Los Cerritos Center
Los Cerritos Center is a large regional retail center in Cerritos, California. Since September 1971, the Los Cerritos Center has contributed significantly to the municipal of Cerritos’ tax revenue. The mall is the city’s main source of revenue, generating $581 per square foot in sales ($296 million total) in 2010. The Los Cerritos Center generates around $3 million in tax revenue for its host city each year. Macerich & GIC Private Limited owns the facility.
Development
The Cerritos Redevelopment Agency initially invested $30 million in the Los Cerritos Center area’s construction. Ernest M. Hahn, Inc. developed the 100-acre (0.40 km2) shopping area at Gridley Road and South Street in September 1971, with the Phase I opening of the corridor from The Broadway department store (now Macy’s) to Ohrbach’s (first became Mervyn’s in 1987, now a Forever 21) and J.W. Robinson’s (became Robinsons-May in 1993), in addition to an initial 150 specialty stores. Phase II began in 1971, with the inauguration of the Ohrbach’s to Sears wing. Nordstrom and its first wing opened in Phase III in 1981. The Palm Court Cafes, with 14 cafes, premiered in the center in November 1993, completing Phase IV.
Today
Sertiage Growth Properties was formed in 2015 after Sears Holdings spun out its 235 properties, including the Sears at Los Cerritos Center.
The mall has been undergoing a large-scale redevelopment since the end of 2015, which has included new anchors such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Harkins Theatres, in-line retailers, refurbished interiors, new furnishings and lighting, outside landscaping, art work, and overall re-branding.
The Macy’s wing provides family items, confectionary, and services, while the main concourse includes more expensive fashion retailers, restaurants, and boutiques, and the Sears wing concentrates on entertainment, younger clientele, and the recently remodeled Dining Court.
Forever 21, which opened in January 2010 from the old Mervyn’s shop, was the retailer’s first flagship styled store in the United States and received widespread acclaim.
In May 2010, a brand new, relocated Nordstrom department store and wing opened on the location of the previous Robinsons-May shop (closed in 2006 due to Federated acquiring May Department Stores Company). The new wing allowed for nine more in-line stores and restaurants. The former Nordstrom location was dismantled for renovation and is now home to a 16-screen Harkins Theatres, which opened in spring 2016, and The Cheesecake Factory, which debuted in November 2015.
Recognizing the value of multiculturalism and variety in the region today, the Los Cerritos Center, in collaboration with the city of Cerritos, hosts the Festival of Friendship each February. Annually, cultural booths and performances are hosted with the objective of reaching out to the center’s numerous diverse communities.
In 2010, the mall attracted 8.5 million consumers, with November 26 (Black Friday) being the busiest day of the year, with 79,682 visitors. From January to November 2010, the daily average attendance was 22,133 individuals. In December 2010, there were 35,631 visitors per day on average. Los Cerritos Center is the most profitable mall in the Southeast Los Angeles area.
Red Robin closed in early 2017 to make room for a P. F. Chang’s, which opened in late 2017.
Sears announced its closure on October 15, 2018, as part of a nationwide plan to eliminate 142 shops. On January 6, 2019, the business closed.
Next Point of Interest: Los Cerritos Ranch House