(Photo from Macerich Co.)
Santa Monica Place celebrates its Grand Re-Opening this week after a 29 month of renovation to transform what was a traditional mall into a three level open-air lifestyle center. Originally designed by Frank Gehry, the mall opened in 1980 and has had two subsequent renovations. Macerich Co., the current owner and developer of the mall purchased the property in 1994 and worked with the international design firm, Jerde Partnership on the 550,000 sf, $265 million reinvestment project.
Fifty-Two retailers are included in their current store directory with Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as the main anchors and 21 food establishments from traditional mall fare to white table cloth dining.
As we have discussed in this blog on many occasions – the Lifestyle Center has become the soup du jour for developers looking to develop a compelling shopping experience. Whether it is a sound development strategy or another passing fad will remain to be seen, however, Lifestyle Centers are resonating with both retailers and their consumers. Let me know what you think.
Here are a few articles highlighting some of SMP's history and details of the 30 year old development.
LA Times:
LookOut News:
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