The southwest side of Bakersfield has been mistaken for “the southside of Rosedale” for a bit too long. This area has its own identity different from the lifted trucks blasting Nickelback albums, neo-crankheads and dirtbike aficionados usually associated with Rosedale.
Don’t get caught up in the Marketplace hype; the southwest is all about hidden treasures.
Orchard Supply
Hardware
6465 Ming Ave.
Basically, Lowe’s and Home Depot have sold out into the Martha Stewart/Rachel Ray lifestyle.
While there is nothing wrong with having 30 washer/dryer combinations to choose from, there is something refreshing about having a hardware store housing nothing but the tools and parts needed to get the job (whatever “the job” may be) done; available in only one color, thank you.
The Prime Cut
8200 Stockdale Highway
Spring is right around the corner, home-boy. That means you better get your life in order, and have some quality meat cut to order for that first barbecue of the season.
Eaglerider of
Bakersfield
6801 White Lane
I swear to God, there is a Pirates of the Caribbean theme bike built by legend Arlen Ness at Eaglerider.
La Cabana
6725 White Lane
Their motto is “It’s always time for a fiesta.” Never was this statement more true than in 2007. Their chips and salsa have a vendetta against boring.
Lengthwise
Brewing Company
6720 Schirra Court
You might as well be proud of where you are from, and pride is easily measured in pints. Go ahead and get a little sloppy on a couple pints of the local favorite: Centennial Ale. Then, next time you go out to other bars around town, obnoxiously ask every bartender what they have that is like the Centennial.
All the bartenders you talk to might be a little T.O.’ed with your ‘tude, but they will all respect this simple fact: Although you are some obnoxious drunk person, at least you aren’t some obnoxious drunk person who moved here from L.A.
Racer’s Haven Hobbies
7401 White Lane
I double-freaking-dog dare you to walk in here and not get your socks knocked off. This place is like a shrine dedicated being an awkward junior high school age guy, but in a really good way.
If you can’t relate to that, grow up.
Korea Video and
Market
6401 White Lane
Entering Korea Video and Market is like teleporting out of Bakersfield and into a completely different realm. Just to let you know how much world there is outside America (and Bakersfield), they have a selection of movies that have titles as large as Blockbuster; most of which no one you know could even try to read.
Action Sports
8200 Stockdale Highway
Action Sports has so much awesome outdoor equipment that it really makes you wish that Bakersfield didn’t have the filthiest air in the country.
Wanting to take a deep breath while bombing down the backside of a foothill on your full suspension Cannondale mountain bike really offsets the whole hippie/environmentalist label you might be nervous about.
Trader Joe’s
8200 Stockdale Highway
Speaking of hippies, if you happen to have some kind of hippie insecurity, and are afraid to venture inside Trader Joe’s because of this, take a chance. Trader Joe’s has an awesome beer selection that balances out the healthiness that is found everywhere else in the store.
Superkart Racing
7021 Schirra Court
The problem: Kevin Harvick is from Bakersfield, and he just won the Daytona 500. You are from Bakersfield, and you drive a Kia.
The solution: Go drive a really fast go-kart and get over it.