Westminster Mall officials said Wednesday that they will spend more than $10 million to renovate the mall, a move they hope will help lure upscale tenants to the shopping center.
The mall, owned by Simon Property Group, is also currently negotiating with a big-box retailer that may occupy at least 25,000 square feet.
The center will remain open during the renovation which will start mid April and end in October, according to info released at a press conference at the mall today. The upgrade, which is expected to give the mall a contemporary feel, includes:
- Gutting the seating area of the food court and putting in upholstered booths and bar-style seating and getting rid of some columns to give it a more open feel.
- Replacing stucco at the facades of all entrances with glass and steel.
- Replacing metal blue picket railings with glass panes.
- Adding carpet to the majority of the first floor to minimize noise level.
- Constructing a family restroom/lounge
- Replacing three seating areas that have animal statues for kids with seating areas with leather chairs, wood coffee tables, area rugs and live plants. And the front of every department store will have this new seating space.
- Adding one children’s play area that’s identical to the one next to PacSun at The Shops at Mission Viejo, which is also owned by Simon.
Melissa Palencia, area mall manager with Simon, thinks the children’s play area addition is significant because it will encourage moms to stay in the mall longer.
Is the transformation of Bella Terra in Huntington Beach prompting Westminster Mall to make changes now?
Palencia said Simon wants Westminster Mall to remain competitive. But she added that it would still renovate the mall even if nearby centers did not improve theirs.
The last time the 34-year-old Westminster Mall had major work done to it was in 1989 when a department store wing was added. Today, the mall spans 1.2 million square feet.
Simon couldn’t start Westminster Mall renovations sooner. It owns or has interest in 379 properties and has to prioritize its projects, Palencia said.
Four years ago, Westminster Mayor Margie Rice flew to Indiana where Simon is headquartered. She tried unsuccessfully to get the developer to update the mall.
“It’s about time,” Rice said today during a press conference at the mall. “It’s much needed. We’re thrilled. We’re in competition with Bella Terra. We want to keep people in our city.”
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$10M huh? Just $90M more to go and we’ll actually have a place fit for sears.
Move the Target store where the JC Penny Home store is, and put the JC Penny home store where the Target is. I refuse to shop at that Target right now because it doesn’t belong inside the mall. It’s Tacky.
Please don’t get rid of those animal stautes! They are MEMORIES! But of course no one cares because they just want to “moderize”….I’m sick of companies doing that! PLEASE KEEP THOSE ANIMALS…you can still update the area…just keep THOSE PLEASE!
Wow! … It’s about time!!! I was at the grand opening of the Westminster Mall when I was 10 years old, and worked in several of the stores there while in high school and college. I live in So County now, but go back to visit family and the mall still looks the same as when I worked there.
I still consider Westminster my hometown and I’m glas to hear that one of the fondest places in my childhood and my teen years will finally have the facelift it deserves. : )
I have been to the Westminster Mall a number of times and it is long overdue for a renovation. For 10M it needs an extreme makeover.