homes in Westminster (Shutterstock).

Twenty-six people were arrested late Monday in a raid in Westminster against illegal gambling. According to authorities, a SWAT team with officers from Westminster and Buena Park raided two homes in Westminster.

One home on Treebark Circle was raided and another on Premier Avenue. Charges included illegal gambling operation, narcotics possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Additionally, some suspects were wanted on outstanding warrants.

The investigation that led to the arrest is tied to the use of illegal gambling machines that were first popular in cafes and restaurants in the Little Saigon districts. They moved into homes when law enforcement cracked down on the practice.