CLOVIS, Calif. (FOX26) — Workers at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis say hot conditions inside the property are driving away customers and leaving some employees to endure little to no air conditioning.
Workers at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis say hot conditions inside the property are driving away customers and leaving some employees to endure little to no air conditioning (FOX26).
Carolynn Flores, a vendor at the indoor market at Sierra Vista Mall, said the heat has become a daily problem.
“It’s horrible. It’s hot in here,” Flores said.
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She said the uncomfortable temperatures are costing vendors business as the San Joaquin Valley has now faced about 20 days of triple-digit temperatures so far this year.
“You want to go where it’s air conditioned, and this isn’t comfortable at all in here,” she said.
Inside the mall, fans and portable air conditioning units were visible in multiple areas.
Some stores were noticeably cooler than others, particularly those with their own air conditioning units. But in areas relying on portable units provided by mall ownership, people were still sweating.
One vendor had a thermometer on her table that read almost 80 degrees, reflecting how warm it was inside without working air conditioning.
One retailer, Famous Footwear, temporarily closed multiple times, posting a sign saying the store was closed due to “extreme heat conditions.”
The store was open later with five portable AC units inside.
Tenants across the mall said they were told improvements would come, but some said they have been waiting since January for repairs, while others said they have been dealing with the issue for years.
Flores said what workers want is simple.
“Turn on the air,” Flores said.
Sierra Vista Mall is owned by Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group.
FOX26 News attempted to reach out for comment but have not heard back.
People working inside the mall were willing to discuss the conditions but were too afraid to be identified on camera, citing fears of retaliation from the owners.
The mall is labeled as a cooling center by the city of Clovis.
A spokesperson for the City said officials are aware of the concerns and provided alternative locations where people can go to stay cool.
They also encouraged anyone with concerns or fears of retaliation for speaking out to contact the city.
Namdar Realty Group has faced legal challenges involving other malls, including Sunrise Mall in California, Pittsburgh Mills in Pennsylvania, and Bangor Mall in Maine.
Those cases involved allegations related to property conditions, including code violations, safety concerns, and maintenance issues, with local officials seeking repairs and accountability from mall ownership. In one case, a court ordered nearly $2 million in fines tied to dozens of alleged maintenance violations. Another case involved more than $1.1 million in penalties.