Carousel Mall
Carousel Mall was a former two-story mixed-use shopping mall in downtown San Bernardino, California, originally opened as Central City Mall in 1972.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Carousel Mall was a downtown shopping and office complex in San Bernardino, California. It opened on October 11, 1972, as Central City Mall, an urban-renewal project intended to strengthen the city's traditional retail district along 3rd Street. The two-story center initially contained 52 stores and three major anchors: JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company, a long-established San Bernardino department store that had occupied its site since 1927. City and redevelopment planners viewed the mall as a major catalyst for downtown investment, and early concepts included complementary projects such as a monorail, a new commerce building, a public park, and an additional anchor store. Most of those proposals were never realized. The property encountered structural and competitive problems within several years of opening. During the late 1970s and 1980s, local gang activity, frequent changes in management, political complications, and the broader weakening of downtown San Bernardino reduced the mall's appeal. Retail competition intensified as shoppers increasingly preferred Inland Center, a regional mall with better access to the I-215 and I-10 interchange and a stronger ability to retain or replace anchor tenants. In an effort to reposition the property, its owners renovated and renamed it Carousel Mall in 1991. The new identity centered on a large carousel, colorful interior finishes, and brighter façades designed to attract families and discourage uses of the center as a gang gathering place. The makeover did not reverse the long-term decline. Anchor losses accelerated in the 2000s. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the retailer went out of business, and JCPenney, the final remaining major anchor, departed in 2003. Vacated retail areas were partly repurposed for mixed-use occupancy, including offices for San Bernardino County departments. The county became the mall's largest tenant for a period, while the retail component contracted to a small collection of independent stores, restaurants, and service businesses. A neighboring movie theater also closed in 2008, further reducing visitor traffic. Ownership and redevelopment plans changed repeatedly. LNR Property Corp. acquired the property in 2006 with plans for a denser residential and commercial project, then sold it in 2008 to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million. Later redevelopment efforts faced ownership disputes, financing problems, competing development locations, city bankruptcy proceedings, and the dissolution of California redevelopment agencies. Carousel Mall finally closed on August 22, 2017, after the remaining tenants were evicted. The carousel that gave the complex its name was sold by the city in 2018. In 2022, city leaders approved demolition of the buildings on the approximately 43-acre site and a future disposition and redevelopment program. Lincoln Property Company withdrew from a redevelopment effort in October 2022. Demolition began in April 2023 and was substantially complete by late 2023, although the former Harris building, a parking structure, and an enterprise building remained standing as of April 2024. The Harris building was later affected by a fire in October 2024. The former mall site remains associated with plans for new office, retail, and housing development rather than with an operating shopping center.
History
Carousel Mall began as Central City Mall, which opened in downtown San Bernardino on October 11, 1972. The project was conceived as a major urban-renewal intervention for the city's established 3rd Street retail district. Its two-story design contained 52 stores and three principal department-store anchors: JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company. Harris had operated at the location since 1927, making the mall a combination of new development and an established local retail institution. Plans associated with the mall envisioned a broader downtown transformation, including a monorail, public park, commerce building, and a fourth anchor. These additions were not delivered, leaving the mall dependent on the performance of the original retail concept. Problems emerged during the late 1970s. Gang activity made the mall a gathering place and affected perceptions of safety, while changes among management companies and competing interests among city leaders complicated efforts to operate and improve the property. Downtown San Bernardino itself weakened, and the mall faced growing competition from Inland Center. That center benefited from stronger highway access and greater success in maintaining occupied anchor and inline retail space. By the late 1980s, the owners and developers pursued a new revitalization strategy. The 1991 renovation produced the Carousel Mall name. A large carousel, colorful interior decoration, and brighter exterior façades were intended to make the property more attractive to families with young children and to change the mall's social environment. The rebranding provided a new identity but did not resolve the underlying market problems. During the 1990s, the mall continued to lose business as consumers shifted toward Inland Center and as downtown vacancies increased. The movement of retail businesses and department-store activity away from the property weakened its role as a regional shopping destination. The anchor base then collapsed. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the chain went out of business. JCPenney remained for roughly two more years before closing in 2003, leaving the mall without a major department-store anchor. Vacant retail areas were subsequently adapted for mixed uses. The city and property owners permitted county offices to occupy portions of the former retail space, including areas near the 3rd Street entrance and western court or lobby. San Bernardino County became the property's largest tenant for a time, although county and school-district offices later moved elsewhere. By the early 2010s, only a limited number of retail businesses remained, including independently operated stores, restaurants, service providers, and an AM radio station. Ownership changes and redevelopment proposals continued. LNR Property Corp. bought the property in February 2006 with the intention of creating a higher-density residential and commercial project. That plan did not materialize, and the property was sold in January 2008 to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million. The adjoining CinemaStar theater also closed in 2008, further reducing foot traffic. Later attempts to rehabilitate, demolish, or replace the mall were affected by complicated ownership arrangements, financial institutions, tribal and other stakeholder interests, city bankruptcy proceedings, and the statewide closure of redevelopment agencies. The surrounding downtown's economic decline and the availability of more accessible development sites elsewhere in San Bernardino made the property difficult to reposition. The mall closed on August 22, 2017, after the remaining tenants were removed. The city sold the namesake carousel in 2018. A fire caused damage at the closed complex in May 2022, and a fatal electrocution occurred during an attempted copper-wire theft later that year. In July 2022, city leaders approved a plan to demolish the buildings and sell the property. Lincoln Property Company withdrew from a redevelopment effort in October. Demolition began in April 2023 and was substantially complete by April 2024, though the Harris building, parking structure, and enterprise building remained. The former Harris building was later damaged by fire in October 2024. The city has described the future of the broader site in terms of office, retail, and housing development, but Carousel Mall itself is defunct.
- 2024
Most of the mall is demolished
[1]By April 6, most of the mall had been demolished, although several associated structures remained.
- 2023
Demolition begins
[1]Demolition began in April as the city moved to clear the former shopping-center complex.
- 2022
Demolition plan approved
[1]San Bernardino approved demolition of the mall buildings and a future sale and redevelopment process for the site.
- 2017
Mall closes
[1]Carousel Mall closed on August 22 after the remaining tenants were evicted.
- 2008
Property changes hands
[1]LNR sold the property to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million; the adjoining CinemaStar theater also closed.
- 2006
LNR Property Corp. acquires the property
[1]LNR Property Corp. purchased the property with plans for a denser residential and commercial redevelopment.
- 2003
JCPenney departs
[1]JCPenney closed, leaving Carousel Mall without its last major department-store anchor.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward closed after the retailer ceased operations, removing one of the mall's principal anchors.
- 1991
Rebranding as Carousel Mall
[1]A renovation introduced the Carousel Mall name, a large carousel, colorful interiors, and brighter façades.
- 1972
Central City Mall opens
[1]Central City Mall opened on October 11 with two stories, 52 stores, and JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company as major anchors.
Products and positioning
A downtown urban-renewal shopping center repositioned as a family-oriented mixed-use property, but ultimately undermined by anchor departures, suburban competition, declining downtown conditions, and prolonged redevelopment obstacles.
Retail · 1972
Department-store retail
The mall's original commercial proposition depended heavily on department stores. JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company served as its principal anchors, offering broad assortments of apparel, household merchandise, accessories, and general goods. Their departures removed the traffic-generating function on which the center's smaller tenants depended.
Retail and food service
Independent retail and dining
After the anchor stores closed, the remaining commercial mix consisted primarily of independently operated stores, restaurants, and service businesses. The property also accommodated small specialty and administrative tenants, but these uses were insufficient to restore the mall's earlier role as a regional shopping destination.
Mixed-use occupancy
County office space
Vacated retail areas were converted in part to offices for San Bernardino County departments. County employees became the mall's largest tenant group for a period, demonstrating the property's transition from a primarily retail center toward a mixed-use civic and commercial facility.
Brand decisions
2022
Demolition and site dispositionStrategyBackground
The mall had been closed since 2017, and earlier rehabilitation and mixed-use proposals had stalled.
Action taken
San Bernardino city leaders approved demolition of the buildings on the approximately 43-acre property and a process to sell or otherwise reposition the site.
Aftermath
Demolition began in April 2023, with future plans centered on office, retail, and housing uses rather than a renovated enclosed mall.
2006
High-density redevelopment proposalStrategyBackground
The aging mall had lost major anchors and faced competition from more accessible retail and development locations.
Action taken
LNR Property Corp. acquired the property with an intention to develop a higher-density residential and commercial project.
Aftermath
The proposal did not come to fruition, and the property was sold in 2008.
Reported acquisition price in 2008. $23.5 million (2008)
2003
Conversion of vacant retail areas to mixed useStrategyBackground
JCPenney's closure left the mall without a major anchor after Montgomery Ward had already departed.
Action taken
Property owners allowed portions of the former retail space to be used for San Bernardino County offices and other non-retail occupancy.
Aftermath
The county became the largest tenant for a period, but the change did not restore the mall's retail traffic or long-term viability.
1991
Family-oriented rebranding and renovationStrategyBackground
The former Central City Mall faced gang activity, management difficulties, and declining downtown conditions.
Action taken
Owners renovated the center, renamed it Carousel Mall, installed a large carousel, and used brighter and more colorful design elements to attract families and alter the property's public image.
Aftermath
The rebranding created a distinctive identity but did not prevent continuing retail decline during the 1990s.
Recent events
- 2024
Former Harris building is engulfed by fire[1]
Other
Fire affected the former Harris building on October 24, 2024, after most of the mall complex had been demolished.
- 2024
Woman rescued from manhole at former mall location[1]
Other
On November 20, 2024, first responders rescued a woman who had fallen into a manhole at the former Carousel Mall site and spent the night there.
- 2023
Demolition of Carousel Mall begins[1]
Other
Demolition began in April 2023, with completion planned for November as the city prepared the property for a new development program.
- 2022
Fire damages the closed mall property[1]
Other
A vagrant fire caused unknown damage at the former mall complex on May 15, 2022.
- 2022
San Bernardino approves demolition and disposition plan[1]
Other
City leaders approved a plan to demolish the buildings on the approximately 43-acre property and sell the site for future redevelopment.
- 2022
Lincoln Property Company withdraws from redevelopment effort[1]
Other
Lincoln Property Company withdrew from the proposed redevelopment project on October 14, 2022, adding to the site's long history of stalled plans.
- 2022
Scrap-metal theft death occurs at the former mall site[1]
Other
A person attempting to remove copper wiring from a substation at the property died after being electrocuted on October 27, 2022.
- 2018
Carousel sold by the city[1]
Other
The carousel used as the mall's signature visual feature was sold by the city after the shopping center had closed.
- 2017
Carousel Mall closes after remaining tenants are evicted[1]
Other
The former downtown shopping center closed to public access on August 22, 2017, ending its operation after years of declining retail occupancy and anchor losses.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/carousel-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled