The shopping hub is serviced by LA Metro transit train. The Martin Luther King Jr. Station was one of eight stops on the
K Line. This Phase 1 light rail route began revenue service in October 2022. It extends for 8.5 route miles and connects with the
E Line light railway.
Drawing from https://www.metro.net
In the mid-2020s, BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW is anchor-less. As mentioned, WalMart and Macy's pulled up stakes in 2016 and 2023, respectively. Sears had gone dark in 2020. In 2025, there were forty-eight operational inline stores and kiosks, with twelve restaurants.
CRENSHAW CENTER
Crenshaw and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevards
Los Angeles, California
Greater Los Angeles' first regional-class, suburban shopping hub was originally developed as two separate retail centers. Straddling the Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw Manor districts, the adjacent complexes occupied a 49-acre spread, located 5 miles southwest of the center city. A section of the land parcel had been used for the Sunset Fields Golf Course. The property had been owned by Elias "Lucky" Baldwin, a turn of the 20th century real estate entrepreneur.
A north land parcel was developed by May Company California, who built a 5-level (266,000 square foot) store. Known colloquially as May's Crenshaw, it was designed by Albert C. Martin, Samuel A. Marx, Noel Flint and Charles Shonne. An official dedication was held on October 10, 1947.
A seven-tenant strip of stores, known as the CRENSHAW DISTRICT, was
built on the north side of May Company. The shopping strip housed Richman
Brothers men's, Roe Shoes, Grayson's and two 5 & 10s; a 2-level
(33,900 square foot) J.J. Newberry and 2-level (18,300 square foot) S.H.
Kress. These stores were dedicated during 1948 and 1949.
Across the avenue was 5-level (220,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based The Broadway. This store, designed by Albert B. Gardner, opened on November 21, 1947. South of The Broadway was CRENSHAW CENTER, a ten-store strip complex developed by Los Angeles' Trousdale Associates. Stores included Leeds Qualicraft Shoes, Lerner Shops, Children's Department Store and a 2-level (48,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. The south end was anchored by a (16,500 square foot) Owl-Rexall Drug.
This store was dedicated with a 3-day grand opening commencing on August 20, 1948. The festivities began with an autograph party featuring popular recording artists such as Kay Starr, Buddy Clark, Nellie Lutcher and Margaret Whiting. Next came a block party with music provided by Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra. Appearances were made by film stars Ann Miller, Roddy McDowell and Peter Lawford.
SANTA BARBARA PLAZA, a third store strip, ran along the south side of Santa Barbara Avenue. Security-First National Bank began business on December 12, 1947. A (45,000 square foot) Von's Market welcomed first shoppers on January 30, 1948. Barker Brothers Furniture opened its doors on November 27, 1948, with Sav-On Drugs being dedicated on April 2, 1949.
A futuristic MobilGas "lubri-torium" filling station, car wash and auto repair garage was built as an outparcel of CRENSHAW CENTER. This facility opened on November 27, 1948. Customers having work done on their cars could ride a free shuttle bus to -and from- the west side of The Broadway store.
The shopping center was serviced by a dual-lane -2/5-mile-long- truck tunnel; this accessed at two portals. This was the first underground freight-delivery system at a shopping complex. By late 1949, the CRENSHAW CENTER and CRENSHAW DISTRICT complexes encompassed over 550,000 leasable square feet. They were acquired by Los Angeles' Capital Companies in 1950 and named -collectively- as CRENSHAW CENTER.
In the 21st century, the orientation of the original complex may seem strange. Storefronts were built against the sidewalks along Crenshaw Boulevard and Santa Barbara Avenue, with 7,000 for-free parking spaces situated in the rear. The
parking lot in front design had not yet become the American shopping center standard.
Between 1950 and 1963, SANTA BARBARA PLAZA was expanded, with store buildings eventually wrapping around the Santa Barbara Avenue, Santa Rosalia Drive, Marlton Avenue and Buckingham Road block.
Major retail complexes in the vicinity of CRENSHAW CENTER included CENTURY SQUARE (1964) {5.6 miles northwest, in Los Angeles}, FOX HILLS MALL (1975) {3.3 miles southwest, in Culver City} and BEVERLY CENTER (1982) {4.8 miles northwest, in Los Angeles}.
Although successful for two decades, CRENSHAW CENTER had become a run down, past-its-prime property by the late 1970s. In 1984, a major renovation was proposed. Redevelopment was stymied by difficulties with financing and the loss of federal funding. Moreover, the viability of a new, regional-class shopping mall at the site was questioned by developers, retailers and local residents.
Eventually, the controversial project got underway. The bulk of 1940s structures were torn down. May Company, The Broadway, International House of Pancakes and SANTA BARBARA PLAZA were left standing. Ground was broken on October 19, 1986, with construction underway by May 1987.
A 2-level, fully-enclosed mall was built along the west side of The Broadway store. Its upper floor extended over West Martin Luther King, Junior Boulevard (Santa Barbara Avenue, post-1983) and connected with the May Company building on the north side of the street.
The new BALDWIN HILLS-CRENSHAW PLAZA was developed by Manhattan Beach-based Alexander Haagen Properties and the Los Angeles County Redevelopment Agency. The complex included a 2-level (141,900 square foot) Sears and encompassed 850,000 leasable square feet, with space for 100 stores and services. The interior was done in a "trendy art deco" fashion, with pastel colors, skylights and tropical plantings.
An official grand opening was held for the 120 million dollar facility on November 4, 1988. The dedication was attended by Tom Bradley (Mayor of Los Angeles), Kenneth Hahn (Los Angeles County Supervisor), and developer Alexander Haagen. Thirty stores opened along with the mall. By November 1989, sixty-five were in operation.
The Northridge Earthquake of January 17, 1994 caused minor damage to BALDWIN HILLS-CRENSHAW PLAZA. However, its Robinsons-May (a January 1993 rebranding of the May Company) was not so fortunate. The store was closed for repairs until June 6, 1994.
Peripheral structures were added to the mall site in the 1990s. A (43,300 square foot) Lucky Stores supermarket opened in December 1991. The nation's first Magic Johnson Theatres megaplex, the Crenshaw 12, debuted on June 30, 1995. It was eventually reconfigured with fifteen screens.
The Broadway was rebranded by Macy's in November 1996. This store closed on January 10, 1999. Wal-Mart opened their first 3-level store in the vacant building on January 22, 2003. Macy's rebranded Robinsons-May on September 9, 2006; returning to BALDWIN HILLS-CRENSHAW PLAZA after a 7-year hiatus.
Alexander Haagen Properties morphed into a concern known as Center Trust, Incorporated. This company merged with San Diego-based Pan Pacific Retail Properties in November 2002. BALDWIN HILLS-CRENSHAW PLAZA was acquired by Encino-based Hager Pacific Properties in April 2003. The complex was re-sold in February 2006, with Chicago-based Capri Capital Investors becoming its new owner. Los Angeles-based Primestar Development was hired to manage the property.
A 30 million dollar renovation of the "Crenshaw Mall" got underway in late 2010. The Magic Johnson multiplex, which had been shuttered in June, was given a major makeover. Stadium seating, 3-D screens and new decor were installed. The venue re-opened, as the Rave Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 + Extreme, on June 28, 2011. It came under the Cinemark brand on July 26, 2013, when it morphed into the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw & XD.
The mall proper was also given an interior and exterior remodeling, which included a face lift for Macy's, as well as the installation of a new Dining Court and live performance area. Post & Beam and Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants -and a freestanding Staples- joined the tenant list. The remodeled mall was re-dedicated in April 2012.
WalMart had been operating at BALDWIN HILLS-CRENSHAW PLAZA for 13 years. They abruptly shuttered the store on January 17, 2016, only 2 days after said closure was announced. Sears initiated a going out of business sale at their 31-year-old store in December 2019 and closed for good in February 2020. Macy's went dark in March 2023, leaving the mall with no anchor stores.
Meanwhile, the mall was sold in August 2021. The Century City-based Harridge Development Group became its new proprietor. In 2023, they announced plans to build 636 residential units on a pad adjacent to the Albertsons supermarket. In 2024, Harridge proposed 290 duplex and single-family units; these to be constructed in the mall's southwest parking area.
Sources:
The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Evening Citizen
The Daily News (Los Angeles)
The New York Times
The Chicago Tribune
"Historic Resources Report, Archaeological Resources Report, Paleontological Resources Report, Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza Historic Resources Report" / Christopher A. Joseph & Associates / July 2009
"Evolution of the Shopping Center" / Steven E. Schoenherr
https://assessor.lacounty.gov / Los Angeles County, California
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
http://www.californiahighways.org / 1959 Los Angeles Street Map / Dan Faigin, webmaster
Hager Pacific press release / March 31, 2003
Hager Pacific press release / February 1, 2006
http://www.crenshawplaza.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com
http://www.festivalcos.com
http://www.laist.com
https://www.metro.net
https://planning.lacity.org
https://southlarecap.com / South LA Recap / "A Brief History of the Crenshaw Mall"
https://la.urbanize.city / "290 Homes To Replace Surface Parking at Crenshaw Plaza"
