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 various150
