Escondido Then & Now: Revisiting 1994 profile on San Diego neighborhood

News 8 looks into the history of Escondido and what it's like today. We revisit Grape Day Park, businesses and other places featured in 1994. MORE: www.cbs8.com/a...
Escondido economy and new North County Fair mall in 1986: • Escondido Economy and ...
Larry Himmel 1994 Escondido profile: • Profile on San Diego n...
New North County Fair mall: • North County Fair New ...

[@maddieharding7628]

I was born on Grand Avenue! It's so cool to see what it looked like back in the day. I love my city and am proud to have been born and raised in Escondido!

[@DaisyandJesus116]

I'm proud to have been born and raised in Escondido!

[@SundayCookingRemix]

me 2!!

[@britos5955]

🖐️

[@TheOfficialMadds]

Yep

[@MaKillah]

😂😂😂

[@user-wj9bz8xi9u]

I just moved here from out of state, really enjoying your hometown!

[@robertmccraw2847]

I’m 27 born and raised in Escondido, happily living in Arizona. I absolutely love and miss everything about Escondido. I may come back when I find success. Untill then I still rep my city no matter where I live and grow my business.

[@sunflower8035]

Robert M - I grew up in SD & we bought our first home in Esco. Grew so tired of the crime & trash in Cali, we moved to AZ and we LOVE it here in AZ!

[@AngelicoCiudad]

​@sunflower8035 Isn't Arizona violent crimes increasing as well? I heard gang and thugs been more active with shootouts and assaults way more.

[@robertmccraw2847]

@@AngelicoCiudad we actually all have guns out here. Thugs with guns aren’t even scary, california the gun laws create a situation where the law abiding citizens have a hard time getting a firearm for protection while a thug/gangster wouldn’t think twice about a law and aquire a firearm illegally and not be scared to use it because people who follow laws typically won’t be able to defend themselves. There is good and bad everywhere but we don’t just get mass shootings and idiots going on rampages because your average cowboy here won’t tolerate that and there is a lot less cowards out here.

[@AngelicoCiudad]

@robertmccraw2847 Oh, okay. That makes sense. I guess all those shootouts or run-in shootings are between gangs in AZ.

[@robertmccraw2847]

@@AngelicoCiudad possibly sounds like maryvale in the heart of Phoenix. And yea it’s a very sketchy area. But it also tiny, I’m from California. You could fit a few AZs in Cali. There is ALOT of bad areas in Cali you can’t even drive though and feel safe. You must not have been to LA much. It’s very different than San Diego, and even in San Diego downtown there is some areas you must not be aware of. But that could be a good thing, just stay safe out there.

[@mikeramirez9051]

they have really been stepping it up lately especially with the new Washington skatepark, however there still needs work. The schools still need fixing, neighborhoods need to be safer, and homeless need to be sheltered.

[@LanaW123]

Escondido has huge potential but needs A LOT of improvement. It is half dead half alive in some pockets

[@lovelyselly]

yess!! everything yes to what you said

[@AngelicoCiudad]

Invest more into schools. Have a gang/ cartel creckdown. Built small specialized rooms for homelessness. That's how you solve those problems.

[@StripeRich]

Family transplanted from Utah to Escondidio in 1963. It was paradise for at least the following 20 years, but since then has become overrun, too densely populated, too much imported demand for housing, driving prices to ridiculous numbers, congestion to intolerable levels. We finally bailed, sad to leave, in 2003.

[@shyannedelacruz2642]

Born in Escondido in 1998 at the old Palomar hospital that is now being demolished, I was Partly Raised in Moses Lake Washington ages 2-9 &’ have been back living in Escondido California since 2010 - 2021 !! I LOVE THE ESCONDIDO COMMUNITY ❤️

[@sunnydaze905]

Hey! Same year same hospital. It's kind of weird seeing it be slowly demolished

[@SundayCookingRemix]

yes we need a plaque onsite remembering all of us who were born and died at that hospital... many of my family

[@burnsmac4187]

I was born in 1989 at Palomar Hospital, and our first son was born there too. We moved out of Esco about 6 years ago, but my mom still lives there. I was shocked when I saw the hospital demolished. Didn't even know they were taking it down 😞.

[@funkndavid]

I think Escondido is a wonderful place. But let’s be honest, the homeless outrank our neighbors to the west (San Marcos) 3 to 1. The problem is we’re getting homeless from Oceanside hopping on the sprinter coming to Esco and just settle here.

[@chalinosanchez696]

Theres homelessness everywhere dude, nothing new

[@AngelicoCiudad]

Nowadays, I hear escondido has cartel or gang problems where thugs are breaking into an apartment complex or something? There's also more homeless and syringes.

[@bonnieyates140]

I lived in Escondido from 1988 to 1998 worked at FedCo #9 store on E Valley Pkwy for 8 years it was torn down ,now its home to Home Depot and Walmart. met a lot of great people. Lived on 9th ave and Chestnut

[@DaisyandJesus116]

I remember shopping at FedCo when I was a kid. 😊

[@SundayCookingRemix]

i worked at fedco 1990 the mall and the vineyard 😞 tom Selleck owns that shopping center

[@lionzilla2173]

I used to steal from that store Good ol’ Fedco

[@dirtburgalar]

My parents bought an original NES system at that fedco

[@luismartinezxiv]

Stationed in Washington state, definitely Escondido my forever home ! See you esco this December! ^_^

[@stepheneckert9969]

To be perfectly honest, our town has been going downhill for decades. I was born at Palomar Hospital in the mid ‘60s and have lived here almost my entire life. I have seen the changes, mismanaged growth, increase in crime and gang activity, and general disdain that many people have for one another. Escondido is not a coastal town and comparatively our weather is not as good. With all of the issues coupled with the cost of living I see no reason to stay. Truly nothing here is improving!!!

[@4923crm]

San Diego suburb Escondido has been in my history books since 1987 when I relocated 2 what is now my hometown, the land of Discovery, San Marcos. I'm proud 2 b a native San Diegan. Though I was born in the Los Angeles suburb known as Pasadena. I'm proud 2 b from the land of Discovery, San Marcos

[@SundayCookingRemix]

i was born here in 1972 at Palomar hospital on grand avenue you guys shoulve went down grand to filippis and the coin shop and the antique store. A lot of those places have been there more than 50 yrs and on Escondido blvd... but otherwise, good job! oh yes, and you missed frances Ryan's history of Escondido display at the library!!! And rhe time capsule at orange Glen elementary... lets do a retake 😂 ill help u .... the wrangler bbq on valley by Kennedys has been there more than 50 yrs to!! Where i live, some residents have lived here 4o and 50 yrs. My neighbors grandfather started the times advocate!!! we need a part 2!!

[@cbs8sandiego]

Thank you Tracey--great ideas. Yes we need part 2, 3, 4...so much history to tell and explore.

[@DaisyandJesus116]

I was born in the same hospital. 1978. 😊

[@skyeisthebeesknees]

So sad that they’re not demolishing the hospital I live right by it

[@720zone]

Your throwback videos are absolutely amazing 8!. By any chance would you have any video of the old Edwards San Marcos 6 theater? Not the one on San Marcos Blvd. There was a 6 plex on Center Drive where the Walmart is now. Would love to see it again. Cheers!

[@PRISMONIC]

Omg, I work at the mall and it’s soooooo freaking weird to see it in its original glory!

[@Commanderson7]

My grandpa was born here in 1911 my dad in 1938 and me in 1983 my daughter in 2009. It’s a lifelong family city. Escondido is home.

[@kellsbellls]

And now grape day park is filled with homeless and drug deals!

[@jacobjames1171]

I'll have to get over there for some party favors. Thanks for the heads up. 😄👍

[@SundayCookingRemix]

they need somewhere to go hater... nasty woman. Why dont you go help them

[@LanaW123]

@@SundayCookingRemix hater???? Is this coming from a loving tolerant person???? Maybe teach kids at schools how NOT to take drugs and the consequences of them instead of victimhood narrative? A lot if them are young drug addicts....

[@anthonymonterosso7472]

That park is definitely sketchy at night. No matter where I walk around in Esco, there are homeless people everywhere and they always try to scare my dog lol. Also, can't stand all of the 1 way streets and so much traffic, and trash/food left on the ground. The other night, we had a homeless guy standing outside our window watching our TV and drinking water from our outside water faucet. Walked down Grand last week and a homeless dude literally stopped walking right in front of me, pulled down his pants and continued to take a dump on the sidewalk. Hate this city

[@ernee100]

Escondido is the place i call my hometown. I look forward to going home a few times a year whenever I'm back in the States. Even though Escondido is huge compared to my memories, most of my old friends are still there.

[@mannymartinez1426]

One of the best cities in san diego. That's why I love to live in Escondido since 1995

[@jasonsmith3674]

I live in ESCO, moved there 10 years ago. Im very pleased with the city

[@FloofyMinari]

Always a pleasure to see my city receiving recognition. It is a grand city that should not be overlooked.

[@Mrssandii]

Born and raised in Escondido 💛

[@1mw4tch1ng]

we moved to Escondido in 2006 after the completion of our newly built home and are still here in the same home we moved from the San Francisco Bay Area since 1970.

[@SundayCookingRemix]

also, city hall and the center for the arts build was controversial as well 99 million or something

[@eav2769]

I just moved from Escondido to Alabama due to my job. I grew up in Chula Vista but after meeting my wife we made Escondido our home of record. Was blessed to return to Escondido in 2015 after I was transfer from Texas to CA. Got to sub there and coach 1 year at OG while I was there. I was stationed in East LA but Escondido was the place away from work I was able to relax and go fishing to Dixon, Vallarta, the Mall, Grand Cruise, PHO at that restaurant in the corner near Lowes and more. While I agree is not perfect, I did have overall a great time getting live near Dixon Lake. I am now in Alabama and when people see my DL and it says Escondido, I proudly tell them that's "home". Being a Military 🪖 guy and moving so much, having met my wife in Escondido back in 2006 and being back and my family going back there every time I deployed, made it that hidden place I felt at home. Currently enjoying Alabama but would be lying if I don't miss being in Escondido. Oh yeah the only thing I don't miss is the homeless people messing with property lol. 760 stay safe

[@tammermashni8541]

I'm from Florida and moved out to Diego in 2019 and lived in esco during pandemic and now 2022 back in Florida ...can't lie I wanna go back so bad but things aren't in place

[@SundayCookingRemix]

how many times was walmart denied? more than 3

[@SundayCookingRemix]

no one can afford those new apartments, lets tell the truth. 1,800 a month for one bedroom

[@SundayCookingRemix]

@@GossAug 🤣💯💯💯

[@SundayCookingRemix]

@@GossAug our city planners are clueless as they sit on the hill in their expensive homes

[@3bomen]

I can lol

[@Knux522]

95 born and raised love my Hidden City . Escondido

[@sdstang01]

Damn! That’s awesome to know more about my hood! Been here since 1990

[@gvsupermorphs4978]

Born and raised in escondido its way over populated to expensive and lots of homeless..

[@patagoniabear]

Awesome video

[@emilio5antos36]

You guys should do one on vista and Oceanside

[@maribelmedina2517]

Escondido it's a generous city, thanks ESCONDIDO!

[@joshjohnson3204]

I used to go to that mall when I was at Camp Pendleton in 1995.

[@rickp7683]

Born & raised in Escondido, 1965 & still going 2021 , and the old Palomar hospital, was born there now it looks like it's getting bombed on, its getting demolished but looking like a bombing in Iraq , sad to see the old Escondido hospital looking like that,

[@moniquefavela2820]

Born & raised🙏💙 just too dam expensive now😭

[@LennyTheHopeless]

Don't move to Escondido... move to someplace cheaper. Rent and housing is expensive af and the city does NOT look like this. I think they're finally starting to make it look nicer...but it's gonna take years. If you want a place in Cali that actually looks pretty nice despite being expensive, San Marcos is for you. Or San Elijo in San Marcos is a cute community (and middle school there was the best 👌)

[@jazzyminification]

Jesus Christ read the room

[@ortegazs]

A great segment!

[@laughnsal]

Imagine if they didn't turn down the University ( Cal State San Marcos) , and the Recent Farm Team Ballpark that took 9 million to access the land ? Hum.. , Definitely room to Grow and it's coming ,

[@chaseadams347]

didn't mention the Safari park

[@Kidzbopkaren]

It’s fun living here..

[@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354]

I'm gonna miss the LPS street lights that were all over Escondido. Now it's all LEDs which sucks.

[@Its-Angela]

Escondido used to be nice now too many homeless, people and looking like trash.

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Not too many homeless. /

[@Its-Angela]

@@jordanjohnson9866 maybe you should drive by Stater Bros or Ralphs and look around 🙄

[@brennan7846]

@@jordanjohnson9866 lots of them in grape day park

[@jakejohnson7714]

I lived in Valley View when it was a cattle farm and had no casinos in this city!

[@krismurphy7711]

Doart Show Repair was started by Doris and Art Kilmer. Ran it until very old age. (DOris ARThur)

[@axelg2242]

i been living in escondido for like 7 years

[@InfinityPets]

Can we get one of these on National City please!

[@THECelrenel]

Escondido is the last real city in the area. Please don't ruin it and overpopulate. Its not about $$

[@svlfurr]

I live there too

[@ramsesramses3500]

It is sad that they are taking down the hospital I was born in

[@gromieseekingknowledge9463]

Lovely Mexondido

[@karma4130]

Not sure where he's getting the Chia in Lucia

[@Cmcismypookiebear]

Rip to the hospital

[@29weektwins33]

They failed to mention the Homeless population is taking over downtown Esco

[@bryanburnap4537]

OMG. From Boston. Lived in Oceanside - but sold Kirby vacuums in Escondido. I found it hot as shit and kinda blah !! Lot of tweakers etc.. But I did but my car at Toyota of Escondido and though I made fun of it - I had alot of fun in Escondido

[@jl-dc6dt]

Escondido is a ghetto , homeless squatter everywhere .Come here if you like broken windows ,car/bike stolen, $2000 for a 2 bedroom ,loud partying neighborhood, Crazy traffic, pot holes and steel plates and a lot more…You May ask why I didn’t move out .Yes I am planing .

[@orlandorodriguez8325]

INCLUDING STREETS FULL OF HOMELESS 😂

[@DaisyandJesus116]

Any large city has homeless these days unfortunately. It's the times we are living in. 😕

[@ivanreyes4033]

It’s still as ghetto as it ever was. Little distractions don’t deter away from that.

[@corinjohnson697]

Can we address the elephant in the room,what about the Indigenous Mission Indians that settled this land 200 years before....that was given the choice,Christianity or Else to have Christianity still not save them...everyone is building on land that was sold fraudulently

[@stacky512a]

i guess not. Excondido is a dump anyway

[@RicardoGonzalez-ww3ov]

The Mexicans were here before whitey showed up , in fact Escondido also is home to the last Mexican land grant property that is mostly intact !

[@EdgardoMarquina1020]

#2 in taxes and does a poor job a distributing those earning to our own public… more car washes and gas stations is where our council has there eyes on. Thanks again.

[@patrickwalsh5093]

I worked at FED MART in the 80 s it was a dump the it’s not any better.

[@ernestoguerrero7563]

I like escondido has everything besides the bad people, 👎 but it's very familiar city 🇲🇽🇺🇸💯🙌

[@49ersrules32]

The biggest change is the rent

[@kinggrizzlytakesontheworld1441]

I grew up in escondido. Lincoln ave front of Toyota dealership. Neibors were escondido Diablos. Constant car robberies and constant cops chasing vatos lmfao........great? Nope.....more like little Tijuana aka ghettos AF. Ooo amd I'm a resident who got the F out of esco.

[@sdro4584]

Good don’t come back either

[@brennan7846]

That’s just cuz u lived on a bad street, that’s the part of esco where people just drive through

[@sinkingputts]

Reading through these comments and i see homeless must be everywhere. Sounds like some people must have the blinders on

[@jacobjames1171]

Build a city pumptrack already.

[@mikemoyer8162]

I love my hometown, but all the new mcmansions going up really suck, that and one of the most corrupt police departments in the nation. Still home though.

[@brennan7846]

What makes it corrupt?

[@LanaW123]

Maaan. What a propaganda. I live in Escondido. This city has a huge potential but so stagnant and dead. Grand is and Escondido boulevard are dead , those barriers with " graffiti on them make it look chaotic . At least few random condos coming here and there . Can't wait fir old hospital turn into a complex. That million dollars donation arch over Grand is a waste if donation. Instead could have been a lot of landscaping along center city improved. Library smells and filled with homeless. Transit center need to be painted. Mall is dying. Noone really shops there . I live by eagle crest golf course and avoid going to Escondido, Instead drive to Carmel mountain and 4s ranch--- completely different world..... Even took both of my kids to Del Norte highschool instead of Escondido. The nature, views and safari park are the best parts of Escondido. Tge rest needs a lot of improvement instead of propaganda.

[@bbygleilani]

what is this😂, i hate living in esco lol

[@DaisyandJesus116]

Maybe you should explore the nice areas. Escondido is huge and has a lot to offer.

[@thecupthatwalked]

Anybody been to Dominic’s on grand?

[@stacky512a]

99cent stores, and other crap outlets are what excondido is now known for. Just compare it to San Marcos or Temecula...ghetto

[@davidavendano7737]

lot of more homeless in Escondido now.

[@adonis4186]

Esco sucks. I know 'cause I was raised there until the 7th grade and then I went back to live there for a few years. There's nothing to do, and the White conservative community still marginalizes and shxts on the large Mexican community living there. How many Mexicans did you see in this video? Few to none, but they're the real community. Not to mention the it highlights the racism entrenched in the town. Even in this video, they hail as immigration as something awe-inspiring - if you're white. My bad, but that's just emphasizing the "Sea from Shining Sea'' BS. Opportunity? Palomar College will turn you away if you don't want to attend CSUSM or Palomar. If you're lucky, then they'll help you put you in the proper path. The gang violence is still prevalent; and they even had conflict with taggers a few years ago. Yeah I've seen OG graduates achieve high marks like being accepted into Princeton, but they don't televise that. And they don't tell you how some school teachers would strictly prohibit Spanish in their classroom. Esco has a lot of work to do. If you want my advice, get out of Esco and get your degree. The world's offers a much places. And don't forget Carlsbad was home to a lot of Mexicans who came here looking for work. It wasn't that long ago my grandparents lived in Carlsbad and worked there. And if you're working at Harrah's SoCal, or know a relative there, know that they're exploiting you or them. They don't care about you and they're giving you scraps.

[@sunflower8035]

Adonis 😂 look again they were all Mexican, in the current videos. Look again.

[@carlv8168]

@@sunflower8035 Adonis is too racist, narrow-minded, ignorant and too angry to look again. Contrary to his ignorant statement, many Hispanics, my son included, graduated from Palomar College and transferred to SDSU where he completed his undergrad studies. Why? Because he was focused, goal-oriented and knew that he had to meet their academic standards in order to earn his degree and graduate...all without leveraging any special programs for ethnic minorities, etc. We lived in Escondido for 15 years through the 1990s and early 2000s and owned 2 rental properties during that time in old historic Escondido which is an ethnically mixed diverse neighborhood. Adonis's perception and anger are toxic, and it's because of attitudes like his that there's so much hate and contempt in this world. My Hispanic family "achieved" and found success in this world because we respected the concept of not only a strong work ethic, but more importantly setting and accomplishing academic goals in order to achieve personal and professional enrichment, and a better quality of life. That opportunity still exists in this great country (and in Escondido) for those who are willing to make the personal investment in pursuing them without looking at everything through such a racist lens.

[@AngelicoCiudad]

"There's no diversity in this video I'm offended" That's how you sound 😂. You want Meexecans? Go to grape day park/area in escondido, and you will see many Meexecan from the nortenos or surenos gang selling drugs to the other little Meexecan kids😂 .

[@ernee100]

Poor you. My heart bleeds sorrow for your miserable plight. Can we take our next caller, please?

[@adonis4186]

Your English is weak. @@ernee100

[@vir123456]

Escondido is a one of the worst towns I have ever seen. I avoid that place whenever possible. Come to think of it San Diego County as a whole is not a good place.

[@Insaiyanrider]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ericvil600]

It's not to bad lol

[@jacobjames1171]

Says the guy who can't afford to be here. BTW, fuk your rebuttal.

[@vir123456]

@@jacobjames1171 Escondido is one of the cheaper places to live in San Diego County dipshit. I literally moved from that embarrassment you call a town to Orange County. You can't afford to live where I live. Enjoy your rental.

[@lionzilla2173]

Born in 84 here so I remember a lot of this. I’m still here too didn’t go anywhere. I work for a underground utilities company life is good just getting crowded.

[@sdro4584]

Nice man escos cool ! You guys hiring at all ??? lol