Mershops Antelope Valley Mall
A single-level regional enclosed shopping mall in Palmdale, California, serving the Antelope Valley.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Mershops Antelope Valley Mall is a regional enclosed shopping center in Palmdale, California, serving communities across the Antelope Valley. The property occupies roughly one million square feet when its main building, parking areas, and surrounding ring-road commercial uses are considered. Its principal enclosed structure is single-level and is supported by a broad parking field and a collection of large-format anchor spaces. The mall opened in September 1990 after being developed by Forest City Enterprises. JCPenney began trading several weeks earlier, providing the first operating anchor before the center's formal opening. At launch, the tenant mix included JCPenney, Sears, Harris, Gottschalks, and Mervyn's. The development was initially planned as a 750,000-square-foot project costing approximately $75 million, with a larger expansion announced before opening. Although the proposed expansion was later reduced, additional anchor capacity was eventually added. Over time, the property experienced the same department-store turnover that affected many American enclosed malls. Harris was acquired by Gottschalks in 1998, producing two Gottschalks locations at the center. Dillard's opened a two-story department store in 1999, described as its first Southern California location. Mervyn's departed in 2007 following the chain's liquidation, and its space was subsequently occupied by Forever 21. Gottschalks closed both locations in 2009 after entering bankruptcy proceedings; one former Gottschalks space was converted for Macy's, which opened in 2010. The other was later divided among Dick's Sporting Goods, H&M, Sky Zone, restaurants, retailers, and service businesses. The mall's current anchor lineup consists of Macy's, JCPenney, Dillard's, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Sears is a vacant former anchor following its 2020 closure. Old Navy, H&M, and Sky Zone function as junior anchors or major-format tenants. A former Forever 21 anchor space has been designated for conversion to a Round1 entertainment venue, announced for a planned 2026 opening. The center has approximately 140 stores and combines department stores, apparel retailers, sporting-goods merchants, food and beverage operators, entertainment, and personal services. Ownership changed in 2022 when Bridge Group Investments acquired the mall. Bridge later rebranded its property portfolio under the Mershops name, resulting in the current Mershops Antelope Valley Mall identity. Spinoso Real Estate Group manages the property. A renovation program announced in 2025 was expected to invest approximately $10 million in common areas, entrances, the food court, and security improvements, with work potentially beginning in 2026 or 2027. The mall's role remains that of a broad regional retail and entertainment destination rather than a narrowly specialized brand.
History
Planning and construction of Antelope Valley Mall began in May 1989 under Forest City Enterprises. The original project was described as a 750,000-square-foot shopping center with an estimated development cost of approximately $75 million. Before completion, the developers publicized a much larger expansion that would have doubled the center to about 1.5 million square feet and added four additional anchors. A new wing began construction in 1992, but the finished expansion was smaller than originally proposed and ultimately delivered only two additional anchors. JCPenney opened on August 30, 1990, ahead of the mall's formal debut on September 24. Sears, Harris, and Gottschalks joined the opening lineup, while Mervyn's also opened during the center's first year. These department stores established the mall as the principal enclosed retail destination in the growing Palmdale and Antelope Valley market. The anchor roster changed substantially during the following decade. Gottschalks acquired Harris in 1998, and the former Harris location went through Harris-Gottschalks branding before settling under the Gottschalks name. This left the center with two Gottschalks anchors. In 1999, Dillard's added a two-story department store, its first Southern California location according to the mall's historical account. Mervyn's closed in 2007 when its parent chain entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation. The vacated anchor was soon reused by Forever 21. Gottschalks then closed both of its mall stores in 2009 after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. One former Gottschalks building was converted into a Macy's, which opened in 2010. The second former Gottschalks space was later divided into a multi-tenant configuration. In 2014, Dick's Sporting Goods took most of that building, while H&M, Sky Zone, restaurants, retailers, and service businesses occupied the remaining portions. Forever 21 departed in 2019 after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time. Sears closed its mall location on September 6, 2020, as part of a national plan involving 28 store closures. The closure left the property with one vacant traditional anchor while the former Forever 21 building also awaited a new major use. Bridge Group Investments acquired the mall in 2022 for a reported $60 million. In or around 2025, Bridge rebranded as Mershops across its property portfolio, leading to the name Mershops Antelope Valley Mall. The property is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group. Around the same period, Round1 was announced as the intended tenant for the former Forever 21 anchor, with a planned 2026 opening. A separate renovation proposal called for approximately $10 million of work focused on common areas, the food court, entrances, and security, potentially starting in 2026 or 2027. The mall is currently described as having about 140 stores and four operating anchors: Macy's, JCPenney, Dillard's, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Old Navy, H&M, and Sky Zone serve as major junior-anchor tenants. Bullock's, The Broadway, and J. W. Robinson's were proposed as anchors during the property's development history but were never built. The center remains an active regional mall, with its future strategy centered on tenant replacement, entertainment, physical upgrades, and the reuse of former department-store space.
- 2025
Mershops rebrand and redevelopment plans
[1]The property adopted the Mershops name, while Round1 and a proposed renovation program were announced.
- 2022
Ownership changes
[1]Bridge Group Investments acquired the mall in a transaction reported at $60 million.
- 2020
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed on September 6 as part of a nationwide store-closing program.
- 2019
Forever 21 closes
[1]Forever 21 closed its mall location during the retailer's first Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- 2014
Former anchor is subdivided
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods took most of a former Gottschalks space, with H&M, Sky Zone, restaurants, retailers, and services occupying the balance.
- 2010
Macy's opens
[1]Macy's opened in one of the former Gottschalks anchor buildings.
- 2009
Gottschalks closes both anchors
[1]Both Gottschalks stores closed after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- 2007
Mervyn's closes
[1]Mervyn's departed after its chain entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy; Forever 21 later occupied the space.
- 1999
Dillard's opens
[1]Dillard's opened a two-story anchor store at the property.
- 1998
Gottschalks acquires Harris
[1]Gottschalks acquired Harris, eventually rebranding the former Harris anchor under the Gottschalks name.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment destination serving Palmdale and the wider Antelope Valley.
Anchor retail · 1990
Department stores
The mall's principal anchor offering is a department-store cluster led by Macy's, JCPenney, and Dillard's. These stores provide broad assortments across apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home merchandise, and general retail categories. Sears was historically part of the anchor lineup but closed in 2020 and remains a vacant former anchor space.
Apparel · 1990
Fashion and apparel retail
Fashion retail is represented by major-format and in-line apparel tenants, including H&M and Old Navy. The center also previously hosted Forever 21 in a large former Mervyn's anchor. Apparel stores broaden the mall's offer beyond department stores and support everyday shopping as well as trend-oriented purchases.
Sporting goods · 2014
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods occupies most of a former Gottschalks anchor building after the space was reorganized in 2014. The store adds sporting equipment, athletic apparel, footwear, and related recreational merchandise to the mall's regional tenant mix.
Entertainment · 2014
Sky Zone
Sky Zone is a major-format entertainment tenant located in the subdivided former anchor space. Its presence gives the mall a family-oriented activity component in addition to conventional shopping and dining.
Entertainment · 2026
Round1
Round1 has been announced for the vacant former Forever 21 anchor space. The planned venue is intended to add a large-scale entertainment use to the property, with an expected opening in 2026 subject to completion of the conversion.
Brand decisions
2025
Bring Round1 to the former Forever 21 anchorProduct launchBackground
The former Forever 21 anchor had been vacant since the retailer's 2019 departure.
Action taken
Round1 was announced as the future tenant, with the space expected to reopen as an entertainment venue in 2026.
Aftermath
The plan would reactivate a large vacant anchor and increase the mall's entertainment component.
2025
Plan a property renovationStrategyBackground
The mall's owner announced a reinvestment program alongside the portfolio-wide Mershops rebrand and planned anchor-space reuse.
Action taken
The proposed work would upgrade common areas, the food court, entrances, and security, with construction potentially beginning in 2026 or 2027.
Aftermath
If completed, the program would modernize the customer environment and support the center's repositioning as a combined retail and entertainment destination.
Proposed renovation investment. $10 million (Announced in 2025; potential work in 2026-2027)
2022
Acquire the shopping mallM&ABackground
Bridge Group Investments purchased the operating regional mall after years of department-store turnover and anchor-space changes.
Action taken
Bridge Group Investments acquired the property and later placed it within the Mershops-branded portfolio.
Aftermath
The property was subsequently identified as Mershops Antelope Valley Mall and remained managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group.
Reported acquisition price. $60 million (2022 acquisition)
2014
Subdivide a former department-store anchorStrategyBackground
A former Gottschalks anchor had become available after the chain closed both mall locations in 2009.
Action taken
The building was divided among Dick's Sporting Goods, H&M, Sky Zone, restaurants, retailers, and service businesses.
Aftermath
The reconfiguration replaced a single traditional department-store use with a diversified retail and entertainment mix.
1989
Develop a regional enclosed mallStrategyBackground
Forest City Enterprises planned a large enclosed shopping center for the growing Antelope Valley market. The initial project was described as approximately 750,000 square feet and costing about $75 million.
Action taken
Construction began in May 1989, followed by a formal opening in September 1990.
Aftermath
The resulting center became a major regional shopping destination in Palmdale and later expanded its anchor capacity.
Original development cost. $75 million (1989-1990 development)
Sources2 sources
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