C. J. Segerstrom & Sons

C. J. Segerstrom & Sons is an American family-owned real-estate business based in Costa Mesa, California. Its roots reach back to 1900, when Swedish immigrant Carl Segerstrom acquired a large lima-bean farm in Orange County. The family initially built its enterprise through agriculture, moving from dairy farming to alfalfa and then specializing in the cultivation and harvesting of lima beans. Over time, the Segerstroms became one of the largest producers of dried lima beans in the United States. The family’s landholding and development activities expanded during and after the Second World War. The Segerstrom farm was converted into the Santa Ana Army Air Base during the war, accommodating approximately 47,000 personnel. After the federal government withdrew from the site in 1948, a 76-acre portion containing a rail spur and warehouses was sold back to the family for approximately $100,000. This transaction helped preserve a significant land base at a time when Orange County was beginning to transition from an agricultural economy toward suburban growth and commercial development. A major turning point came under Henry T. Segerstrom, who was a partner in C. J. Segerstrom & Sons and a central figure in the family’s development strategy. He promoted the creation of a large regional shopping center on family-owned land between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa. The project was advanced before completion of the San Diego Freeway and required coordination with local authorities. In an arrangement involving Costa Mesa mayor Alvin Pinkley, the Segerstroms agreed to lease water rights to the municipality. In return, the city received payments equivalent to municipal taxes, helping establish a dependable revenue stream connected to the planned development. Construction of South Coast Plaza began in 1967. The shopping center became the family business’s most prominent real-estate development and one of the best-known retail destinations in the United States. The Segerstrom family also retained land interests connected with much of the commercial office space surrounding the mall, giving the enterprise exposure to a broader mixed-use commercial district rather than to retail alone. The company’s role is therefore best understood as that of a private family real-estate and landholding organization with a major concentration in the South Coast Plaza area. The family’s influence in Orange County extends beyond property development. It contributed land and financial resources to the cultural infrastructure of the region, including the complex that became the Orange County Performing Arts Center, now associated with Segerstrom Center for the Arts. In 2006, the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall opened as a major addition to that cultural campus. The family and company have also supported local education, including the Newport-Mesa school district, and the family name is attached to Segerstrom High School in the Santa Ana Unified School District. C. J. Segerstrom & Sons is consequently associated with three overlapping legacies: agricultural origins, the transformation of Orange County land into high-value commercial and civic uses, and sustained family philanthropy. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current management roster, a precise corporate ownership structure, or a separately maintained corporate website. The business remains a private, family-linked real-estate enterprise rather than a publicly traded company.

C. J. Segerstrom & Sons developed from the agricultural activities of Carl Segerstrom, a Swedish immigrant who acquired a large lima-bean farm in Orange County in 1900. The Segerstrom family’s early economic base was farming. It moved from dairy operations to alfalfa and eventually concentrated on lima beans, becoming one of the largest producers of dried lima beans in the United States. The family’s land became strategically important during the Second World War, when the farm was converted into the Santa Ana Army Air Base. The installation housed approximately 47,000 personnel. Following the federal government’s withdrawal in 1948, the government sold a 76-acre section of the former base back to the Segerstroms for approximately $100,000. The tract included a rail spur and warehouses, preserving transportation and storage assets that were useful in the family’s transition from agriculture toward land-based commercial activity. Henry T. Segerstrom later became the principal figure in the family’s move into large-scale real-estate development. As a partner of C. J. Segerstrom & Sons, he envisioned a major retail center on family-owned land in an unincorporated area between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa. The proposal anticipated the growth that would follow completion of the San Diego Freeway. Its realization also depended on local infrastructure and municipal cooperation. The Segerstroms agreed to lease water rights to Costa Mesa, while the city arranged for payments equivalent to municipal taxes, creating a revenue mechanism connected to the future development. Construction of South Coast Plaza began in 1967. The center became the defining commercial project associated with C. J. Segerstrom & Sons and helped establish the area as a major retail and business district. The family retained land rights to much of the commercial office development around the shopping center, extending its interests beyond shopping-center operations into surrounding office real estate. The family later sold property rights connected with residential areas south of the 405 Freeway but retained mineral rights there, illustrating the long-term and layered nature of its land ownership. The Segerstrom legacy also developed through philanthropy and institution building. The family donated land and provided financial support for the Orange County Performing Arts Center, helping create a major cultural venue in the region. The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall opened in September 2006. The family and company have also supported the Newport-Mesa school district and are associated with Segerstrom High School in the Santa Ana Unified School District. These activities made the Segerstrom name prominent in Orange County civic and cultural life as well as in commercial property. The company is best characterized as a private family real-estate business with historical agricultural roots, major retail and office-property interests, and a strong philanthropic identity. Public reference material does not provide a full account of current executives, detailed corporate subsidiaries, or a standalone official website. Its most visible public association remains South Coast Plaza and the wider commercial district surrounding it.

• 2006

  Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall opens

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  The concert hall opened as part of the cultural complex supported by the Segerstrom family.

• 1967

  South Coast Plaza construction begins

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the regional shopping center planned by Henry T. Segerstrom on family land between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.

• 1948

  Family reacquires part of former military property

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  After the federal government left the site, a 76-acre section with a rail spur and warehouses was sold back to the Segerstroms for approximately $100,000.

• 1942

  Farm converted into Santa Ana Army Air Base

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  During the Second World War, the Segerstrom farm was converted into a military air base that housed approximately 47,000 personnel.

• 1940

  Family agriculture shifts toward lima-bean specialization

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  The family moved from dairy farming through alfalfa cultivation and concentrated on lima beans, becoming a leading producer of dried lima beans in the United States.

• 1900

  Carl Segerstrom acquires an Orange County farm

  [1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Swedish immigrant Carl Segerstrom purchased a large lima-bean farm, establishing the family’s long-term agricultural and landholding presence in Orange County.

A private, family-owned Orange County land and real-estate enterprise whose identity combines regional commercial development with civic, educational, and cultural philanthropy.

• Regional shopping center · 1967

  South Coast Plaza

  South Coast Plaza is the company’s signature commercial development and its most visible public asset. Built on Segerstrom family land beginning in 1967, the center became a major retail destination in Orange County, with a large tenant base and a regional draw. Its development helped transform previously undeveloped or agricultural land between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa into a prominent commercial district.

• Commercial real estate

  Surrounding commercial office properties

  The Segerstrom family retained land rights to much of the commercial office space around South Coast Plaza. These interests complement the shopping center by connecting the company to the broader office and business environment that developed around the retail complex.

• Agricultural property and land assets · 1900

  Agricultural and landholdings

  The family enterprise originated in farming, first through dairy and alfalfa and later through large-scale lima-bean production. Although its public identity is now primarily connected with real estate, its historic agricultural operations established the land base and family wealth from which later development activities grew.

• Transition from agriculture to regional commercial developmentStrategy

  Background

  As Orange County urbanized and transportation infrastructure expanded, Henry T. Segerstrom pursued development of family-owned land for a major regional shopping center rather than retaining it solely for agricultural use.

  Action taken

  The family worked with Costa Mesa on water-rights and municipal-revenue arrangements and proceeded with the South Coast Plaza project, whose construction began in 1967.

  Aftermath

  The decision established the company as a major private real-estate participant in Orange County and created the commercial district associated with the Segerstrom name.

  Source

• Long-term integration of commercial development and philanthropyStrategy

  Background

  The Segerstrom family used land and financial resources to support cultural and educational institutions in the same region where it developed commercial property.

  Action taken

  The family donated land and money to support the Orange County Performing Arts Center and contributed to local educational causes, including support associated with the Newport-Mesa school district and Segerstrom High School.

  Aftermath

  The company and family became associated not only with South Coast Plaza but also with Orange County’s cultural and civic infrastructure.

  Source

• 2006

  Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall opens[1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A new concert hall opened as part of the cultural campus supported by the Segerstrom family and associated with the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

• 1967

  Construction begins on South Coast Plaza[1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Construction started on the major regional shopping center developed on Segerstrom family land between Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.

• Segerstrom family expands civic and educational legacy[1]C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The family and company are associated with donations of land and money to regional cultural institutions, educational causes, and the development of Segerstrom High School.

1. 1C. J. Segerstrom & Sonsen.wikipedia.org