Hawthorne Plaza’s California history.
- Development and Opening (1969-1977): The Hawthorne Plaza, Los Angeles County’s 32nd mall, opened in 1977 after a period of planning and construction beginning in 1969. Initially conceived as an open-air complex, it was redesigned as a fully enclosed mall, featuring 835,000 leasable square feet, 130 stores, and three anchor stores (Broadway, Montgomery Ward, and JCPenney).
- Early Success and Decline (1977-1990s): While initially popular, the mall experienced a decline in the 1980s and 1990s. Contributing factors included economic downturn in the area (due to aerospace job cuts), socioeconomic shifts, increased competition from other malls, and rising crime rates.
- Closure and Failed Redevelopment Attempts (1990s-2018): The mall’s decline accelerated with the closure of its anchor stores (starting with Broadway in 1995). It officially closed in 1999. Numerous redevelopment plans were proposed over the years (including a mixed-use complex), but none came to fruition. The site was used for filming various movies and music videos during this period.
- Current Status: As of the text’s writing, the Hawthorne Plaza remains abandoned, despite multiple attempts at revitalization.
