Del Amo Fashion Center
Del Amo Fashion Center is a large regional shopping mall in Torrance, California, operated and co-owned by Simon Property Group.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Del Amo Fashion Center is a three-level regional shopping mall in Torrance, California, serving the South Bay area of Los Angeles. With approximately 2.52 million square feet of gross leasable area, it is among the largest shopping centers in the United States. Its tenant mix combines department stores, fashion retailers, luxury and specialty brands, restaurants, entertainment, a supermarket, services, and large-format stores. Major current or recent anchors and destination tenants include Nordstrom, Macy's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Forever 21, AMC Theatres, Lucky Strike, Dave & Buster's, and numerous international fashion, beauty, food, and lifestyle brands. The property developed from two neighboring retail projects rather than from a single opening. The Broadway opened at the Hawthorne Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard area in February 1959, while the adjacent open-air Del Amo Shopping Center was built in stages beginning in 1960 and 1961. Its early tenants included Silverwoods, JCPenney, Sears, Woolworth's, Lerner's, and other apparel, footwear, household, and service retailers. A separate northern project, initially known as Bullock's Fashion Square, opened in 1966 and added Desmond's, Bullock's, and I. Magnin. The northern center changed ownership and was renamed Del Amo Fashion Square in 1971. The two retail complexes were formally connected in November 1981 through a concourse over Carson Street. The resulting Del Amo Fashion Center became the world's largest enclosed shopping center at the time and reached roughly three million square feet at its largest extent. During the 1980s and 1990s, the mall experienced repeated anchor changes reflecting department-store consolidation and retail-sector restructuring. Ohrbach's, I. Magnin, J. W. Robinson's, Robinsons-May, Bullock's, The Broadway, Montgomery Ward, Woolworth's, and several theater operations were replaced, subdivided, or converted. By the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s, the center faced competition from newer regional malls, changing shopping habits, limited highway access, and vacant anchor spaces. The Mills Corporation acquired the property in 2002 and began a major redevelopment program. A $160 million project launched in 2004 renovated existing space and replaced much of the former northeastern wing. The new open-air lifestyle area opened in September 2006 with Forever 21, Lucky Strike, and an AMC multiplex. Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management acquired The Mills in 2007, bringing Del Amo into Simon's management and ownership structure. Simon later pursued a larger repositioning intended to create a cohesive, contemporary regional destination and attract shoppers who might otherwise visit affluent centers elsewhere in Los Angeles or Orange County. The north end was rebuilt as a two-level Fashion Wing with a California coastal design, abundant natural light, and a mix of luxury, contemporary, international, and specialty retailers. The wing opened on October 9, 2015, and included Nordstrom's relocation from South Bay Galleria as its principal anchor. Subsequent changes included consolidation of Macy's stores, the arrival of Dick's Sporting Goods, the conversion of former department-store space, the opening of Mitsuwa Marketplace in 2019, and further restaurant and entertainment changes. The mall continues to operate as a major shopping and leisure destination. Recent developments have included the acquisition and planned reuse of the former Sears property, new restaurant announcements, a visitor chaperone policy introduced in 2024 after incidents at the mall, and the opening of a new Apple Store in September 2024. Its identity is built around scale, regional accessibility, a broad tenant portfolio, and the combination of traditional enclosed-mall retail with open-air lifestyle and dining areas.
History
Del Amo Fashion Center emerged from the gradual combination of several retail developments on the east side of Torrance's Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street area. The Broadway opened on February 16, 1959, as one of the department store chain's Greater Los Angeles locations. An adjacent open-air Del Amo Shopping Center followed, opening in stages during 1960 and 1961. Silverwoods, JCPenney, Sears, Woolworth's, and numerous specialty stores formed the original retail base. A separate northern project was developed as Bullock's Fashion Square. Desmond's was among its first anchors in 1966, followed by Bullock's and I. Magnin, which opened in March 1967. The Fashion Square changed ownership in 1970 and was renamed Del Amo Fashion Square in 1971. Its expansion added Montgomery Ward, Ohrbach's, an enlarged I. Magnin, Woolworth's, and a United Artists cinema complex. Guilford Glazer acquired the neighboring Del Amo Center in 1978, helping establish the ownership basis for the later merger. In November 1981, the two centers were joined by a concourse over Carson Street and officially became Del Amo Fashion Center. The merger created an exceptionally large enclosed mall, with a new J. W. Robinson's store, a food court, renovated infrastructure, and a computerized customer-help system. At its peak the property reached about three million square feet and was described as the largest indoor shopping center in the world. It held that distinction until the opening of Mall of America in 1992. The mall's anchor base changed substantially during the late twentieth century. Ohrbach's closed in 1987 and was later replaced by STØR and then subdivided retail space. I. Magnin closed in 1989. The United Artists theater was replaced by a larger Mann theater outside the mall, while J. W. Robinson's became Robinsons-May in 1993. The Broadway and Bullock's were absorbed into Macy's West in the mid-1990s. The former Broadway building later reopened as a large Macy's home and furniture store, with Jo-Ann occupying part of its ground floor. Woolworth's became Venator in 1998. The Mann theater closed in 2000, and Montgomery Ward and Woolworth's left after bankruptcy, leaving major portions of the north wing without anchors. The Mills Corporation purchased Del Amo in 2002. Its redevelopment program, announced in the following years, involved a reported $160 million investment, demolition of the former northeastern wing, renovation of approximately 670,000 square feet, and construction of additional space. An open-air lifestyle district opened on September 14, 2006, with a two-story Forever 21, Lucky Strike Lanes, and an AMC 18-screen multiplex. The Mills Corporation was acquired jointly by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management in 2007, after which Simon became the principal operating force at the property. Simon subsequently planned a more extensive transformation. A first phase improved the concourse and food-court area above Carson Street, which was renamed Patio Cafes. In 2014, Macy's confirmed plans to consolidate its separate stores, and the former Macy's Home building was later converted for Dick's Sporting Goods. The central redevelopment replaced much of the old north end with a two-level Fashion Wing designed by 5+design. It opened on October 9, 2015, with a bright, open aesthetic described as beach-inspired or Californian coastal. Nordstrom relocated from South Bay Galleria and anchored the new wing alongside a broad group of luxury, international fashion, beauty, food, and lifestyle tenants. Later changes continued the mall's shift toward mixed-use entertainment and destination shopping. South-end renovations added or relocated entertainment and retail uses, including Dave & Buster's and Marshalls. Outback Steakhouse reopened in the Outdoor Village in 2018. Mitsuwa Marketplace occupied the former Ohrbach's building in November 2019, while the second-floor space formerly used by TJ Maxx remained vacant. Sears closed its Del Amo store in 2020, and Simon acquired the associated property for future redevelopment. The mall also experienced individual tenant departures and replacements, including restaurant changes and the closure of Jo-Ann Fabrics following its 2025 nationwide shutdown plan. Today, Del Amo Fashion Center remains a major South Bay regional center with a mixture of enclosed and open-air districts. Its continuing evolution reflects broader changes in American retail: the decline of traditional department stores, the conversion of obsolete anchor boxes, the rise of restaurants and entertainment, the importance of international and luxury tenants, and the use of redevelopment to maintain a large mall's regional relevance.
- 2024
Chaperone policy begins
[1]The mall introduces an evening and weekend chaperone requirement for visitors under 18.
- 2024
Apple Store opens
[1]A new Apple Store opens in the Nordstrom wing on September 20.
- 2020
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store announces and completes its closure as part of the chain's retreat from traditional brick-and-mortar operations.
- 2019
Mitsuwa Marketplace opens
[1]Mitsuwa Marketplace opens in the former Ohrbach's building, adding a major Japanese-oriented supermarket and food destination.
- 2015
Fashion Wing opens
[1]The rebuilt northern Fashion Wing opens on October 9 with Nordstrom and a large collection of luxury, fashion, beauty, dining, and specialty retailers.
- 2007
Simon becomes an owner and manager
[1]Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management acquire The Mills Corporation, bringing Del Amo into Simon's portfolio.
- 2006
Lifestyle redevelopment opens
[1]A redeveloped open-air district opens with Forever 21, Lucky Strike Lanes, and an AMC multiplex.
- 2002
The Mills Corporation acquires the property
[1]The Mills Corporation purchases Del Amo Fashion Center and begins planning a substantial redevelopment.
- 1992
Mall of America surpasses Del Amo in size
[1]Del Amo's period as the largest shopping mall in the United States ends with the opening of Mall of America.
- 1981
The two malls formally merge
[1]A concourse over Carson Street links Del Amo Fashion Square and Del Amo Center, creating the unified Del Amo Fashion Center.
Products and positioning
A large, multi-format regional shopping and entertainment destination serving the South Bay and wider Southern California market, combining traditional department-store retail with open-air lifestyle, luxury, dining, and entertainment districts.
Retail district · 2015
Fashion Wing
The Fashion Wing is the rebuilt two-level northern section of Del Amo Fashion Center. Opened in 2015, it was designed around a bright, open California coastal aesthetic and combines luxury labels, international fashion chains, beauty retailers, restaurants, services, and flagship or regional-format stores. Nordstrom serves as the principal anchor, while the tenant mix has included brands such as BOSS, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tumi, Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, lululemon, Sephora, and Apple.
Lifestyle and dining district · 2006
Outdoor Village
The Outdoor Village is an open-air component of the mall that extends Del Amo beyond conventional enclosed retail. It has accommodated restaurants, apparel and lifestyle stores, and entertainment-oriented uses, including relocated restaurant operations and other destination tenants. The district forms part of the property's post-2000 strategy of combining shopping with dining and leisure.
Food court and dining area · 2014
Patio Cafes
Patio Cafes is the renamed and renovated food-court area above Carson Street. Its redevelopment was part of the early phase of Simon's later modernization program and helped improve circulation and dining capacity in the central portion of the mall.
Supermarket and food destination · 2019
Mitsuwa Marketplace
Mitsuwa Marketplace occupies the former Ohrbach's building and provides Japanese-oriented grocery retail, prepared foods, and related specialty offerings. Its arrival added a major international supermarket destination to Del Amo's otherwise broad fashion, department-store, dining, and entertainment mix.
Brand decisions
2024
Adoption of a chaperone policyOtherBackground
The mall reported incidents during the months preceding the policy change.
Action taken
Visitors under 18 were required to be accompanied by a parent or an adult aged 21 or older after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Aftermath
The policy changed access conditions during peak evening and weekend periods for younger visitors.
2020
Acquisition and future reuse of the Sears propertyOtherBackground
Sears announced the closure of its Del Amo store during the continuing contraction of its traditional retail network.
Action taken
Simon Property Group pursued acquisition of the approximately 22.4-acre Sears property, including the store, auto facilities, office building, and surrounding parking.
Aftermath
The site became available for future redevelopment within the broader Del Amo property.
2014
Consolidation of Macy's storesStrategyBackground
The property and Macy's reviewed the use of multiple large department-store buildings during the broader redevelopment.
Action taken
Macy's consolidated its standalone home store into the existing Macy's Men's location, while Simon arranged a property exchange involving the Macy's buildings.
Aftermath
The former Macy's Home space was later occupied by Dick's Sporting Goods, which opened there in early 2017.
2012
Simon unveils a comprehensive north-end transformationStrategyBackground
Simon sought to restore Del Amo's position as the leading regional shopping destination in the South Bay and compete more effectively with affluent centers in West Los Angeles and Orange County.
Action taken
Plans were developed to remove the existing northern section and replace it with a two-level Fashion Wing featuring a unified architectural identity and a more upscale tenant mix.
Aftermath
The Fashion Wing opened in 2015 and was anchored by Nordstrom, which relocated from South Bay Galleria.
2004
Launch of major Mills redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property faced pressure from changing shopping patterns, department-store consolidation, competing malls, and vacant anchor space.
Action taken
The Mills Corporation initiated a large redevelopment involving demolition of the former northeastern wing, renovation of existing space, and construction of new retail and entertainment areas.
Aftermath
The open-air lifestyle district opened in 2006 with new entertainment and fashion anchors, beginning the mall's modern repositioning.
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