Deer Park Shopping Center

Brian B has a legit gripe… maybe they will add some bike racks after reading his review?
Anyhow, I love this shopping center. I don’t even live in Aptos anymore and I am still here weekly. My only complaint is the parking, it always feels like it’s packed with tourists (even in the off season.) Or maybe no one knows how to drive?
Included in the center besides the previously mentioned… Bittersweet Bistro, JBella Nails, Red Apple Café, Optomotrist, Hair Salon, and great Chinese food!

This shopping center has a lot of great things in it: a grocery store, a CVS, a BofA, a couple of great restaurants (especially for breakfast… and pizza). It’s got a liquor store, a gym, a recycling center, and some nice open space to just relax. So why the low rating? For the one thing it doesn’t have: bike racks.
I don’t live far away (about 2 miles), so I’d rather bike than drive to the complex when I want something from Deluxe, or over this past weekend, when I wanted to talk to the people at BofA. Not only are there no racks (at least that I have found), but it’s also difficult to find other places to safely lock up your bike. As a result, your options basically become: illegally lock the bike to a handrail, and possible kill some unsuspecting old lady who needs the rail to stay vertical in the process, or take your bike in with you when you shop, which is my go to when I’m just going to CVS. Unfortunately, though, I think even the businesses that LET you bring your bike in with you are pretty unhappy about the endeavour… not to mention the fact that CVS and Deluxe Foods have pretty tight corners to maneuver while inside.
Some of the stores are a little pricey too, like Deluxe… but go read reviews on that specific business to get the full story.
Deer Park, you could easily be a 3 or 4 star experience, if you’d just add some dang bike racks!