Torrance Promenade
Torrance Promenade is a Torrance, California shopping center that began in 1972 as the enclosed Old Towne Mall and was later converted into an outdoor power center.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Torrance Promenade is a shopping center in Torrance, California, whose history spans two distinct retail formats. It opened in 1972 as Old Towne, an enclosed mall designed to combine conventional shopping with entertainment and activity-based attractions. The original development was built by Lincoln Realty Old Town, a partnership associated with Mik Brindle, Clifford A. Hemmerling, and Southern California Financial Corp. Jenkins & Greist served as architects. Its design included a brick-lined central concourse with capacity for approximately 140 tenants, while Kmart served as the principal anchor. Unlike a conventional neighborhood mall, Old Towne was conceived with a strong entertainment and experiential component. Its attractions included an antique carousel, two dark rides, a movie theater, a gazebo for live performances, and balconies used by performers including jazz bands and barbershop quartets. Artisan's Way provided space for craftspeople such as crafters, silversmiths, and glass blowers. This combination of retail, amusement, live entertainment, and artisan activity gave the property a distinctive identity in the South Bay market. The center faced competition from larger nearby destinations, particularly Del Amo Fashion Center and South Bay Galleria. In response, its owners undertook a reported $3.8 million remodeling program by 1982. The redevelopment introduced larger-format tenants, including Marshalls and Plums, a clothing store associated with Dayton Hudson that opened in September 1983. The property was also renamed Old Town Place. These changes represented an effort to broaden the center's retail offer and improve its competitiveness, but the property continued to experience vacancy and tenant turnover. By 1989, the approximately 314,804-square-foot enclosed mall was reported to be roughly one-third vacant. The city approved a major change in format under the then-owner BPT Torrance Associates. Rather than continue as an enclosed entertainment-oriented mall, the property was converted into an outdoor power center. After the 1990 remodeling, most of the original attractions disappeared; the carousel was the principal surviving feature. It was later relocated to Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio, in 1994. The redeveloped center went through additional naming changes, first adopting the name Torrance Citiplex and later becoming Torrance Promenade. The tenant mix increasingly emphasized discount, value-oriented, home-furnishing, grocery, fitness, and big-box retail rather than enclosed-mall entertainment. Trader Joe's was added in November 2002, expanding the center's grocery offering. As described in 2020 reference material, the property was owned by Kimco Realty and included a mix of national and regional retail tenants. Listed occupants included Walmart Neighborhood Market, Ashley HomeStore, HomeGoods, Ross Dress for Less, Burlington, UFC Gym, Boot Barn, Bob's Discount Furniture, and Marshalls. Several spaces had been occupied by different retailers over the property's history, reflecting the center's long transition from an enclosed mall to a power-center format. Today, Torrance Promenade is best understood as the successor to Old Towne Mall rather than as a conventional enclosed shopping mall brand.
History
Torrance Promenade originated as Old Towne, an enclosed shopping and entertainment complex opened in Torrance, California, in 1972. The development was built by Lincoln Realty Old Town, a partnership involving Mik Brindle, Clifford A. Hemmerling, and Southern California Financial Corp. Jenkins & Greist were the architects. The original property was organized around a brick-lined central concourse and was planned to accommodate as many as 140 tenants. Kmart was the sole anchor store at opening. Old Towne differed from a purely retail-focused mall because it incorporated attractions intended to increase dwell time and create a destination experience. These included an antique carousel, two dark rides, a movie theater, a performance gazebo, and elevated balconies from which entertainers could perform. The center also contained Artisan's Way, an area devoted to craftspeople, including crafters, silversmiths, and glass blowers. Jazz bands and barbershop quartets were among the types of performers associated with the mall's entertainment programming. The property struggled to compete with larger nearby retail destinations, notably Del Amo Fashion Center and South Bay Galleria. By 1982, the owners had initiated a reported $3.8 million remodeling program. The strategy included adding larger-format tenants and repositioning the center. Marshalls and Plums, a Dayton Hudson-associated clothing retailer, were added, with Plums opening in September 1983. The property adopted the name Old Town Place during this period. Tenant turnover nevertheless remained a recurring feature. The Federated Group electronics store closed in 1989, and Silo later occupied the electronics and appliance space before closing in 1995. By 1989, the enclosed mall was approximately one-third vacant. The property measured about 314,804 square feet, and the city approved a fundamental change in its physical and commercial format. Under BPT Torrance Associates, the mall was converted into an outdoor power center. The 1990 remodeling removed nearly all of the earlier attractions, leaving the carousel as the principal surviving element. In 1994, the carousel was moved to Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio. The center was subsequently known first as Torrance Citiplex and then as Torrance Promenade. Its tenant strategy shifted toward big-box, discount, home, grocery, and service businesses rather than the combination of enclosed retail and amusement that defined Old Towne. Trader Joe's was added in November 2002. The property therefore represents a wider pattern in American retail real estate: an enclosed mall built around experiential features was adapted into an open-air power center as competitive conditions and tenant requirements changed. Reference material describing the center in 2020 identifies Kimco Realty as its owner. At that point, the listed tenants included Walmart Neighborhood Market, Ashley HomeStore, HomeGoods, Ross Dress for Less, Burlington, UFC Gym, Boot Barn, Bob's Discount Furniture, and Marshalls. Several of these spaces had previously been occupied by other retailers, including Kmart, Orchard Supply Hardware, Levitz Furniture, Sears Outlet, Linens N Things, Silo Electronics, Office Depot, and Sam Ash Music. The current identity of the property is consequently centered on practical, value-oriented shopping and services in Torrance, while its former Old Towne identity remains significant to the site's history.
- 2002
Trader Joe's is added
[1]Trader Joe's opens at the center in November, strengthening its grocery component.
- 1994
Carousel is relocated
[1]The former Old Towne carousel is moved to Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio.
- 1990
Outdoor-center remodeling is completed
[1]The redevelopment removes most of the original entertainment attractions, with the carousel remaining temporarily.
- 1989
Conversion to an outdoor power center is approved
[1]The city approves conversion of the substantially vacant enclosed mall into an outdoor power-center format.
- 1983
Plums joins the tenant mix
[1]Plums, a Dayton Hudson-associated clothing store, opens in September as part of the repositioning effort.
- 1982
Major remodeling begins
[1]The owners undertake a reported $3.8 million remodeling program to improve the property's competitiveness.
- 1972
Old Towne opens in Torrance
[1]The enclosed mall opens with Kmart as its anchor and a mix of retail, amusement, entertainment, and artisan spaces.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented, convenience-focused shopping center serving Torrance and the wider South Bay market. Its current power-center positioning contrasts with the entertainment-led enclosed mall concept used when it opened as Old Towne in 1972.
Enclosed shopping and entertainment mall · 1972
Old Towne enclosed mall
The original 1972 format combined conventional retail with amusement and entertainment. Its central concourse supported a large tenant roster, while attractions such as a carousel, dark rides, a movie theater, live-performance areas, and Artisan's Way gave the property a destination-oriented character.
Outdoor shopping center · 1990
Torrance Promenade power center
The current format was created through the conversion of the enclosed mall into an outdoor power center around 1990. Its tenant profile emphasizes value retail, home furnishings, groceries, apparel, fitness, and other practical consumer services.
Grocery retail · 2002
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's was added to the center in November 2002, providing a grocery anchor within the later open-air retail format.
Brand decisions
1989
Conversion from enclosed mall to outdoor power centerStrategyBackground
By 1989, the approximately 314,804-square-foot mall was reported to be roughly one-third vacant.
Action taken
The city approved a redevelopment under BPT Torrance Associates that changed the property to an outdoor power-center format.
Aftermath
The 1990 remodeling removed most of the original attractions and established the physical and commercial model later known as Torrance Promenade.
1982
Remodeling and tenant repositioningStrategyBackground
The center faced competition from Del Amo Fashion Center and South Bay Galleria and sought to improve its retail performance.
Action taken
The owners carried out a reported $3.8 million remodeling and added larger-format tenants, including Marshalls and Plums.
Aftermath
The property continued to experience vacancy and later underwent a more fundamental conversion from an enclosed mall to an outdoor power center.
Reported remodeling cost. $3.8 million (1982)
Recent events
- 2002
Torrance Promenade adds Trader Joe's[1]
Product launch
Trader Joe's joined the redeveloped center in November 2002, broadening its grocery and convenience offering.
- 1989
City approves conversion of the enclosed mall into an outdoor power center[1]
Other
After the approximately 314,804-square-foot mall became roughly one-third vacant, the city approved its conversion to an outdoor power-center format under BPT Torrance Associates.
- 1983
Plums opens at the shopping center[1]
Other
Plums, a clothing store associated with Dayton Hudson, opened in September 1983 as part of the property's effort to strengthen its retail tenant mix.
- 1982
Old Towne undergoes a major remodeling and adopts the Old Town Place name[1]
Other
The property was remodeled in an effort to respond to competition from larger regional shopping destinations. The work reportedly cost $3.8 million and was followed by the addition of larger-format retailers.
- 1972
Old Towne opens as an entertainment-oriented enclosed mall[1]
Other
The Torrance property opened as Old Towne with space for up to approximately 140 tenants, Kmart as its principal anchor, and a broad range of amusement, entertainment, and artisan features.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/old-towne-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled