City Lights Is Coming to Northeast Bakersfield: Get Ready for the Jobs

BAKERSFIELD, CA — The long-vacant former East Hills Mall property is turning into City Lights, a 350,000-square-foot open-air shopping center on Mall View Road that developers are aiming to open in spring 2027. With In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Sprouts, Ross, Marshalls and Hobby Lobby on the tenant list, northeast Bakersfield is about to gain a lot of retail and restaurant jobs close to home.

No hiring dates or job counts have been announced yet. That makes this the season to get your resume ready, not the season to wait.

Ready to search? Jump to the retail and restaurant job links and start looking now →

📍 City Lights at a Glance

Business	City Lights, an open-air shopping center
Address	3000 Mall View Road, northeast Bakersfield (former East Hills Mall site)
Target opening	Spring 2027
Size	About 350,000 square feet
Developers	Michael Heslov and Stephen Zimmerman; leasing by Cushman & Wakefield
Industry	Retail, grocery and quick-service restaurants
New jobs	Not yet announced

Who's Moving In

Local TV reporting over the summer put the core lineup at Boot Barn, Ross, Ulta Beauty, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, Five Below and Sprouts Farmers Market, with Burlington also named. In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A were announced at the city's State of the City address in July, which would make them the fourth In-N-Out and third Chick-fil-A in town.

Earlier tenant lists reported by KGET also included Jersey Mike's, Skechers, PetSmart, Tilly's, Sally Beauty and Mattress Firm, and city planning documents floated Panera Bread, which the developers had not confirmed. In July the leasing team said the center was about 90 percent leased. Treat the list as close to final, but not locked.

Why It Matters for East Bakersfield Workers

For years, people living off Mount Vernon Avenue and Highway 178 drove across town to the Valley Plaza area or out to the Rosedale corridor for everyday shopping, and for a lot of entry-level work. A center this size, with a grocery anchor plus several big-box stores and two high-volume drive-thrus, typically fills a mix of cashier, stocker, sales floor, kitchen, shift lead and store management roles.

"For far too long, East Bakersfield has been neglected," Councilman Andrae Gonzales said in July. For job seekers in the East Hills, the practical upside is a shorter commute and more choices of employer within a few blocks of one another.

⚠️ What Nobody Has Announced Yet

None of the tenants has published a headcount, a hiring date or a pay range for the City Lights locations. Spring 2027 is a target, not a ribbon-cutting date. New stores usually begin posting jobs a few weeks to a couple of months before they open, so the openings will likely surface in early 2027. Until then, the smart move is to know which brands you want and watch their official careers pages, such as In-N-Out's employment page, TJX careers for Marshalls, and Sprouts careers.

🔎 Start Searching Now

Many of these brands already run stores elsewhere in Bakersfield and hire year-round. Getting on with one now can mean a transfer or an early shot at a lead role once City Lights opens.

Start here:

FAQ: City Lights Jobs

Where is City Lights?

At 3000 Mall View Road in northeast Bakersfield, on the former East Hills Mall property near Mount Vernon Avenue and Highway 178.

When does City Lights open?

Developers are targeting spring 2027. No exact grand opening date has been announced.

Is City Lights hiring now?

Not as a center. No tenant has announced hiring for its City Lights location yet. Expect postings closer to opening, likely in early 2027.

Which stores and restaurants are coming?

Reported tenants include In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Sprouts, Boot Barn, Ross, Ulta Beauty, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, Five Below and Burlington, with several others named in earlier reports.

How many jobs will City Lights create?

No official figure has been released. We'll update this story when tenants announce headcounts.

Get Ahead of the Opening Rush

Create a free profile and get your resume in shape now, so you're ready when the first City Lights postings go live. Sign up on LocalJobPage and browse the Career Center for more Bakersfield job guides.

Employers: Opening a store at City Lights or anywhere in Kern County? Post your jobs and reach local applicants.