Citrus Plaza

Citrus Plaza is a retail and restaurant center in Redlands, California, United States. It is part of a larger, contiguous development that includes Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza. The property is owned by Majestic Realty Co. and occupies part of a 53-acre commercial area within a 120-acre master-planned superblock. Together, the centers provide department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, residential accommodation, and hospitality uses. The development occupies an area locally known as the “Donut Hole,” an approximately 1,000-acre enclave of unincorporated San Bernardino County surrounded by the city of Redlands. The site had historically been associated with citrus groves and agricultural land. From the 1970s onward, Redlands undertook infrastructure improvements in anticipation of possible annexation, while Majestic Realty acquired much of the land and proposed a major shopping center in 1993. The project became the subject of prolonged disputes involving the city, county, and developer, including disagreements over planning authority and municipal control. The development process culminated in a 2000 settlement following state legislation that removed Redlands’ control over the area. Redlands voters subsequently approved Measure N in 2003, creating a sales-tax-sharing arrangement under which most retail sales-tax revenue from the enclave was allocated to the city. Citrus Plaza opened in the early 2000s, with sources identifying the opening as 2003 and the broader property description also referring to a 2004–05 opening period. The adjacent Mountain Grove expansion opened in 2015, substantially extending the retail offer and reinforcing the center’s role as a regional shopping destination. Citrus Plaza and Mountain Grove have been anchored by national retailers including Target, Kohl’s, Barnes & Noble, Nordstrom Rack, Hobby Lobby, Ulta, Nike, Banana Republic, and other department, specialty, and lifestyle stores. The property also includes restaurants, a Harkins movie theater, and seasonal programming such as holiday tree-lighting activities and visits from Santa Claus. The Summit Apartments, comprising 281 residential units, opened in 2018. A 110-room Marriott hotel and an Aldi grocery store were added in 2021, while the Target store was remodeled as a SuperTarget in 2022. The center benefits from visibility and access from Interstate 210, also known as the Foothill Freeway, and Interstate 10. Its development transformed a historically agricultural and politically contested area into a large commercial and mixed-use district. The property is described as fully leased in the available reference material. Citrus Plaza is best understood not as a conventional consumer-goods brand but as a place-based retail property whose identity is built around a concentration of shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, and hospitality uses.

The land associated with Citrus Plaza lies in an area commonly called the “Donut Hole,” an unincorporated enclave of San Bernardino County surrounded by Redlands, California. Before the development of the shopping center, the broader area consisted largely of citrus groves, farmland, and open land. Its political status became increasingly important during the late twentieth century as Redlands expanded public works improvements and anticipated that the enclave might eventually be annexed. Majestic Realty Co. acquired most of the relevant land and proposed Citrus Plaza in 1993. The proposal generated disagreement over land-use authority, taxation, planning, and the relationship between the developer, Redlands, and San Bernardino County. Negotiations during the 1990s deteriorated into legal and political disputes. A state law enacted in 2000 removed Redlands’ control over the area, after which the local governments and Majestic Realty reached a settlement that enabled the project to proceed. Redlands voters approved Measure N in 2003. The measure established a sales-tax-sharing arrangement for the enclave, directing 90 percent of the retail sales-tax revenue to Redlands and the balance to the county. Later arrangements resulted in Redlands receiving the full amount of the sales-tax revenue by 2023. The tax issue was significant because the shopping center’s location outside the city limits affected how the economic benefits of the project would be distributed. Citrus Plaza opened in the early 2000s. The available reference material identifies the opening as 2003, while the introductory description associates the opening with 2004–05; the exact opening date should therefore be treated cautiously. The center was designed as a large retail and restaurant destination with national anchor stores and high visibility from Interstate 210 and Interstate 10. The broader property ultimately comprised approximately 520,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space across the Citrus Plaza and Mountain Grove components. The adjacent Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza expansion opened in 2015. It added further stores and restaurants, including retailers such as Nordstrom Rack, Hobby Lobby, Ulta, and Nike, while Citrus Plaza retained or was associated with anchors including Target, Kohl’s, and Barnes & Noble. The combined center also included a Harkins movie theater and a range of smaller shops and food-service businesses. The development later became more mixed-use. The Summit Apartments opened in 2018 with 281 residential units. In 2021, a 110-room Marriott hotel and an Aldi grocery store were added. In 2022, the Target store was remodeled into a SuperTarget, broadening its grocery and general-merchandise role. Seasonal activities, including holiday tree lighting and Santa appearances, form part of the center’s public-facing programming. Citrus Plaza is therefore both a shopping center and a component of a larger master-planned commercial district. Its history reflects the conversion of agricultural land into regional retail infrastructure, as well as a distinctive governance dispute involving an unincorporated area enclosed by a municipality. The property remains associated with Majestic Realty Co. and continues to operate as an active retail, dining, entertainment, residential, and hospitality destination.

• 2023

  Redlands receives all enclave sales-tax revenue

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  By this year, Redlands was reported to receive 100 percent of the sales-tax revenue generated in the area.

• 2022

  Target becomes SuperTarget

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Target anchor underwent a remodel and reopened in the SuperTarget format.

• 2021

  Hotel and grocery uses are added

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A 110-room Marriott hotel and an Aldi grocery store joined the development.

• 2018

  The Summit Apartments open

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The property added 281 residential units through The Summit Apartments.

• 2015

  Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza opens

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The adjacent and contiguous Mountain Grove expansion opened as a major extension of the retail complex.

• 2003

  Citrus Plaza opens

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping center opened after years of planning and jurisdictional disputes.

• 2003

  Measure N establishes sales-tax sharing

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Redlands voters approved a measure allocating most sales-tax revenue generated in the enclave to the city.

• 2000

  State legislation and settlement clear the development path

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  State legislation removed Redlands’ control over the area, followed by a settlement among local governments and Majestic Realty.

• 1993

  Majestic Realty proposes Citrus Plaza

  [1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Majestic Realty Co. proposed a major shopping center after acquiring much of the land in the Redlands-area enclave.

A regional shopping and mixed-use destination combining national retail anchors, restaurants, entertainment, residential units, and hospitality facilities in the Redlands area.

• Shopping center · 2003

  Citrus Plaza retail center

  The original retail component of the development, offering department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Anchor and major tenants associated with the center include Target, Kohl’s, and Barnes & Noble, alongside other retailers and food-service businesses.

• Shopping center expansion · 2015

  Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza

  The adjacent expansion opened in 2015 and broadened the combined destination’s retail mix. Its reported tenants include Nordstrom Rack, Hobby Lobby, Ulta, and Nike, together with additional stores and restaurants.

• Residential property · 2018

  The Summit Apartments

  A 281-unit residential component integrated into the broader Citrus Plaza mixed-use development. The apartments opened in 2018 and represent the expansion of the property beyond retail and dining.

• General merchandise and grocery retail · 2022

  SuperTarget

  The Target anchor was remodeled into a SuperTarget format in 2022, adding or expanding grocery capabilities alongside Target’s general-merchandise offer.

• Hospitality · 2021

  Marriott hotel

  A 110-room Marriott hotel added a hospitality component to the retail and residential district in 2021.

• Holiday tree lighting and Santa events

  Redlands, California

  Citrus Plaza hosts seasonal community programming, including holiday tree-lighting activities and appearances by Santa Claus.

  Source

• 2022

  Target remodeled as SuperTargetGeneration change

  Background

  The Target anchor was updated to strengthen its general-merchandise and grocery offer.

  Action taken

  The store was remodeled and converted to the SuperTarget format.

  Aftermath

  The anchor expanded its role within the center’s everyday shopping offer.

  Source

• 2021

  Addition of hospitality and grocery usesStrategy

  Background

  The owner continued developing the site as a mixed-use destination rather than a strictly retail center.

  Action taken

  A 110-room Marriott hotel and an Aldi grocery store were added.

  Aftermath

  The development gained additional visitor accommodation and grocery-shopping capacity.

  Source

• 2018

  Addition of residential unitsStrategy

  Background

  The property broadened its use beyond retail and dining.

  Action taken

  The Summit Apartments opened with 281 residential units.

  Aftermath

  Citrus Plaza became part of a more integrated retail, residential, and entertainment environment.

  Source

• 2015

  Expansion through Mountain GroveM&A

  Background

  The original Citrus Plaza development was expanded to create a larger contiguous retail destination.

  Action taken

  Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza opened with additional retail and restaurant space.

  Aftermath

  The combined centers became a broader regional shopping and mixed-use destination.

  Source

• 1993

  Proposal of a regional shopping centerStrategy

  Background

  Majestic Realty acquired much of the land in the unincorporated Redlands enclave and proposed converting the area into a large retail development.

  Action taken

  The developer advanced plans for Citrus Plaza despite disagreements over jurisdiction, planning authority, and tax distribution.

  Aftermath

  The proposal led to prolonged negotiations and legal disputes before a 2000 settlement enabled construction.

  Source

• 2023

  Redlands receives full sales-tax revenue from the Donut Hole[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  By 2023, Redlands was receiving all sales-tax revenue generated in the enclave, following the earlier tax-sharing arrangement established through Measure N.

• 2022

  Target store remodeled as a SuperTarget[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The Target location was remodeled and converted into a SuperTarget format store.

• 2021

  Marriott hotel and Aldi store added to the development[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A 110-room Marriott hotel and an Aldi grocery store were added to the Citrus Plaza and Mountain Grove development.

• 2018

  The Summit Apartments open[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The mixed-use property expanded into residential accommodation with the opening of The Summit Apartments, comprising 281 units.

• 2015

  Mountain Grove expansion opens[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The adjacent Mountain Grove at Citrus Plaza expansion opened, adding substantial retail and restaurant capacity to the broader development.

• 2003

  Citrus Plaza shopping center opens in the Redlands area[1]Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The shopping center opened after years of planning disputes involving the developer, Redlands, and San Bernardino County authorities.

1. 1Citrus Plazaen.wikipedia.org