![\"Genevieve](\"https:\/\/lamesacourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/cutout_genevieve_suzuki.png\")
<\/a>In 2015, we decided to book a spot in town. My dear friend and dentist, Dr. Brian Suzuki, always encourages me to support our local merchants. As a fellow business owner, he understands the importance of heading down the street for a service rather than driving 20 minutes out of the way to go somewhere they\u2019ll likely never know your name.<\/p>\n
We wound up choosing Antica Trattoria, a deliciously intimate venue that offered comfort, style and warmth on a cold and rainy day in December. As we ate our delicious entrees, I watched fellow diners laugh and talk with one another. We were communing together happily, creating memories for years to come.<\/p>\n
A week later, I was at Grossmont Center getting a pen engraved for a friend. I\u2019ve passed Engraving Pros at least once every other week and every time I pass it I think, \u201cI need to go in there and check it out.\u201d Christmas provided me a reason to finally make good on my intention.<\/p>\n
As I stared at the newly engraved pen, I couldn\u2019t believe it took me so long to try out the store. \u201cYou did a wonderful job,\u201d I enthused to store owner Carol. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n
Recently, I\u2019ve heard rumors that Grossmont Center is going to undergo an overhaul to include residences. This rumor worries me greatly \u2013 I don\u2019t know how it will affect the shops. Selfishly, I don\u2019t want the mall to go anywhere. Grossmont Center, like Vons on Lake Murray before it and Coco\u2019s before that, is among my go-to places. As you can see, my track record sucks.<\/p>\n
We see most of our movies at the Grossmont theaters and always buy our snacks at Candy Paradise, owned by the always-friendly Khuu family. Also, if it weren\u2019t for Candy Paradise, we couldn\u2019t properly bribe Quinn to allow us to eat our pho in peace.<\/p>\n
The reality is La Mesa is changing. We\u2019re getting younger as new families come in and plant roots around town. And even though the community is flipping, we still need a local mall. We need Candy Paradise, Engraving Pros and comic book shops just as much as we need Target, Wal-Mart and Macy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong, I enjoy a good jaunt to Fashion Valley just as much as the next gal. But when it comes to taking my family on a spontaneous mall visit, I\u2019d rather avoid having to get on the Interstate 8.<\/p>\n
If you live in La Mesa, if you work in La Mesa, make it a point to patronize the restaurant down the street \u2013 the warm familiarity you\u2019ll enjoy within a couple of visits is well worth any effort.<\/p>\n