Northridge Fashion Center

Northridge Fashion Center is a large regional shopping mall in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It opened in 1971 and developed from a traditional department-store-anchored center into a mixed retail, dining, entertainment, and services destination. Its original anchor lineup consisted of JCPenney, Sears, Bullock's, and The Broadway. Bullock's was the first store to open, in September 1971, followed by The Broadway in October and Sears in November. JCPenney joined the center as a fourth anchor in 1972. The mall expanded during the 1980s as department-store retail remained central to its commercial strategy. An expansion announced in 1985 added J. W. Robinson's and May Company California, with both stores opening as anchors of two new wings in 1988. After those chains merged in 1993, the stores operated under the Robinsons-May name. The center's tenant mix later changed substantially as department-store consolidation, specialty retail turnover, and entertainment uses altered the American mall industry. Northridge Fashion Center suffered extensive physical damage in the January 1994 Northridge earthquake. Several parking structures were severely affected, while the interior of the mall and all six anchor stores sustained damage. Bullock's was condemned and ultimately demolished and rebuilt. The Broadway and Sears reopened later in 1994, but broader reconstruction continued into 1995. JCPenney was gutted and rebuilt, and the center underwent additional renovation work in 1995, 1998, and 2003. Federated Department Stores converted Bullock's into Macy's in 1996 and closed The Broadway. A former Robinsons-May location was later demolished for a movie theater, while other former department-store space was subdivided for smaller retailers. General Growth Properties acquired the mall and developed an outdoor promenade on the former Broadway site. The promenade opened in 1999 with Borders Books & Music and restaurants, adding leisure and dining functions to the center. When Macy's acquired Robinsons-May in 2006, one Robinsons-May location became a Macy's Home Store. The mall received another major renovation in 2013, including new concourse tile and paint, redesigned common areas, improvements to the main courts and food court, an expanded outdoor patio, and upgrades intended to bring the property into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tenant changes have continued in the 2010s and 2020s. Borders was replaced by Sports Authority in 2011, and the space later became Dave & Buster's after Sports Authority ceased operations in 2016. Ross Stores occupied space formerly used by Circuit City in 2013. Sears Holdings transferred the Sears property to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015 as part of a nationwide property spin-off. Sears closed its Northridge location on January 5, 2020. In May 2021, the former Sears building was reconfigured for Dick's Sporting Goods on the lower level and Curacao on the upper level, with Gold's Gym and Blaze Pizza also occupying portions of the former department-store space. Porto's Bakery took over the former Sears Auto Center space in April 2022. The current center includes department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, a cinema, fitness and entertainment operators, and other consumer services. Its history illustrates the evolution of a major suburban shopping mall from a 1970s department-store format through earthquake reconstruction, retail consolidation, adaptive reuse, and a more diversified tenant model. The property also has a connection to popular culture: its interior appeared as the fictional Santa Clara Fashion Square in the climax of the 1987 science-fiction comedy film Innerspace.

Northridge Fashion Center opened in 1971 in Northridge, Los Angeles, as a conventional department-store-anchored regional mall. The first anchor to open was Bullock's, in September 1971. The Broadway opened the following month, Sears opened in November, and JCPenney was added in 1972. These stores established the center's initial role as a major department-store destination for the San Fernando Valley. The property expanded in the 1980s. An expansion announced in 1985 added J. W. Robinson's and May Company California, which opened as anchors of two new wings in 1988. The two chains later consolidated under the Robinsons-May name in 1993. This period represented the center's transition from a compact department-store complex into a larger regional shopping destination. The January 1994 Northridge earthquake became the most disruptive event in the mall's history. Several parking structures were severely damaged, and the earthquake affected the mall's interior and all six anchor stores. Bullock's was condemned shortly afterward. The Broadway and Sears reopened during late 1994, while reconstruction continued into 1995. JCPenney was gutted and rebuilt, and Bullock's was demolished and reconstructed. Further renovations took place in 1998 and 2003. Federated Department Stores, which controlled the Bullock's and Broadway chains at the time, converted Bullock's to Macy's in 1996 and closed The Broadway. The former Broadway site was subsequently redeveloped. One Robinsons-May store was consolidated into the southwestern location, while the northwestern store was demolished for a movie theater. Former department-store areas were also divided into smaller retail units. General Growth Properties acquired the mall and developed an outdoor promenade on the former Broadway site, which opened in 1999 with Borders Books & Music and several restaurants. The center continued to adapt as the department-store and specialty-retail sectors changed. After Macy's acquired Robinsons-May in 2006, one Robinsons-May location became a Macy's Home Store. Borders was replaced by Sports Authority in 2011; after Sports Authority closed in 2016, Dave & Buster's took over the space. Ross Stores moved into space formerly occupied by Circuit City in 2013. The mall underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2013, including updated finishes, redesigned common spaces and courts, improvements to the food court, an expanded outdoor patio, and accessibility upgrades. Sears Holdings transferred its Northridge property to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015 as part of a spin-off involving hundreds of Sears properties. Sears closed the location on January 5, 2020, following a 2019 announcement that the chain would close 96 stores nationwide. The former Sears building was subsequently divided and repurposed. Dick's Sporting Goods opened on the lower level and Curacao on the upper level in May 2021, while Gold's Gym and Blaze Pizza also became tenants. Porto's Bakery later occupied the former Sears Auto Center site from April 2022. The mall is now a mixed-use retail and entertainment destination with Macy's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Curacao, Dave & Buster's, AMC Theatres, restaurants, fitness operators, and other specialty tenants. Its history reflects broader changes in American retail real estate: department-store concentration in the 1970s, expansion and chain mergers in the 1980s and 1990s, post-earthquake reconstruction, the decline of traditional department stores, and the conversion of large anchor spaces into entertainment, fitness, sporting-goods, and food uses. The mall's interior was also used as the fictional Santa Clara Fashion Square in the 1987 film Innerspace.

1. 2022Porto's Bakery opens at the former auto center

   Porto's Bakery takes over the former Sears Auto Center space.

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2. 2021Former Sears space is repurposed

   Dick's Sporting Goods and Curacao open in the former Sears building, joined by Gold's Gym and Blaze Pizza in parts of the redeveloped space.

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3. 2020Sears closes

   The Northridge Sears store closes on January 5 after Sears Holdings announces a nationwide store-closure program.

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4. 2015Sears property transferred to Seritage

   The Sears property becomes one of the properties spun off by Sears Holdings into Seritage Growth Properties.

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5. 2013Major mall renovation

   The center receives new finishes, redesigned common areas, upgraded courts and food-court facilities, an expanded patio, and accessibility improvements.

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6. 1999Outdoor promenade opens

   An outdoor promenade developed on the former Broadway site opens with Borders Books & Music and restaurants.

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7. 1996Bullock's becomes Macy's

   The rebuilt Bullock's location is converted to a Macy's store, while The Broadway is closed.

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8. 1994Northridge earthquake damages the mall

   The earthquake damages parking structures, mall interiors, and all six anchor stores, triggering extensive reconstruction.

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9. 1988Two expansion wings open

   J. W. Robinson's and May Company California open as anchors of new wings created through an expansion announced in 1985.

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10. 1972JCPenney joins the anchor lineup

    JCPenney is added as the center's fourth anchor.

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11. 1971Mall opens

    Northridge Fashion Center opens with Bullock's, The Broadway, and Sears as its initial stores and anchors.

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A large regional shopping and entertainment center serving the San Fernando Valley, combining department stores, specialty retail, dining, cinema, fitness, and family-oriented leisure uses.

• Department-store retailRetail1971

  Department-store offerings have been central to Northridge Fashion Center since its opening. The current lineup includes JCPenney and Macy's locations, with merchandise categories including apparel, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and general household merchandise. Earlier anchors included Bullock's, The Broadway, Sears, J. W. Robinson's, May Company California, and Robinsons-May.

• Specialty retailRetail1971

  The mall provides specialty shopping across apparel, footwear, sporting goods, accessories, services, and general merchandise. Its specialty-retail mix has changed repeatedly as former Circuit City, Borders, and Sports Authority spaces were reassigned to new tenants.

• Dining and foodFood and beverage1999

  Dining is an important part of the center's later positioning. Restaurants were included in the outdoor promenade that opened in 1999, while the mall has also maintained food-court facilities and added food operators through redevelopment, including Blaze Pizza and Porto's Bakery.

• Entertainment and leisureEntertainment1997

  Entertainment uses include AMC Theatres and Dave & Buster's. The cinema occupies space associated with a former Robinsons-May location, while Dave & Buster's replaced Sports Authority in a space that previously housed Borders Books & Music. These uses diversify the mall beyond conventional shopping.

• Fitness and recreationServices2021

  Fitness services form part of the center's adaptive-reuse strategy for large former-anchor space. Gold's Gym occupies a portion of the former Sears building alongside retail and food tenants introduced after Sears closed.

• 2021Adaptive reuse of the former Sears anchorStrategy

  Sears closed the Northridge location in January 2020 amid a nationwide store-closure program, leaving a large anchor building available for redevelopment.

  What changed. The former Sears building was divided among Dick's Sporting Goods, Curacao, Gold's Gym, and Blaze Pizza.

  Aftermath. The redevelopment replaced a traditional department store with a mix of sporting goods, general merchandise, fitness, and dining uses.

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• 2013Comprehensive modernization and accessibility upgradeStrategy

  The mall required updated finishes, common-area improvements, and accessibility work after decades of operation and multiple tenant changes.

  What changed. The center replaced concourse tile and paint, redesigned common areas and main courts, upgraded the food court, expanded an outdoor patio, and brought the property up to ADA standards.

  Aftermath. The renovation refreshed the public environment and supported the mall's continued operation as a regional shopping and leisure destination.

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• 1999Creation of an outdoor retail and dining promenadeStrategy

  The former Broadway site became available after the department-store chain was closed.

  What changed. General Growth Properties developed an outdoor promenade with Borders Books & Music and several restaurants.

  Aftermath. The project added dining and experiential uses to the center and diversified the former department-store footprint.

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• 1994Post-earthquake reconstructionStrategy

  The Northridge earthquake caused severe damage to the mall, parking structures, and anchor stores, making extensive rebuilding necessary.

  What changed. The property reopened some stores in late 1994 and carried out broader reconstruction through 1995 and later renovation phases. Bullock's was rebuilt and JCPenney was gutted and reconstructed.

  Aftermath. The rebuilding preserved the mall as a major regional retail center and led to further physical renovations in 1998 and 2003.

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• 2022Porto's Bakery takes over former Sears Auto Center space

  Porto's Bakery began occupying the former Sears Auto Center location at the mall in April 2022.

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• 2021Former Sears location is redeveloped after store closure

  Following Sears's January 2020 closure, the former department-store space was reconfigured for Dick's Sporting Goods and Curacao, with additional space used by Gold's Gym and Blaze Pizza.

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• 1994Northridge Fashion Center sustains major damage in the Northridge earthquake

  The January 1994 earthquake severely damaged parking structures, mall interiors, and all six anchor stores. Bullock's was condemned, while the center entered a multiyear reconstruction and renovation period.

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1. Northridge Fashion Center
2. Northridge Fashion Center official website