The short answer: the biggest change underway in northeast Bakersfield is City Lights, a new retail center being built on the former East Hills Mall site along Highway 178. Named tenants include Sprouts, Hobby Lobby, Ross, Marshalls, Burlington, PetSmart, Ulta and In-N-Out. When it opens, it brings a full shopping trip to the same highway that connects Vista Montaire with downtown.

For years, the honest answer to "Where do you shop if you live in the northeast?" has been "closer than you'd think, but not everything is here yet." That is starting to change. Here's what we know about the project, what is still unconfirmed, and what it could mean for day-to-day life along the 178 corridor.

What Is City Lights, and Where Is It?

City Lights is a retail development on about 36 acres on the south side of Highway 178, between Bernard and Oswell streets, which is the old East Hills Mall property. According to KGET's March 10, 2026 report, the confirmed tenants are Boot Barn, Sprouts, Ross, Ulta, Skechers, Marshalls, Burlington, PetSmart, Hobby Lobby, Bath & Body Works, Tilly's, Five Below and In-N-Out.

That list matters because of what it covers. A grocery store, home décor and craft supplies, pet supplies, clothing, beauty and a quick meal are the errands that often send northeast residents across town today. Having them together along Highway 178 changes that.

"The errands that once meant a trip across town are moving onto the road you already drive home on."

When Will City Lights Open?

No firm opening date has been confirmed. In March, KGET reported that construction "has barely started" on the site, and projects of this size usually open in stages as each building is finished. We'll update this post when the developer or the city announces a confirmed date. Until then, treat any date you see online as an estimate.

How Does This Fit With the Rest of Northeast Bakersfield?

Northeast Bakersfield has always offered a different trade than the rest of the city. In exchange for being a little farther from the big retail clusters in the southwest and northwest, you get elevation, views, and the Kern River park system as an extended backyard: Hart Memorial Park, Lake Ming, CALM and the Kern River Parkway bike path. (Our northeast Bakersfield homebuyer's guide covers all of it.)

City Lights doesn't change that trade so much as shrink its downside. The outdoor life stays where it is, and more of the everyday shopping moves closer. It joins the established shopping and dining along the 178 and Mount Vernon corridors rather than replacing them.

What Does It Mean If You're Looking at a New Home Here?

A few practical thoughts if you're comparing new-home communities on this side of town:

  • Map your real week. List the trips you make most often (groceries, work, the gym, activities) and drive them from each community you're considering. New retail is useful only if it's on your routes.
  • Separate "approved" from "open." Retail plans change, and tenants are sometimes added or dropped before opening day. Decide based on what's open today, and treat what's coming as a bonus.
  • Visit at the times you'd actually drive. A weekday evening drive along Highway 178 tells you more than a Saturday-afternoon tour.

Where Vista Montaire Fits

Vista Montaire is a gated, hilltop community of single-story, semi-custom homes off Highway 178 at 12021 Marquise Drive. City Lights is on the same highway, toward town. Homeowners association dues are currently $119.78 a month (subject to change) and cover the gate, common-area landscaping and reserves.

If you'd like to see the community and the drive for yourself, browse our available homes and floor plans, then schedule a tour.

Common Questions

Is City Lights the same as East Hills Mall?
It's on the former East Hills Mall site, but it's a new open-air retail development, not a renovation of the old mall.

Is there a grocery store in the plans?
Yes. Sprouts is among the tenants KGET reported in March 2026.

How far is City Lights from Vista Montaire?
Both are along Highway 178, with City Lights closer to town. Drive times depend on traffic, so try the drive yourself when you visit.

Sources: KGET via Yahoo News, "Welcome, City Lights: Residents of northeast Bakersfield excited about retail project," March 10, 2026 (accessed October 7, 2026). Tenant lists and timelines are reported by others and may change.

Pricing, HOA dues and availability subject to change without notice; see current pricing on our Available Homes page. Equal Housing Opportunity.