Mershops Northridge
Mershops Northridge is a large enclosed shopping mall in Salinas, California, serving Monterey County and the surrounding Central Coast region.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Mershops Northridge, formerly known as Northridge Mall, is an enclosed shopping mall in northern Salinas, California. It is positioned near U.S. Highway 101, Boronda Road, and North Main Street, giving it a broad catchment area across Salinas and Monterey County. With approximately 976,913 square feet of retail space, more than 110 shops, an open-air parking lot with about 5,800 spaces, restaurants, a food court, department stores, and entertainment venues, it is described as the largest shopping mall in Monterey County and the only indoor mall between San Jose and Santa Maria. The property opened in 1974 with approximately 60 stores and three principal anchors: Emporium Capwell, JCPenney, and Mervyn's. Sears later relocated from downtown Salinas to a freestanding site near the mall. That Sears store was not initially integrated into the mall, but became part of the shopping-center complex after a major south-wing expansion in 1982. The addition nearly doubled the center's retail area and created an unusual circulation arrangement in which shoppers had to pass through JCPenney to travel between parts of the mall. Northridge underwent a significant remodeling in 1994. In 1996, the Emporium Capwell location was converted to Macy's, while Sears and JCPenney received substantial renovations. Mervyn's was remodeled in 1998 to reflect the chain's updated store format. The mall subsequently changed ownership several times. Macerich acquired it from Northwestern Mutual in 2003, and Starwood Capital Group purchased it from Macerich in 2013. In 2015, the Sears property was transferred to Seritage Growth Properties as part of Sears Holdings' real-estate spinoff. A further redevelopment phase began with the relocation of JCPenney to a new, approximately 127,000-square-foot, single-story building facing Highway 101 in 2016. The move was intended to enable the former JCPenney space to be converted into additional shops and to improve connections between the mall's north and south sections. In 2019, Round One opened in the former JCPenney upper level, providing bowling, arcade, and other entertainment functions. Forever 21 moved to a smaller in-line store before closing in January 2020; its former anchor space was subsequently occupied by Hobby Lobby. Exterior additions during this period included Panera Bread and Chick-fil-A. The mall was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Sears closed in 2020. Bridge Group Investments acquired the property in 2022 for a reported $93 million. In 2024 and 2025, the former Sears area entered a redevelopment program intended to add Burlington, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Dave & Buster's, Smash n' Axe, and Gohan AYCE Buffet. Raising Cane's also announced a nearby location. The redevelopment experienced inspection-related delays, but construction and tenant openings continued. In August 2025, the property adopted the Mershops Northridge name as part of Bridge Group Investments' portfolio-wide Mershops rebranding. Its current proposition combines traditional department-store and discount retail with dining, family entertainment, specialty services, and new-format outparcel development.
History
Northridge Mall opened in Salinas in 1974 with about 60 stores and Emporium Capwell, JCPenney, and Mervyn's as its initial anchor tenants. Northwestern Mutual owned the center during its early development. Sears relocated from its former South Main Street site to a nearby mall-area building, although that store initially operated separately from the shopping mall. A 1982 south-wing expansion incorporated Sears into the broader complex and substantially increased the property's retail area. The mall was remodeled in 1994. Two years later, Emporium Capwell was replaced by Macy's, and Sears and JCPenney underwent major renovations. Mervyn's received a further remodel in 1998 as the retailer introduced a new store image. These changes preserved the mall's department-store orientation while updating its tenant mix and physical environment. Macerich acquired the property from Northwestern Mutual in 2003 for a reported $128.5 million. Starwood Capital Group later bought the mall from Macerich in 2013 for approximately $120 million. In 2015, Sears Holdings transferred the Sears real-estate interest, including the Northridge property, to Seritage Growth Properties as part of a portfolio spinoff. A significant repositioning began in 2016, when JCPenney opened a new one-story, approximately 127,000-square-foot building on the west side facing Highway 101. The former JCPenney location was intended for new mall shops and improved connections between the property's north and south sections. Round One opened in the former store's second-floor space in March 2019. Around the same period, Forever 21 moved from the former Mervyn's anchor building into a smaller interior store, while Hobby Lobby later took over the former Forever 21 space. Panera Bread opened in a detached building in 2019, followed by Chick-fil-A in 2021. Forever 21 closed in January 2020 after a nationwide store-closing announcement, and Sears closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bridge Group Investments acquired Northridge Mall in 2022 for a reported $93 million. The former Sears building subsequently became the focus of a multi-tenant redevelopment plan involving Burlington, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Dave & Buster's, Smash n' Axe, and Gohan AYCE Buffet. Raising Cane's separately announced a location near the mall's North Main Street and Madrid Street corner. The redevelopment encountered an inspection-related interruption in 2024, with work reported to be under way again by July 2025. In August 2025, the center was renamed Mershops Northridge in connection with Bridge Group Investments' portfolio-wide Mershops rebranding. The property remains a major regional retail destination, offering more than 110 shops, department stores, restaurants, a food court, entertainment venues, and extensive surface parking. Reported annual visitation is approximately 7.2 million people.
- 2025
Rebranding as Mershops Northridge
[1]The mall adopts the Mershops Northridge name as part of a portfolio-wide rebranding.
- 2022
Bridge Group Investments acquisition
[1]Bridge Group Investments acquires the mall.
- 2020
Sears closes
[1]The Sears location closes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Round One opens
[1]Round One opens in the former second floor of JCPenney, expanding the property's entertainment offering.
- 2016
JCPenney relocates
[1]JCPenney opens a new building facing Highway 101, enabling plans to repurpose its former premises.
- 2013
Starwood Capital Group acquisition
[1]Starwood Capital Group purchases the property from Macerich.
- 2003
Macerich acquisition
[1]Macerich acquires the mall from Northwestern Mutual.
- 1996
Emporium Capwell becomes Macy's
[1]Macy's replaces the Emporium Capwell location, while Sears and JCPenney receive extensive remodels.
- 1994
Mall remodeling
[1]The property undergoes a substantial remodeling program.
- 1982
South-wing expansion integrates Sears
[1]A major south-wing addition nearly doubles the center's retail area and brings the pre-existing Sears store into the mall complex.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment center serving Salinas and Monterey County, combining department stores, value-oriented retail, dining, family entertainment, and redevelopment-driven specialty tenants.
Retail · 1974
Department-store retail
The mall's department-store offer has historically included Emporium Capwell, Macy's, JCPenney, Mervyn's, and Sears. Current and recent anchor activity includes Macy's, JCPenney, Hobby Lobby, and Burlington, covering apparel, home goods, seasonal merchandise, and general retail.
Retail · 1974
Specialty retail
More than 110 shops occupy the mall's in-line retail areas, offering specialty merchandise and services alongside its anchor stores. The precise tenant roster changes over time, so this category is best understood as the mall's general specialty-retail platform rather than a fixed product line.
Food service · 1974
Dining and food court
The property includes two restaurants and a food court with eight outlets, supplemented by detached and adjacent restaurants such as Panera Bread, Chick-fil-A, and Raising Cane's. Newer redevelopment plans also add buffet and other casual-dining concepts.
Entertainment · 2019
Entertainment venues
Round One Entertainment is a major entertainment tenant in the former upper-level JCPenney space. Additional planned or opened concepts include Dave & Buster's and Smash n' Axe, broadening the center's role from a conventional shopping mall into a retail-and-leisure destination.
Brand decisions
2025
Rebrand as Mershops NorthridgeStrategyBackground
Bridge Group Investments introduced a common Mershops identity across its property portfolio.
Action taken
Northridge Mall adopted the Mershops Northridge name.
Aftermath
The property continued operating as a regional shopping and entertainment center under the new identity.
2022
Bridge Group Investments acquires the mallM&ABackground
The property changed ownership after earlier acquisitions by Macerich and Starwood Capital Group.
Action taken
Bridge Group Investments purchased Northridge Mall.
Aftermath
The new ownership pursued redevelopment of the former Sears area and later renamed the property Mershops Northridge.
Reported purchase price. $93 million (2022)
2016
Relocate JCPenney and redevelop the former storeStrategyBackground
The existing JCPenney placement contributed to the separation of the mall's north and south sections.
Action taken
JCPenney moved into a new building facing Highway 101, with the former premises targeted for new shops, improved connections, and entertainment use.
Aftermath
Round One opened in the former upper level in 2019, while the mall also added new flooring and seating.
1982
Expand the south wing and integrate SearsStrategyBackground
The mall's separately situated Sears store was not initially part of the shopping center's continuous operation.
Action taken
A new south wing nearly doubled the retail area and incorporated Sears into the mall complex.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the center's scale and created a more connected, though unusual, internal circulation pattern.
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