By the mid-1980s, the FASHION SQUARE at La Habra had been eclipsed by its many competitors. The complex was knocked down in stages between 1990 and 1995 and was replaced by the LA HABRA MARKETPLACE strip center.
Photo from http://www.merlonegeier.com (Merlone Geier Partners)
BULLOCK'S FASHION SQUARE (La Habra)
West Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard
La Habra, California
Bullock's Realty's final foray in Southern California FASHION SQUARE shopping centers was built in northern Orange County, on a 37.2-acre parcel. This plot was located 21 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, in suburban La Habra. Ground was broken for BULLOCK'S FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) in September 1966. The 14 million dollar complex, formally dedicated on August 12, 1968, encompassed approximately 460,800 leasable square feet and housed forty stores and services.
Unlike the three previous FASHION SQUARE malls, which had opened with a single anchor, the La Habra complex was to feature two full-fledged department stores; the 3-level (271,100 square foot) Bullock's La Habra and 3-level (120,000 square foot), Long Beach-based Buffums'. There was also a 2-level (34,200 square foot) Joseph Magnin. Other charter tenants included Silverwoods men's wear, Draper's ladies' wear, Judy's ladies wear and B. Dalton Bookseller.
BULLOCK'S FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) was the only Bullock's-built shopping hub to include a motion picture theater in its original incarnation. The American Multi-Cinema Fashion Square Theatres At La Habra made its debut August 27, 1969. It was promoted as "the world's first freestanding four theatre complex."
Regional shopping centers in the vicinity of FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) included WHITTWOOD CENTER (1956) {2.2 miles northwest, in Whittier}, LA MIRADA CENTER (1959) {2.6 miles southwest, in La Mirada}, PUENTE ["poo-in-tay"] HILLS MALL (1974) {5.3 miles northeast, in the City Of Industry} and BREA MALL (1977) {4 miles east, in Brea}.
La Habra's FASHION SQUARE was doomed almost from the start. Its location had been selected to take advantage of two proposed freeways that were never built. Likewise, the proliferation of large, fully-enclosed shopping centers in its trade area caused potential customers to shop elsewhere.
By the mid-1980s, the center was in a downward spiral that it never recovered from. Its rear parking area was often used as a drag strip by local car clubs and gangs. The "antiquated and out-positioned" venue was purchased by a joint venture of the Irvine, California-based Hopkins Real Estate Group and La Habra Redevelopment Authority.
The mid-section of the moribund mall was demolished in early 1990. The Buffums' building fell to the wrecking ball in May. Bullock's, the cinema and three smaller outparcels were left standing. A new strip complex, known as LA HABRA MARKETPLACE, was built in the western half of the old mall's rear parking area
Stores in the new strip center opened between December 1990 and April 1991. These included Service Merchandise, Ross Dress for Less and Drug Emporium. Apparently, the new "value-oriented" shopping hub was no more successful than the upscale specialty mall it had replaced. By 1994, the 215,000 square foot center was thirty-percent vacant and in foreclosure.
San Diego's M & H Realty Partners (now known as Merlone Geier Partners) acquired LA HABRA MARKETPLACE in June 1994. They embarked on finishing the strip complex. The old Bullock's, which had closed in mid-1992, was still standing and had become a dilapidated eyesore. It was bulldozed in November 1995.
With Bullock's out of the way, it was possible to add an eastern section of stores to the existing plaza. New Oshman's SuperSports USA and Office Max locations soon opened for business. The old 4-plex cinema had gone through a succession of owners before it was razed and replaced by the Regal La Habra Stadium 16 megaplex. This newly-built venue showed its first features on April 22, 1999.
San Jose-based DJM Capital Partners acquired the 375,000 square foot retail hub in May 2004. Today, it is tenanted by stores and services such as the aforementioned Ross Dress for Less, plus LA Fitness (in the Service Merchandise spot) and a Smart & Final grocery (in space originally leased as a Drug Emporium).
Sources:
The Los Angeles Times
http://www.hopkinsgroup.com
http://www.djmrealty.com
www.cinematreasures.org
West Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard
La Habra, California
Bullock's Realty's final foray in Southern California FASHION SQUARE shopping centers was built in northern Orange County, on a 37.2-acre parcel. This plot was located 21 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, in suburban La Habra. Ground was broken for BULLOCK'S FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) in September 1966. The 14 million dollar complex, formally dedicated on August 12, 1968, encompassed approximately 460,800 leasable square feet and housed forty stores and services.
Unlike the three previous FASHION SQUARE malls, which had opened with a single anchor, the La Habra complex was to feature two full-fledged department stores; the 3-level (271,100 square foot) Bullock's La Habra and 3-level (120,000 square foot), Long Beach-based Buffums'. There was also a 2-level (34,200 square foot) Joseph Magnin. Other charter tenants included Silverwoods men's wear, Draper's ladies' wear, Judy's ladies wear and B. Dalton Bookseller.
BULLOCK'S FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) was the only Bullock's-built shopping hub to include a motion picture theater in its original incarnation. The American Multi-Cinema Fashion Square Theatres At La Habra made its debut August 27, 1969. It was promoted as "the world's first freestanding four theatre complex."
Regional shopping centers in the vicinity of FASHION SQUARE (La Habra) included WHITTWOOD CENTER (1956) {2.2 miles northwest, in Whittier}, LA MIRADA CENTER (1959) {2.6 miles southwest, in La Mirada}, PUENTE ["poo-in-tay"] HILLS MALL (1974) {5.3 miles northeast, in the City Of Industry} and BREA MALL (1977) {4 miles east, in Brea}.
La Habra's FASHION SQUARE was doomed almost from the start. Its location had been selected to take advantage of two proposed freeways that were never built. Likewise, the proliferation of large, fully-enclosed shopping centers in its trade area caused potential customers to shop elsewhere.
By the mid-1980s, the center was in a downward spiral that it never recovered from. Its rear parking area was often used as a drag strip by local car clubs and gangs. The "antiquated and out-positioned" venue was purchased by a joint venture of the Irvine, California-based Hopkins Real Estate Group and La Habra Redevelopment Authority.
The mid-section of the moribund mall was demolished in early 1990. The Buffums' building fell to the wrecking ball in May. Bullock's, the cinema and three smaller outparcels were left standing. A new strip complex, known as LA HABRA MARKETPLACE, was built in the western half of the old mall's rear parking area
Stores in the new strip center opened between December 1990 and April 1991. These included Service Merchandise, Ross Dress for Less and Drug Emporium. Apparently, the new "value-oriented" shopping hub was no more successful than the upscale specialty mall it had replaced. By 1994, the 215,000 square foot center was thirty-percent vacant and in foreclosure.
San Diego's M & H Realty Partners (now known as Merlone Geier Partners) acquired LA HABRA MARKETPLACE in June 1994. They embarked on finishing the strip complex. The old Bullock's, which had closed in mid-1992, was still standing and had become a dilapidated eyesore. It was bulldozed in November 1995.
With Bullock's out of the way, it was possible to add an eastern section of stores to the existing plaza. New Oshman's SuperSports USA and Office Max locations soon opened for business. The old 4-plex cinema had gone through a succession of owners before it was razed and replaced by the Regal La Habra Stadium 16 megaplex. This newly-built venue showed its first features on April 22, 1999.
San Jose-based DJM Capital Partners acquired the 375,000 square foot retail hub in May 2004. Today, it is tenanted by stores and services such as the aforementioned Ross Dress for Less, plus LA Fitness (in the Service Merchandise spot) and a Smart & Final grocery (in space originally leased as a Drug Emporium).
Sources:
The Los Angeles Times
http://www.hopkinsgroup.com
http://www.djmrealty.com
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.merlonegeier.com
Memories of Jeff Arellano
