Even with the economy's downturn, The Green at Park Place in Dublin is still slated to open in early 2010. Located near a BART station and backed by a high-end grocery chain as one of its future tenants (Whole Foods), Blake Hunt Ventures continues to draw up plans for the center's layout.

But The Green isn't alone in the search for prospective customers in the area. The Tri-Valley has been experiencing a population boom in recent years and businesses see a lot of opportunity with the added presence. Sunset Development has recently cleared approval from the city of San Ramon to build an independent movie theater along with a number of upscale shops.

The Green at Park Place should attract upper/middle class families and couples with its aim to incorporate high-end boutiques in the center. Then again, the definition of upper/middle class is already somewhat skewed and might not even be a valid term within the next few years. So let's just say this: the people with a lot of money in their pockets are the people you are going to see coming out of the stores with shopping bags from designers you only read about in fashion magazines. This reminds me a lot of Blackhawk Plaza, where I think the number of geese wading the ponds outnumber the people walking around without the intention of going there to work out or grab a bite to eat at a restaurant.

Coming back to the problem with the economy — people haven't been spending money like businesses think they should be. Who knows if we get a little less stingy as the next two years pass (disregarding the holiday shopping frenzies that have become a tradition in American culture). As a college student learning to live on a small budget and cafeteria food, I'm not feeling too excited about the addition of more places where I feel I'm just wasting my time if I went in to take a peek. Heck, I don't even shop at the Whole Foods down the street from my dorm. I do an about face and head straight for Trader Joe's.

- Joseph Natividad