How does the future look for Del Amo Mall and South Bay Galleria? (Los Angeles: real estate, leasing)

[Caladium]

I see that $$$ is being poured into a major renovation of the north portion of Del Amo Mall and that Nordstrom is relocating there after 30 years in the South Bay Galleria. Does this signal that Del Amo is on the rise again and the Galleria is now on the decline? Or, are both malls healthy and just seeing a lot of changes? Do you think either one will end up becoming a Dead Mall?

[thelopez2]

What is a dead mall and are there any examples in the Los Angeles area?

[Caladium]

According to the deadmalls.com website, some in southern California include

Central City Mall / Carousel Mall: San Bernardino, CA
Hawthorne Mall: Hawthorne, CA
Valley Plaza: North Hollywood, CA
Indian Hill Mall: Pomona, CA
The Quad: Whittier, CA
Sherman Oaks Galleria: Los Angeles, CA
Whittwood Mall: Whittier, CA

"Dead mall" is a commercial real estate term. AFAIK, the definition is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level. Often they're deteriorating in some manner. I think most commonly a mall is considered "dead" (for the purposes of leasing) when it no longer has an anchor store. Some of the examples they give have anchors but lots all but 1-2 of the stores between the anchors.

I have very fond memories of walking to the South Bay Galleria, but that mall always had a parking problem--so I can see why Nordstrom (the main anchor there) would leave. Mervyn's was the other anchor. Not sure if anything replaced it when Mervyn's went belly up. Wonder if they have a replacement for Nordie's?

[thelopez2]

I don't think it will either will become a "Dead Mall", I think Del Amo's biggest problem is traffic on Hawthorne and PC.

A Target went in adjacent to Galleria, with the closure of the Home Depot Expo Center, parking is not a problem. From what I've read in the paper, Hawthorne has had other issue contributing to the vacancies. There are other malls which I guess you can have considered died and come back to life, Fox Hills, Marina Del Rey, Century City. I think that the Galleria would end up doing the same based on the location, close to a freeway.

I see more offices and medical buildings going up in the Southbay people won't have to travel as far for work and they will want to shop close by, There is lots of parking but it is flat on street level, so you have to walk farther than using the structure. If they actually took away parking and made street view retail locations, I think they'd be better off.

People are getting pushed farther south to buy a home, it is really up to the mall properties owners, if they will let it become a Dead mall by charging too high rent, otherwise the Aussie will just buy it too

[yby1]

Hawthorne Mall has been dead for years. As in, shuttered and going back to nature dead.

[yby1]

I think that Nordstrom was the big player at the Galleria and they will need to do something to keep up customer traffic. Thankfully they have moive theaters, but I see more people going to Del Amo for that. There are some newer dining options in the area, but more needs to be done.

[thelopez2]

Get a Whole Foods or Trader Joes in there. In the mean time put a ice skating ring to make up for the closure of the Culver City one.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

I don't think it will either will become a "Dead Mall", I think Del Amo's biggest problem is traffic on Hawthorne and PC.

A Target went in adjacent to Galleria, with the closure of the Home Depot Expo Center, parking is not a problem. From what I've read in the paper, Hawthorne has had other issue contributing to the vacancies. There are other malls which I guess you can have considered died and come back to life, Fox Hills, Marina Del Rey, Century City. I think that the Galleria would end up doing the same based on the location, close to a freeway.

I see more offices and medical buildings going up in the Southbay people won't have to travel as far for work and they will want to shop close by, There is lots of parking but it is flat on street level, so you have to walk farther than using the structure. If they actually took away parking and made street view retail locations, I think they'd be better off.

People are getting pushed farther south to buy a home, it is really up to the mall properties owners, if they will let it become a Dead mall by charging too high rent, otherwise the Aussie will just buy it too

we were shopping there a few years ago and yes, the traffic situation was awful plus my feeling and this is just a personal one: I think indoor malls period, with rare exception might be on their way out. It seems people are flocking more to the special stores, small shopping centers, and the trendy ones with the brick walkways etc. I have seen so many, throughout the country (inside malls I mean) being closed or certainly not busy. That was our experience at Del Amo.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by yby1

Hawthorne Mall has been dead for years. As in, shuttered and going back to nature dead.

It still feels like the mid 1990s in Hawthorne.

[Caladium]

The ice skating rink certainly brought people up to PV Mall to shop. Back in the day, of course--no idea if it's still popular.

Did Nordie's ever say why they were moving to Del Amo?