Long Beach Towne Center
Long Beach Towne Center is a large power-center shopping complex in northeastern Long Beach, California.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Long Beach Towne Center is a large open-air power center in northeastern Long Beach, California, located near the intersection of Carson Street and Interstate 605. With approximately 1,000,000 square feet of retail space on a roughly 100-acre site, it is described as the largest shopping center in Long Beach. Its tenant mix combines large-format retailers, warehouse and membership stores, home-improvement and furnishing businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues, making the center a broad regional destination rather than a narrowly specialized shopping area. The property occupies a site with a substantial institutional history. The land remained undeveloped until 1960, when the United States Navy opened a military hospital there. In 1995, hospital operations were transferred to the Veterans Administration, which subsequently closed the facility and moved patients to the VA Long Beach Healthcare System site near California State University, Long Beach. Reuse of the former hospital property was subject to disputes involving the City of Lakewood and competing redevelopment plans. Construction of the retail center began in 1997, and the completed complex opened in 1999. Long Beach Towne Center's commercial proposition is based on convenience, scale, and tenant variety. Major listed retail tenants have included Walmart, Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Bob's Discount Furniture, PetSmart, Old Navy, Michaels, an IKEA Design Studio, and Lowe's. Food and beverage options have included TGI Fridays, In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A, Lucille's Smokehouse, and Original Roadhouse Grill. Entertainment has included Regal Cinemas and Dave & Buster's. Tenant rosters can change over time, so individual occupants should be understood as reported or historically associated tenants rather than a permanent directory. The center has also undergone redevelopment and format changes. In August 2019, the Long Beach Planning Commission approved a proposal to remove about 30,000 square feet of existing space for a new Dave & Buster's venue. The center's food court, which had hosted businesses including Panda Express, Subway, and Wetzel's Pretzels at different times, was demolished in early 2020 as part of the work. The project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed in summer 2021, and the Dave & Buster's location opened on September 26, 2022. In 2021, IKEA announced a smaller-format, approximately 8,000-square-foot planning studio for the center; that location opened in 2022. In 2025, CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors acquired the shopping center for a reported $143 million. The transaction placed the property under new ownership while preserving its role as a major retail and entertainment destination serving Long Beach and surrounding communities. Long Beach Towne Center is therefore best understood as a commercial real-estate destination brand whose identity is defined by its location, large footprint, accessible power-center format, and concentration of nationally recognized tenants.
History
The Long Beach Towne Center site was undeveloped until 1960, when the United States Navy established a military hospital there. The hospital later came under Veterans Administration operations. In 1995, the hospital closed after patients and services were moved to the VA Long Beach Healthcare System facility near California State University, Long Beach. The property's future became the subject of disagreements involving the City of Lakewood and competing proposals for reuse. Retail redevelopment eventually proceeded in the late 1990s. Construction began in 1997, and the shopping center was completed in 1999. It was developed as a large power-center complex serving northeastern Long Beach and nearby communities, with a site of approximately 100 acres and roughly 1,000,000 square feet of retail space. The resulting tenant model emphasized large-format and destination retailers supported by restaurants and entertainment uses. Over time, the center's tenant mix has included Walmart, Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Bob's Discount Furniture, PetSmart, Old Navy, Michaels, Lowe's, and an IKEA Design Studio. Food and beverage tenants have included TGI Fridays, In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A, Lucille's Smokehouse, and Original Roadhouse Grill. Entertainment tenants have included Regal Cinemas and Dave & Buster's. Because the center is a multi-tenant property, occupancy has changed as individual retailers have opened, relocated, or closed. A later redevelopment phase focused on adding Dave & Buster's and reconfiguring existing space. In August 2019, the Long Beach Planning Commission approved the demolition of approximately 30,000 square feet of space for the project. The food court, which had hosted tenants such as Panda Express, Subway, and Wetzel's Pretzels at different points, was demolished in early 2020. Construction was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed during summer 2021, and concluded with the opening of Dave & Buster's on September 26, 2022. IKEA also introduced a smaller-format presence at the center. In 2021, it announced an approximately 8,000-square-foot planning studio designed around planning and purchasing assistance rather than the full inventory model of a conventional large IKEA store. The studio opened in 2022. In 2025, CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors acquired the shopping center for $143 million. The transaction represents a change in property ownership rather than a change to the center's basic identity. Long Beach Towne Center remains an active retail and entertainment complex whose appeal rests on its large scale, highway accessibility, broad tenant assortment, and role as the largest shopping center in Long Beach.
- 2025
CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors become owners
[1]The shopping center was purchased by CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors for a reported $143 million.
- 2022
Dave & Buster's opens
[1]The new entertainment venue opened on September 26, 2022.
- 2022
IKEA planning studio opens
[1]An approximately 8,000-square-foot smaller-format IKEA planning studio opened at the center.
- 2020
Food court is demolished
[1]The center's food court was torn down as part of the redevelopment work.
- 2019
Dave & Buster's redevelopment receives approval
[1]The Long Beach Planning Commission approved demolition of about 30,000 square feet of existing space for a Dave & Buster's location.
- 1999
Long Beach Towne Center is completed
[1]The large power-center development was completed and began operating as a major Long Beach shopping destination.
- 1997
Retail-center construction begins
[1]Construction began after disputes over reuse plans for the former hospital property.
- 1995
Hospital operations are transferred and the facility closes
[1]Operations were transferred to the Veterans Administration, which later closed the hospital and moved patients to the VA Long Beach Healthcare System facility.
- 1960
Navy hospital opens on the site
[1]The United States Navy opened a military hospital on the previously empty site.
Products and positioning
A large, convenient regional power center combining essential retail, home and furnishing stores, dining, and entertainment in northeastern Long Beach.
General merchandise and warehouse retail · 1999
Large-format retail and wholesale stores
The center's core retail offer includes major general-merchandise and membership-warehouse destinations such as Walmart and Sam's Club. These stores provide groceries, household goods, apparel, electronics, and other everyday merchandise, giving the property a high-frequency shopping function in addition to its specialty retail uses.
Home improvement and furniture · 1999
Home and furnishing retail
Lowe's, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Bob's Discount Furniture, and the IKEA Design Studio represent the center's home-related offer. Together they cover home improvement, furniture, interior planning, and furnishing purchases, helping make the property a destination for larger planned shopping trips.
Apparel, books, crafts, footwear, and pet supplies · 1999
Specialty retail
Specialty tenants reported at the center have included Barnes & Noble, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Old Navy, Michaels, and PetSmart. This group broadens the center beyond its anchor stores with books, footwear, apparel, arts and crafts, and pet-care merchandise.
Restaurants and leisure · 1999
Dining and entertainment
Restaurants such as In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A, TGI Fridays, Lucille's Smokehouse, and Original Roadhouse Grill have served the center's dining demand. Regal Cinemas and Dave & Buster's add movie-going, arcade, games, and food-based entertainment, reinforcing the property’s role as an all-purpose retail and leisure destination.
Brand decisions
2025
Sell the shopping center to CenterCal Properties and DRA AdvisorsM&ABackground
The multi-tenant retail property changed ownership after operating for more than two decades as a major Long Beach shopping destination.
Action taken
CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors acquired Long Beach Towne Center for a reported $143 million.
Aftermath
The property remained an active shopping and entertainment center under the new ownership.
Reported acquisition price. $143 million (2025)
2021
Introduce an IKEA smaller-format planning studioProduct launchBackground
IKEA announced a smaller local format intended to provide planning and purchasing services without the footprint of a conventional full-size store.
Action taken
An approximately 8,000-square-foot IKEA planning studio was planned for Long Beach Towne Center.
Aftermath
The planning studio opened at the center in 2022.
2019
Approve space reconfiguration for Dave & Buster'sStrategyBackground
The center sought to refresh its entertainment offer and replace approximately 30,000 square feet of existing space with a new Dave & Buster's venue.
Action taken
The Long Beach Planning Commission approved the demolition and redevelopment plan.
Aftermath
Construction was later interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed in summer 2021, and resulted in the venue's opening in September 2022.
Recent events
- 2025
CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors acquire the shopping center[1]
M&A
CenterCal Properties and DRA Advisors purchased Long Beach Towne Center for a reported $143 million.
- 2022
Dave & Buster's location opens[1]
Product launch
After work resumed in summer 2021 following the pandemic interruption, the new Dave & Buster's venue opened at the center on September 26, 2022.
- 2022
IKEA planning studio opens[1]
Product launch
The smaller-format IKEA planning studio announced in 2021 opened at Long Beach Towne Center.
- 2021
IKEA announces a smaller-format planning studio[1]
Product launch
IKEA announced plans for an approximately 8,000-square-foot planning studio at Long Beach Towne Center, reflecting the retailer's smaller-format approach to local customer engagement.
- 2020
Food-court demolition and entertainment redevelopment are delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
Work associated with the center's redevelopment, including the replacement of its food court area, was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Planning Commission approves redevelopment for Dave & Buster's[1]
Other
The Long Beach Planning Commission approved a plan to demolish approximately 30,000 square feet of existing space at the center to accommodate a new Dave & Buster's location.
Sources1 sources
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