Glendale Galleria
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA large three-story regional shopping center and office complex in downtown Glendale, California.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Glendale Galleria is a major regional shopping center and office complex in downtown Glendale, California. The property opened in 1976 and was developed as a large-scale urban retail destination intended to reinforce Glendale’s central business district. Its original development was undertaken by Glendale Associates, a partnership involving J.S. Griffiths Co., Broadway Hale Stores, and M.J. Brock & Sons, in coordination with the city’s redevelopment agency. Construction began in 1973, and the development reportedly cost $75 million at the time. The mall opened formally on October 14, 1976, although several department-store tenants began trading earlier that year. Its initial anchors included Buffums and The Broadway, followed by Ohrbach’s and JCPenney. The original project provided approximately 1.6 million square feet of retail space, making it one of the largest shopping centers in the Los Angeles area. Its early design used a largely windowless and unadorned brick exterior, reflecting the enclosed-mall architecture common in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Glendale Galleria expanded in the early 1980s through a project known as Galleria II. Completed in 1983, the expansion added a new wing and brought Nordstrom and Mervyn’s to the property. The same year, the first Panda Express restaurant opened at the mall, an event that gave the center a notable place in the history of that restaurant chain. Other retail milestones followed: the first Disney Store opened at Glendale Galleria in 1987, and the center later became one of the first two locations selected for Apple’s initial U.S. retail stores. The Apple Store opened on May 19, 2001, alongside the store at Tysons Corner Center in Virginia. The property’s department-store mix changed repeatedly as national retailers consolidated or exited the market. Buffums closed in 1990, and its former location was replaced by a three-story Robinsons-May store in 1993. The Broadway closed in 1996 and was replaced by Macy’s. Robinsons-May later closed, and the space became home to a three-story Target store in 2007. Mervyn’s left the center after its bankruptcy and store closures in 2009. Bloomingdale’s subsequently occupied the former Mervyn’s space and opened in 2013. Nordstrom moved to the nearby Americana at Brand in 2014, after which portions of its former space were redeveloped for Dick’s Sporting Goods and Gold’s Gym. Ownership changed in 2002, when General Growth Properties acquired the center for $415 million from its then-owners. General Growth Properties later became part of the Brookfield Properties platform, which has owned and managed Glendale Galleria since the acquisition. A major physical renovation began in April 2012 and was completed in November 2013. Designed by Kevin Kennon, the $57.5 million project modernized the exterior appearance, improved signage and circulation, and added metal panels, mesh, white marble, and black granite elements. Glendale Galleria continues to operate as a broad tenant-mix regional mall, combining department stores, specialty retail, food and beverage, fitness, services, and entertainment-oriented offerings. Reference material states that more than 200 stores operated at the property as of 2017 and that approximately 30 million people visited in 2016. The center also has a place in popular culture: Glendale Galleria was used as the setting for Billie Eilish’s 2020 music video for “Therefore I Am.”
History
Glendale Galleria was developed during a period when Glendale sought to strengthen its downtown through a substantial enclosed retail complex. Glendale Associates, comprising J.S. Griffiths Co., Broadway Hale Stores, and M.J. Brock & Sons, negotiated with the Glendale Redevelopment Agency while planning proceeded. Construction began in 1973, and the development cost was reported as $75 million. Architect Jon Jerde designed the center and later associated the concept with an essay by Ray Bradbury concerning the revitalization of retail districts. The first stores opened before the formal inauguration. Buffums and The Broadway began operating in August 1976, followed by the official opening on October 14. Ohrbach’s and JCPenney joined the center during October and November. The original complex contained about 1.6 million square feet of retail space and was designed in the enclosed-mall style prevalent at the time, including a predominantly windowless brick exterior. The first major expansion, Galleria II, was completed in 1983. It extended one of the mall’s wings and added Nordstrom and Mervyn’s as anchor tenants. That year also saw the opening of the first Panda Express restaurant, located on the third level near Bloomingdale’s. In 1987, Glendale Galleria became the location of the first Disney Store. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the center remained a major department-store destination, but its tenant roster began to change as traditional chains closed, merged, or repositioned themselves. Buffums closed in 1990; a Robinsons-May store replaced it in 1993. The Broadway closed in 1996 and was replaced by Macy’s. The mall gained renewed significance in 2001 when Apple selected it for one of the first two Apple Stores in the world, together with the location at Tysons Corner Center in Virginia. The store openings on May 19 marked Apple’s entry into physical retail on a national scale. In 2002, the property’s owners—J.S. Griffiths, Cigna, and the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System—placed the mall on the market. General Growth Properties announced an acquisition for $415 million in October, completing the purchase in December. General Growth Properties subsequently became associated with Brookfield Properties, which has owned and managed the center since that transition. The anchor lineup continued to evolve. Robinsons-May closed in 2006, and a three-story Target opened in its former space in July 2007. Mervyn’s exited after filing for bankruptcy and closing its stores in 2009. Bloomingdale’s replaced the former Mervyn’s location in 2013. Nordstrom moved to the adjacent Americana at Brand in 2014, while Dick’s Sporting Goods later reconstructed part of the former Nordstrom space in 2016. Gold’s Gym opened in the remaining portion in 2019. A substantial modernization program began on April 25, 2012. Designed by Kevin Kennon, the renovation sought to give the center a more contemporary appearance and improve wayfinding, circulation, and access. The work added metal panels and mesh treatments, including materials incorporating white marble and black granite. The $57.5 million renovation was completed on November 9, 2013. By 2016, reported annual visitation reached approximately 30 million, placing the center among the top shopping centers identified by Green Street Advisors. Reference material states that more than 200 stores operated there in 2017, with six serving as anchors. The mall remains an active regional retail property and has also appeared in popular culture, including Billie Eilish’s 2020 “Therefore I Am” music video.
- 2019
Gold’s Gym opens
[1]Gold’s Gym opened in part of the former Nordstrom space.
- 2013
Renovation completed
[1]A major modernization program concluded on November 9 after updating the mall’s architecture and circulation systems.
- 2007
Three-story Target opens
[1]A three-story Target opened on July 29 in the former Robinsons-May space.
- 2002
Acquisition by General Growth Properties
[1]General Growth Properties acquired the mall, which later became part of Brookfield Properties’ portfolio.
- 2001
Apple Store opening
[1]Apple opened one of its first two stores at Glendale Galleria on May 19.
- 1987
First Disney Store opens
[1]The first Disney Store opened at Glendale Galleria on March 28.
- 1983
Galleria II expansion
[1]The expansion added a mall wing and brought Nordstrom and Mervyn’s to the property.
- 1976
Formal opening
[1]Glendale Galleria officially opened on October 14, following the earlier openings of Buffums and The Broadway.
- 1973
Construction begins
[1]Construction started after development agreements were negotiated with Glendale’s redevelopment agency.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping center serving Glendale and the wider Los Angeles metropolitan area, with a tenant mix spanning department stores, specialty retailers, dining, services, and fitness.
Retail anchor · 1976
Department-store retail
Glendale Galleria’s anchor strategy has historically centered on large department stores. Its roster has included Buffums, The Broadway, Ohrbach’s, Nordstrom, Mervyn’s, Robinsons-May, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, JCPenney, and Target. The specific lineup has changed as retailers closed, relocated, or were replaced, but department-store traffic remains central to the mall’s regional positioning.
Shopping-center retail · 1976
Specialty retail
The center provides specialty shopping across fashion, apparel, beauty, electronics, sporting goods, and other consumer categories. Its large regional footprint and central Glendale location support a broad tenant mix rather than a narrowly focused retail concept.
Food and beverage · 1983
Dining and food services
Restaurants and food-service businesses form part of the mall’s everyday customer offer. Glendale Galleria was also the site of the first Panda Express restaurant, which opened in 1983 near Bloomingdale’s on the third level.
Services · 2019
Fitness and wellness
Fitness-oriented occupancy became more prominent after Gold’s Gym opened in 2019 in part of the former Nordstrom space. This broadened the property’s use beyond conventional shopping and dining.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020“Therefore I Am” music video location
United States
Glendale Galleria was used as the principal setting for Billie Eilish’s music video for “Therefore I Am.” The appearance presented the mall as a recognizable contemporary retail environment rather than as a conventional advertising campaign.
Outcome. The music video provided the property with prominent popular-culture exposure.
Brand decisions
2014
Reconfiguration of former Nordstrom spaceStrategyBackground
Nordstrom moved from Glendale Galleria to the nearby Americana at Brand, creating a substantial vacancy within the mall.
Action taken
The former Nordstrom area was subsequently divided and redeveloped for Dick’s Sporting Goods and, later, Gold’s Gym.
Aftermath
The reconfiguration replaced a departing department-store anchor with sporting-goods and fitness uses.
2012
Comprehensive property renovationStrategyBackground
The aging enclosed mall required a more contemporary physical identity, clearer signage, and improved movement through the complex.
Action taken
Brookfield Properties and the mall undertook a renovation designed by Kevin Kennon, including façade modernization, new materials, improved signage, and circulation upgrades.
Aftermath
The $57.5 million project was completed in November 2013 and repositioned the center’s appearance for contemporary regional-mall competition.
Renovation cost. $57.5 million (2012–2013 renovation)
2002
Sale to General Growth PropertiesM&ABackground
The mall’s three owners at the time placed Glendale Galleria on the market in September 2002, stating that the sale was unrelated to the property’s performance.
Action taken
General Growth Properties agreed to acquire the center for $415 million. The transaction was announced on October 28 and completed on December 6.
Aftermath
The property became part of the ownership and management platform that later operated under Brookfield Properties.
Acquisition price. $415 million (2002 acquisition)
Recent events
- 2020
Billie Eilish uses Glendale Galleria in “Therefore I Am” music video[1]
Campaign
Glendale Galleria served as the setting for American singer Billie Eilish’s music video for “Therefore I Am.”
- 2013
Major Glendale Galleria renovation is completed[1]
Other
A renovation begun in 2012 was completed in November 2013. The project updated the mall’s exterior, signage, circulation, and access, using new metal, stone, and mesh treatments.
- 2002
General Growth Properties announces acquisition of Glendale Galleria[1]
M&A
General Growth Properties agreed to acquire Glendale Galleria after the property was offered for sale by its then-owners. The transaction was announced in October and completed in December.
- 2001
Apple opens one of its first two stores at Glendale Galleria[1]
Product launch
Apple selected Glendale Galleria as one of the first two locations for its branded retail stores. The Glendale location opened on May 19, 2001, at the same time as the store at Tysons Corner Center.
Sources2 sources
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