CLOVIS, Calif. — Several Sierra Vista Mall tenants say they have been dealing with uncomfortable temperatures inside their businesses for years, as they wait for air conditioning problems to be fully resolved.
FOX26 spoke with multiple tenants who described ongoing cooling issues, but several declined to appear on camera.
They told us they were concerned about possible retaliation and worried speaking out could affect whether their air conditioning problems are addressed.
Walking through the mall, the signs of the issue are visible.
Fans and portable air conditioning units can be seen inside several businesses.
Tenants say they have relied on the extra cooling equipment for months just to keep their stores comfortable.
Two tenants told FOX26 they have been waiting since January for repairs, with no clear timeline for when a permanent fix will happen.
One said a portable air conditioning unit was not installed until last month, and before that, tenants relied on their own fans to help cool the store.
Another tenant said they purchased their own cooling equipment before eventually receiving a portable air conditioning unit.
They said that unit was not enough for the size of their store, forcing them to purchase another one out of their own pocket.
Not every tenant described the same experience. Some said their air conditioning systems have finally been repaired, while others said their systems have improved but still are not cooling the way they should. However, tenants told FOX26 the process took months.
One business, Famous Footwear, temporarily closed over the weekend and posted a sign saying the store was closed due to “extreme heat conditions.”
By Tuesday, the store had reopened.
An employee told FOX26 the air conditioning had been fixed, and cool air was blowing again.
A frequent mall visitor, Sandra Giovannoni, says she has noticed the temperature differences while taking regular walks inside the building.
“Hot and cold spots, yeah, or mostly hot spots, but there’s not much cold,” Giovannoni said.
She says she has seen portable cooling units and tubing inside several stores and believes the issue has been noticeable to shoppers.
“People go, it’s hot in here,” she said.
Giovannoni says she and others also noticed a difference after Kohl’s recently installed new air conditioning units, saying some cooler air reached portions of the mall walkways. Like the tenants, she hopes for a lasting solution.
“It would be wonderful to have AC, yeah, but you have to, yeah, you deal with it,” Giovannoni said.
She also says the temperature problems are not limited to warmer months.
Giovannoni says the mall can become uncomfortably cold during winter.
A tenant told FOX26, it’s because they do not have heaters.
FOX26 reached out to Sierra Vista Mall’s general manager, as well as representatives for the mall owners, Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group, but has not received a response.
Sierra Vista Mall is also listed as a cooling center by the City of Clovis.
FOX26 asked the city whether it plans to reevaluate that designation given the concerns raised by tenants.
A city spokesperson said officials are aware of the concerns and provided alternative locations where people can go to stay cool. Those include City Hall, the Transit Center, and the Senior Center during business hours. The Police and Fire Headquarters lobby is also available.
The city also reminds residents that Clovis Transit offers free rides to anyone seeking an alternative cooling location.
Information on locations and transit routes is available at ClovisCA.gov.
The city spokesperson also encouraged anyone with concerns or fears of retaliation for speaking out to contact the city.