Los Cerritos Center
Corporate brand
UnclaimedLos Cerritos Center is a super-regional shopping mall in Cerritos, California, combining department stores, specialty retail, dining, entertainment, and community programming.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Los Cerritos Center is a large shopping mall at the intersection of Gridley Road and South Street in Cerritos, California. Developed by Ernest M. Hahn, Inc. with substantial participation from the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency, the center opened in September 1971 and became a central part of the city’s commercial and civic economy. Its development was closely linked to Cerritos’s strategy of using retail sales-tax generation to support municipal services and public investment. The redevelopment agency initially committed approximately $30 million to the surrounding 100-acre shopping area. The center opened with a climate-controlled design, high maintenance standards, two department-store wings, and roughly 150 specialty stores. Its original anchors included The Broadway, Ohrbach’s, and J. W. Robinson’s, while a second phase connected the Ohrbach’s area with Sears. The mall expanded in 1981 with Nordstrom and a new wing, followed by the Palm Court Cafes in 1993. The food-service area later became the Dining Court during a major renovation program. Los Cerritos Center has repeatedly adapted its tenant mix and physical layout in response to changes in department-store retail, entertainment, dining, and consumer demographics. A relocated Nordstrom opened in May 2010 on the former Robinsons-May site, creating space for additional stores and restaurants. Forever 21 opened a flagship-style location in the former Mervyn’s space in January 2010. The former Nordstrom location was redeveloped for a 16-screen Harkins Theatres complex, which opened in May 2016, along with nearby restaurant development including The Cheesecake Factory. A broad renovation that began around the end of 2015 introduced Dick’s Sporting Goods, Harkins Theatres, updated interiors, new furnishings and lighting, exterior landscaping, artwork, and a refreshed brand presentation. The center’s tenant organization has generally differentiated areas by use: the Macy’s wing emphasizes family merchandise and services, the central concourse supports fashion, boutiques, and restaurants, and the former Sears wing focused on specialty retail, entertainment, younger consumers, and the renovated Dining Court. The mall is also a venue for local cultural programming. In partnership with the city of Cerritos, it hosts the annual Festival of Friendship, which features cultural booths and performances intended to reflect the diversity of the surrounding communities. It is served by multiple local and regional bus routes, including Metro Local, Long Beach Transit, Norwalk Transit, and Orange County Transportation Authority services. Los Cerritos Center has been economically significant to its host city. Wikipedia reports that in 2010 the mall generated approximately $296 million in sales, equivalent to $581 per square foot, and contributed about $3 million annually in city tax revenue. The same account records approximately 8.5 million visitors during 2010, with Black Friday drawing 79,682 visitors. These figures are historical and should not be treated as current operating results. The property has experienced anchor changes associated with broader retail-sector restructuring. Sears closed in December 2018 after its parent company announced a nationwide store-closure program. Forever 21 later closed its Los Cerritos location in 2025. The supplied reference material also reports a planned large-format Dick’s House of Sport store for the former Sears site, with an expected opening in late 2027, following demolition of the Sears building in June 2026.
History
Los Cerritos Center was developed as part of a major commercial project in Cerritos, California. The Cerritos Redevelopment Agency invested approximately $30 million in the surrounding 100-acre site, while Ernest M. Hahn, Inc. developed the shopping center at Gridley Road and South Street. The first phase opened in September 1971, extending between The Broadway and Ohrbach’s and containing about 150 specialty stores. A second phase connected the Ohrbach’s area to Sears during the same year. The mall was designed as one of the area’s early climate-controlled shopping centers and was promoted through its maintenance standards and broad department-store selection. Its economic purpose was particularly important to the city of Cerritos, which expected the center to generate retail sales and municipal sales-tax revenue. Within the first four years, city retail sales reportedly increased tenfold and exceeded $207 million in 1974. Expansion continued in 1981 with the opening of Nordstrom and an associated wing. In November 1993, Palm Court Cafes opened with 14 eateries, creating a dedicated food-service destination. The original food court was later modernized and renamed the Dining Court as part of the center’s broader renovation program. Anchor succession has shaped the property’s later history. The original department-store lineup changed as Ohrbach’s became Mervyn’s in 1987 and J. W. Robinson’s became Robinsons-May in 1993. After Federated acquired May Department Stores Company, Robinsons-May closed in 2006. The former Robinsons-May site was used for a relocated Nordstrom store and wing, which opened in May 2010. The former Nordstrom building was subsequently demolished and redeveloped with a 16-screen Harkins Theatres complex and new dining uses. The Cheesecake Factory opened in November 2015, while Harkins began operations in May 2016. Forever 21 opened in January 2010 in the former Mervyn’s space. The store was described as a flagship-style location and became one of the center’s prominent fashion tenants. It later closed in 2025 amid a broader Southern California closure program. Sears, another original or early anchor, was spun into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015 as part of Sears Holdings’ property restructuring. Sears then announced its closure in October 2018 and shut the Los Cerritos store on December 6 of that year. Beginning around the end of 2015, Los Cerritos Center underwent a large-scale physical and commercial repositioning. The work included renovated interiors, furniture, lighting, exterior landscaping, artwork, and a refreshed overall identity. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Harkins Theatres were among the additions that helped shift the center toward a combination of retail, dining, and entertainment. The center’s internal organization continued to distinguish a family-oriented Macy’s wing, a more upscale central fashion and dining concourse, and a Sears-side area oriented toward specialty retail, younger shoppers, entertainment, and food service. Community programming remains part of the center’s local role. The mall works with the city of Cerritos to host the Festival of Friendship each February. The event includes cultural booths and performances and is intended to engage the diverse communities in the center’s trade area. The property is also connected to the surrounding region through several public-transportation routes. The mall’s importance to Cerritos is reflected in reported historical performance data. In 2010, it reportedly generated $296 million in sales, or $581 per square foot, and produced approximately $3 million in annual city tax revenue. Approximately 8.5 million shoppers visited that year. These are historical figures reported in reference material, not current financial disclosures. The supplied reference material further reports a future redevelopment of the former Sears site. Dick’s Sporting Goods is expected to open a large-format Dick’s House of Sport store there in late 2027, following reported demolition of the Sears building in June 2026.
- 2025
Forever 21 closes
[1]The Forever 21 store closes as part of a reported Southern California closure program.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closes on December 6 following a nationwide closure announcement.
- 2016
Harkins Theatres opens
[1]A 16-screen Harkins cinema opens on May 5 at the former Nordstrom site.
- 2015
Redevelopment and Sears property restructuring
[1]The center begins a major renovation, while the Sears property is included in Sears Holdings’ transfer of 235 properties to Seritage Growth Properties.
- 2010
Relocated Nordstrom and flagship-style Forever 21 open
[1]The relocated Nordstrom wing opens in May, while Forever 21 opens a flagship-style store in January.
- 1993
Palm Court Cafes opens
[1]The center adds a 14-eatery food-service area, later replaced by the renovated Dining Court.
- 1981
Nordstrom wing opens
[1]Nordstrom becomes a major anchor and the center adds a new wing.
- 1974
Cerritos retail sales surpass $207 million
[1]Reference material reports that city retail sales exceeded $207 million after growing approximately tenfold during the center’s first four years.
- 1971
Los Cerritos Center opens
[1]The center opens in September with department stores, approximately 150 specialty stores, and a second wing connecting the Ohrbach’s and Sears areas.
Products and positioning
A super-regional, experience-oriented shopping center serving Cerritos and the wider Southeast Los Angeles and Southern California markets, with a mix of department stores, fashion retail, dining, entertainment, and multicultural community events.
Retail · 1971
Department-store retail
Los Cerritos Center’s department-store offer has historically included The Broadway, Ohrbach’s, J. W. Robinson’s, Mervyn’s, Robinsons-May, Sears, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. The anchor mix has changed over time as department-store chains consolidated, closed locations, or relocated within the property.
Fashion and specialty retail · 1971
Specialty retail and fashion
The center contains a broad mix of inline specialty stores, fashion retailers, boutiques, beauty businesses, services, and youth-oriented shops. The central concourse has traditionally been positioned toward fashion and more upscale shopping, while other wings serve family and younger-consumer demand.
Food and beverage · 2015
Dining Court
The Dining Court is the renovated successor to the Palm Court Cafes food court. The earlier food court included operators such as McDonald’s, Steak Escape, and Subway. The renovation updated the area and removed the former McDonald’s location.
Entertainment · 2016
Harkins Theatres
Harkins Theatres operates a 16-screen cinema developed on the former Nordstrom site. Opened in May 2016, the cinema expanded Los Cerritos Center’s role beyond shopping and supported the property’s retail, restaurant, and entertainment repositioning.
Community programming
Festival of Friendship
The annual Festival of Friendship is a community event held with the city of Cerritos. Cultural booths and performances represent communities from the mall’s diverse trade area and make the shopping center a venue for civic and multicultural programming.
Sporting goods and entertainment retail
Dick’s House of Sport
A large-format Dick’s House of Sport store is planned for the former Sears anchor site. The concept is intended to combine sporting-goods retail with a broader experiential format. The supplied reference material gives an expected opening in late 2027.
Marketing campaigns
- Festival of Friendship
Cerritos · Southeast Los Angeles County
Los Cerritos Center and the city of Cerritos host an annual February event featuring cultural booths and performances. The program uses the mall as a community gathering place and highlights the diversity of its surrounding customer base.
Outcome. The event continues as recurring community programming; a specific quantified outcome is not provided.
Brand decisions
2026
Redevelop the former Sears site for Dick’s House of SportProduct launchBackground
The former Sears anchor required a new use after its 2018 closure.
Action taken
The supplied reference material reports plans for a large-format Dick’s House of Sport store, with an expected opening in late 2027.
Aftermath
The reported plan would replace a traditional department-store anchor with an experiential sporting-goods format. Completion and opening remain future events in the supplied material.
2018
Close the Sears anchorOtherBackground
Sears announced a nationwide store-closure program that included the Los Cerritos Center location.
Action taken
The Sears store closed on December 6, 2018.
Aftermath
The former anchor site became available for later redevelopment, including the reported Dick’s House of Sport plan.
2015
Launch a large-scale mall renovationStrategyBackground
The center faced the need to refresh its physical environment and strengthen its offer as department-store retail changed.
Action taken
Management undertook renovations covering interiors, furnishings, lighting, landscaping, artwork, tenant mix, and overall branding, while adding retail, dining, and entertainment uses.
Aftermath
The project produced a more experience-oriented center with Harkins Theatres, Dick’s Sporting Goods, updated dining, and redesigned common areas.
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