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Del Amo Fashion Square

From Alfawiki
Del Amo Fashion Center
Company typeShopping mall
IndustryRetail
Founded1961
Headquarters
Torrance
,
United States
Area served
Southern California
ProductsRetail stores, dining, entertainment
OwnerSimon Property Group (partial)
Websitewww.simon.com/mall/del-amo-fashion-center


"Del Amo" redirects here. For the superfund site, see Del Amo (Superfund site). For the light rail station, see Del Amo station.

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox shopping mall

Del Amo Fashion Center is a regional shopping complex spanning three floors located in Torrance, California, United States. The property is currently overseen and partially owned by Simon Property Group.

Boasting a gross leasable area (GLA) of 2,519,601 sq ft (234,079 m2), it ranks as the seventh-largest mall nationwide. Its anchor tenants include Nordstrom, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Macy's Men's and Home Store, alongside Macy's Women's Store.

History

The Del Amo Fashion Center originated from the combination of multiple developments situated on the east side of the intersection at Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street in Torrance, California, initiated by developer Guilford Glazer (#384 on Forbes Richest 400). Between 1981 and 1992, it held the title as the largest shopping mall across the United States, expanding to approximately 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 square metres) at its peak. This record was surpassed with the debut of Mall of America on August 11, 1992.

South Side: Broadway/Del Amo Shopping Center

On February 16, 1959, The Broadway launched its store at the crossroads of Hawthorne and Sepulveda boulevards, marking its ninth location within the Greater Los Angeles area. Within the following two years, the open-air Del Amo Shopping Center was constructed adjacent to this store, positioned south of Carson Street. In November 1960, Silverwoods inaugurated its ninth Los Angeles-area outlet here as well. The majority of the shopping center opened incrementally during early 1961, featuring additional anchor stores such as JCPenney, Sears, and Woolworth's. Other retailers commencing operations in 1961 included Lerner's, Leed's Shoes, and Ontra Cafeteria; later arrivals comprised C. H. Baker Shoes, Judy's Sportwear, Helen Morgan Women's Shop, The Men's Shop, Tot's Toggery and Suburban Shop, Singer Sewing Shop, Mandel's Shoes, Varon's Jewelry, and a Children's Shoe Store.

North side: Bullock's/Del Amo Fashion Square

In 1966, Bullock's launched a store at a modest open-air shopping complex it had created just north of Carson Street, initially named Bullock's Fashion Square. Early promotional materials and press referred to this location as "Bullock's Fashion Square in Torrance," rather than Del Amo. Bullock's went on to establish several other Fashion Squares with similar names, including sites in Sherman Oaks, La Habra, and Santa Ana. On March 6, 1967, I. Magnin, a subsidiary of Bullock's, inaugurated its store at this location.

Interestingly, Desmond's department store was the first major tenant to open at Fashion Square in 1966.

By February 1970, Federated Department Stores replaced Bullock's Realty Corporation—which had been responsible for owning and managing the Fashion Squares—with a new entity called Transwest Management. Shortly thereafter, in March of the same year, Transwest sold the Torrance Fashion Square to co-owners Great Lakes and Guilford Glazer and Associates. Meanwhile, the other three Fashion Squares were divested to Urban Investment and Development Company (UIDC).

File:Delamocentre.png
Aerial view following the consolidation of Del Amo Fashion Square (north) and Del Amo Center (south), taken between 2004 and 2005.

In 1971, the mall was renamed Del Amo Fashion Square, undergoing significant expansion that included a new $3.75 million, 177,000-square-foot (16,400 m2) Montgomery Ward store, a 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) Ohrbach's, and an enlarged I. Magnin. Additionally, a four-screen United Artists Theatres cinema was introduced, which was later expanded with two larger auditoriums. A Woolworth's store also opened within the Montgomery Ward wing. In 1978, Glazer acquired the adjacent Del Amo Center.

"Marriage of the malls"

In November 1981, the two previously independent shopping centers were officially united in what was dubbed the "marriage of the malls," resulting in the creation of the Del Amo Fashion Center. This union was marked by the inauguration of a connecting concourse spanning Carson Street, linking Del Amo Fashion Square with a newly constructed J. W. Robinson's at the northern tip of the Del Amo Center. Alongside this connection, extensive renovations were undertaken, introducing features such as the "International Food Court" and an advanced computerized assistance system for shoppers. Following these enhancements, Del Amo claimed the title of the world’s largest enclosed shopping mall.

Over subsequent years, the center experienced further transformations. After Ohrbach's shuttered in 1987, its space was taken over by Swedish furniture retailer STØR. In 1991, the United Artists cinema closed when a new 9-screen Mann complex opened just outside the mall on Del Amo Circle, east of J. W. Robinson's. When STØR ceased operations in the early 1990s, its former location initially served as a clearance outlet before being divided into Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores by the late 1990s. In 1989, I. Magnin opened a store with part of its space later occupied by Old Navy, while Burlington Coat Factory launched in the basement area of what was once Del Amo Center. The J. W. Robinson's store transitioned to Robinsons-May in 1993.

Following the 1996 merger of Bullocks and The Broadway into Macy's West, the previous Bullock's location was converted into a Macy's Apparel store, whereas the Macy's outlet occupying The Broadway’s former space was closed. Initially, there was an attempt to sell this building to Bloomingdale's, but after three years, it reopened in July 1999 as Macy's home and furniture gallery — noted as Southern California’s largest standalone home furnishings store. The 50,000-square-foot (4,600-square-meter) ground level was leased to Jo-Ann for fabric and craft retailing. In 1997, Woolworth’s rebranded as Venator following corporate renaming.

Del Amo faced challenges due to shifting consumer habits, consolidation within the department store sector, oversaturation of malls within the greater Los Angeles retail market, limited highway accessibility, and competition from the nearby Nordstrom-anchored South Bay Galleria, which opened in 1985. The Mann theater closed in 2000 after its parent chain folded and was replaced by an LA Fitness facility. Additionally, two anchor stores on the mall’s northern side—Montgomery Ward and Woolworth’s—shut down due to bankruptcy, leaving that wing without major tenants. Meanwhile, a two-story Barnes & Noble bookstore was established along the mall’s perimeter during this period.

Mills renovation

In early 2002, The Mills Corporation purchased Del Amo Fashion Center from the Glazer family for $420 million (USD). Shortly thereafter, Mills sold a 50% stake in the mall to institutional investors managed by JPMorgan Fleming. By June 2005, Mills commenced a $160 million redevelopment project that involved demolishing and rebuilding the former northeastern wing, which had housed Montgomery Ward and Woolworth's. The renovation also included refurbishing 670,000 square feet of existing retail space and adding an additional 100,000 square feet. On September 9, 2006, Robinsons-May transitioned into a second full-line Macy's West store named Macy's South, while the original Macy's Apparel location was rebranded as Macy's North.

File:Lifestyle Court, Del Amo Fashion Center.jpg
Lifestyle Court

The newly introduced open-air lifestyle center debuted on September 14, 2006. It featured anchors such as a two-story flagship Forever 21, Lucky Strike Lanes, and an 18-screen AMC Theatres multiplex. In 2007, a Crate & Barrel home furnishings store opened adjacent to the mall.

That same year, The Mills Corporation was acquired jointly by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management, with Simon assuming management responsibilities for Del Amo Fashion Center. By April 2008, the mall’s website was integrated into the Simon.com platform alongside other Simon/Mills properties including Ontario Mills, Hilltop Mall, the Block at Orange, and Great Mall.

Simon expansion

Following an increase in its ownership share of Del Amo, Simon unveiled initial redevelopment proposals. However, these early plans were met with disappointment and perceived as lacking detail by local residents.[1][2][3]

In late 2012, comprehensive plans were revealed to transform Del Amo on a significantly larger scale. Led by Hollywood-based architecture firm 5+design, the project called for complete demolition of the mall’s northern end. This area would be replaced by a new two-level wing designed with a Californian coastal aesthetic focused on luxury retailers. The expansion aimed to position Del Amo among Southern California’s largest malls and within the top ten nationwide. The goal was to recapture market share from upscale shopping destinations in West Los Angeles—such as Westfield Century City and Third Street Promenade—and Orange County centers like Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, and South Coast Plaza.[4] Concurrently, Nordstrom confirmed plans to relocate from South Bay Galleria in nearby Redondo Beach to anchor this new wing.[5] This ambitious initiative sought to restore Del Amo as the premier retail destination in the South Bay region by unifying the sprawling mall under a cohesive architectural theme.

The initial phase began in 2013 with redevelopment of the retail wing above Carson Street into a new dining area named Patio Cafes. Renovations concluded in spring 2014 as tenants started vacating spaces within the north wing to facilitate further construction.[6]

By 2014, plans were announced to consolidate three separate Macy's stores into two locations. Macy's merged its standalone Home store with its existing Men's store; subsequently, Simon exchanged ownership of these Macy’s buildings accordingly.[7] In early 2017, Dick's Sporting Goods took over the former Macy’s Home location while renovations for the Jo-Ann Fabrics outlet on that floor commenced in early 2019 and wrapped up by mid-2020.[8]

File:Interior of Del Amo Fashion Center.jpg
Interior of the Fashion Wing at the Del Amo Fashion Center, looking south from Nordstrom

On October 9, 2015, after approximately eighteen months of construction, the renovated northern section officially reopened.[9] This redevelopment replaced both a medical building and an older one-story northern segment with a modern two-story Fashion Wing characterized by a bright "beach elegance" design that emphasized natural light and mid-century modern influences.[10] The wing housed a blend of new retailers alongside retained tenants from the previous north end such as Din Tai Fung and luxury brands including BOSS Hugo Boss, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Tumi, and Brooks Brothers.[11]

Several dining establishments either relocated or opened along this new wing: Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que moved to a new spot; meanwhile Brio Tuscan Grille and local eateries EMC Seafood & Raw Bar and Great Maple have since closed.[12][13]

Minor refurbishments occurred on the mall’s southern end to complement the more extensive northern upgrades. This included signage marking that section as "Del Amo Shopping Center," focusing primarily on general retail offerings. By 2018, plans were finalized to replace substantial portions of inline retail space there with entertainment venue Dave & Buster's and a relocated Marshalls.[14] Outback Steakhouse—which had been displaced due to construction—reopened within the Outdoor Village on July 7, 2018.

In November 2019, the former Orbach’s building—previously hosting Marshalls downstairs and TJ Maxx upstairs—was converted into a Mitsuwa Marketplace supermarket. The upper floor remained vacant following TJ Maxx’s departure in spring 2016. The subsequent year saw closure of the Sears store on site; Simon Property Group acquired this real estate for future development.[15]

On July 1, 2020, confirmation came that Sears would cease operations as part of its ongoing strategy to phase out traditional brick-and-mortar outlets.[15] The approximately 22.4-acre Sears property—including its original building, branded auto shops, adjacent offices, and surrounding parking areas—was slated for purchase by Simon Property Group for nearly $110 million. Meanwhile, Fasha Mahjoor—who acquired a separate nearby parcel once owned by SunCal in May 2014—plans residential development near Del Amo Mall. This land encompasses standalone Black Angus Steakhouse restaurant, former Montgomery Ward department store now serving as parking space for Del Amo, and an abandoned Wards auto repair facility. Mahjoor clarified that this project will avoid "high-density housing at the mall," citing political constraints.[16]

In January 2022, plans were announced for Sweetgreen and Keisuke Ramen King eateries to occupy the space formerly held by Great Maple—which had closed in 2017.

Effective March 1, 2024, following several recent incidents at the mall, a new chaperone policy was implemented requiring all visitors under age eighteen to be accompanied by an adult aged twenty-one or older after 3 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.[17]

On September 20, 2024, a new Apple Store opened within the mall coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.[18] This location was created by combining two adjacent retail units formerly occupied by J.Crew and Chico's FAS, situated on the main level within the Nordstrom wing.[19]

On February 25, 2025 it was revealed that Jo-Ann Fabrics would close this store along with all other U.S. locations as part of bankruptcy proceedings.[20]

Subsequently, Jo-Ann Fabrics has permanently ceased operations at this location.

In media

Del Amo Fashion Center served as a key setting and narrative element in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film Jackie Brown. Although the mall was featured prominently, the scenes were primarily filmed inside a fictional department store named Billingsley, which was actually the north Macy's location disguised with a temporary Billingsley sign covering the original Macy's branding. The mall also played a significant role in Martha Coolidge's 1983 movie Valley Girl. Additionally, the deserted Montgomery Ward section of the mall was transformed into the "Saguaro Square Mall" for the 2003 movie Bad Santa, where a fictitious department store called Chamberlain's was erected within the vacant Montgomery Ward space. The mall further appeared in the comedy film Why Him? and was utilized as a filming location for episodes 2 and 3 of the first season of HBO’s series Euphoria.

The Barnes & Noble situated in the mall’s northwest parking area was featured in the bookstore chain’s 2012 holiday commercial.

In 2024, American YouTuber iJustine visited Del Amo Fashion Center to mark the grand opening of the new Apple Store, where she showcased acquiring the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max along with the USB-C version of AirPods Max.

Transit access

Del Amo Fashion Center is served by both Torrance Transit and Los Angeles Metro. Torrance Transit operates Rapid Line 3 as well as Local Lines 3, 6, and 7 along Carson Street. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Metro Bus Line 344 and Torrance Transit Local Lines 4X and 8 provide service along Hawthorne Boulevard.

See also

References

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  13. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

Template:Torrance, California Template:Shopping malls in California Template:Simon Property Group

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