South Street and Gridley Road
Cerritos, California
Los Angeles County witnessed the grand openings of two fully-enclosed, superregional shopping malls during the autumn of 1971. The first phase of stores at LOS CERRITOS CENTER made their debut on September 13th, with the first at NORTHRIDGE FASHION CENTER opened on September 17th.
LOS CERRITOS CENTER was built by a joint venture of El Segundo, California's Ernest W. Hahn, Incorporated and Chicago's Homart Development. It was designed by the firm of Burke, Kober, Nicolais & Archuleta, of Los Angeles. The mall was built on a 97-acre plot, located 20 miles southeast of center city Los Angeles. The site was adjacent to the San Gabriel River Freeway-Interstate 605, with the section passing by the mall having opened to traffic on July 27, 1966.
The original, single-level shopping complex opened in three phases. A 3-level (174,500 square foot) The Broadway, 2-level (145,600 square foot) J.W. Robinson's, and a South Wing, were dedicated on September 13, 1971. Second in line was a 2-level (85,600 square foot), New York City-based Ohrbach's, and thirty-five inline stores; all opening for business on March 24, 1972. A 3-level (277,500 square foot) Sears, and thirty-six store North Wing, were dedicated on May 11, 1972.
Fully-realized, LOS CERRITOS CENTER encompassed approximately 1,175,000 leasable square feet. Charter tenants at the 40 million dollar shopping venue included Roos-Atkins apparel, Baker's Shoes, The Man's Shop, Lane Bryant, The Limited and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 (with Harvest House Cafeteria).
There were two cinematic venues. On the South Wing was the United Artists Mall Cinemas 1-2-3-4, which showed its first features on September 15, 1971. The United Artists Twin Cinemas A & B was situated in the southwest corner of the mall site. This freestanding venue opened for business on March 22, 1972.
Commercial competitors of LOS CERRITOS CENTER included LAKEWOOD CENTER (1951) {2.4 miles southwest, in Lakewood}, STONEWOOD CENTER (1958) {4.9 miles northwest, in Downey} and BEUNA PARK MALL (1961) {5.8 miles southeast, in Orange County}.
LOS CERRITOS CENTER was expanded with a 2-level (117,800 square foot) Nordstrom and nineteen new stores. These were officially dedicated on April 12, 1981. The mall now spanned approximately 1,332,400 leasable square feet.
There were two cinematic venues. On the South Wing was the United Artists Mall Cinemas 1-2-3-4, which showed its first features on September 15, 1971. The United Artists Twin Cinemas A & B was situated in the southwest corner of the mall site. This freestanding venue opened for business on March 22, 1972.
Commercial competitors of LOS CERRITOS CENTER included LAKEWOOD CENTER (1951) {2.4 miles southwest, in Lakewood}, STONEWOOD CENTER (1958) {4.9 miles northwest, in Downey} and BEUNA PARK MALL (1961) {5.8 miles southeast, in Orange County}.
LOS CERRITOS CENTER was expanded with a 2-level (117,800 square foot) Nordstrom and nineteen new stores. These were officially dedicated on April 12, 1981. The mall now spanned approximately 1,332,400 leasable square feet.
The first anchor rebranding took place after Ohrbach's was shuttered, in December 1986. The store re-opened as a Mervyn's in April 1987. Next came the rebranding of J.W. Robinson's, as a Robinsons-May, on January 31, 1993. Lastly, The Broadway was "Macy-ated" in 1996.
A major renovation had been done during 1994, with the original stained glass skylights being replaced. Marble and stone floors were installed throughout the complex and the 13-bay Palm Court Cafes Food Court built in previously-existing North Wing space.
Moreover, each of the three mallways were designated with a specific name and marketing focus. The Garden extended between Mervyn's and Sears and had a family entertainment orientation. The Grand Hall ran from Nordstrom to Robinsons-May; its theme being high fashion. Lastly, there was The Avenue, between Robinsons-May and The Broadway-Macy's. It was geared toward more general merchandise.
By this time, the two cinemas at the mall had closed. With the shuttering of Woolworth in July 1997, space was provided for the new United Artists Galaxy 11 stadium seating multiplex. This venue was dedicated on May 20, 1998.
LOS CERRITOS CENTER was owned by Australia's Westfield Group between November 1998 and May 1999, when it was acquired by a joint venture of Santa Monica's Macerich Company and GIC of Singapore.
A major renovation had been done during 1994, with the original stained glass skylights being replaced. Marble and stone floors were installed throughout the complex and the 13-bay Palm Court Cafes Food Court built in previously-existing North Wing space.
Moreover, each of the three mallways were designated with a specific name and marketing focus. The Garden extended between Mervyn's and Sears and had a family entertainment orientation. The Grand Hall ran from Nordstrom to Robinsons-May; its theme being high fashion. Lastly, there was The Avenue, between Robinsons-May and The Broadway-Macy's. It was geared toward more general merchandise.
By this time, the two cinemas at the mall had closed. With the shuttering of Woolworth in July 1997, space was provided for the new United Artists Galaxy 11 stadium seating multiplex. This venue was dedicated on May 20, 1998.
LOS CERRITOS CENTER was owned by Australia's Westfield Group between November 1998 and May 1999, when it was acquired by a joint venture of Santa Monica's Macerich Company and GIC of Singapore.
The third renovation got underway in December 2008. Mervyn's, shuttered in early 2009, was thoroughly remodeled. It re-opened, as a Los Angeles-based Forever 21, on January 23, 2010. Robinsons-May, shuttered in late 2006, was demolished in October 2008. A 2-level (138,000 square foot) Nordstrom was built on its space. This store opened on May 7, 2010.
Ten retailers were added along with the new Nordstrom. These included Apple Computers, Foreign Exchange Clothing, Vision Shoes, M.A.C. Cosmetics, True Religion Jeans, Carlton Hair Salon and Love Culture. With all modifications completed, LOS CERRITOS CENTER enveloped 1,354,400 leasable square feet.
A fourth major mall refurbishment revolved around the old Nordstrom and vacant 11-plex cinema, which was shuttered in February 2014. Both structures were demolished in the summer of 2014 in anticipation of a 40 million dollar mall expansion. A 2-level (80,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods was built on the old Woolworth-UA Cinema site. The circa-1981 Nordstrom was demolished and replaced by the 1-level (55,000 square foot) Harkins Cerritos 16 megaplex. Inline store space adjacent to the Dick's and Harkins theater was also reconfigured.
Renovation work was completed in November 2015, with the Harkins megaplex showing its first features on May 5, 2016. With these modifications, the gross leasable area of the mall stood at approximately 1,367,000 leasable square feet.
Sources:
The Los Angeles Times
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
www.shoploscerritos.com
www.macerich.com
www.movietheatre.org
www.cinematreasures.org
www.mitchglaser.com
Los Angeles County, California tax assessor website
Ten retailers were added along with the new Nordstrom. These included Apple Computers, Foreign Exchange Clothing, Vision Shoes, M.A.C. Cosmetics, True Religion Jeans, Carlton Hair Salon and Love Culture. With all modifications completed, LOS CERRITOS CENTER enveloped 1,354,400 leasable square feet.
A fourth major mall refurbishment revolved around the old Nordstrom and vacant 11-plex cinema, which was shuttered in February 2014. Both structures were demolished in the summer of 2014 in anticipation of a 40 million dollar mall expansion. A 2-level (80,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods was built on the old Woolworth-UA Cinema site. The circa-1981 Nordstrom was demolished and replaced by the 1-level (55,000 square foot) Harkins Cerritos 16 megaplex. Inline store space adjacent to the Dick's and Harkins theater was also reconfigured.
Renovation work was completed in November 2015, with the Harkins megaplex showing its first features on May 5, 2016. With these modifications, the gross leasable area of the mall stood at approximately 1,367,000 leasable square feet.
Sources:
The Los Angeles Times
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
www.shoploscerritos.com
www.macerich.com
www.movietheatre.org
www.cinematreasures.org
www.mitchglaser.com
Los Angeles County, California tax assessor website
"Los Cerritos Center" article on Wikipedia
