Plaza West Covina
A large regional shopping mall in West Covina, California, serving the eastern San Gabriel Valley.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Plaza West Covina is a large regional shopping mall in West Covina, California. Its present form dates from the opening of the enclosed West Covina Fashion Plaza in 1975, although the site’s retail history reaches back to two earlier shopping centers developed during the city’s postwar growth. The property occupies a prominent retail location in the San Gabriel Valley and combines enclosed mall space, freestanding and mini-anchor stores, restaurants, entertainment uses, and extensive surface parking. The first predecessor was West Covina Center, announced in 1954 as a 36-acre shopping center anchored by a large J. C. Penney store. A second complex, West Covina Plaza, developed at the northwest portion of the present site, opened with The Broadway and Desmond’s in 1962. By the late 1960s, municipal planning documents identified circulation problems and physical deterioration in the retail district. The two centers were subsequently consolidated through a major redevelopment led by Sylvan S. Shulman and designed by Burke Kober Nicolais. The new enclosed mall opened in 1975 under the name West Covina Fashion Plaza, with JCPenney, Bullock’s, The Broadway, and numerous smaller stores as early anchors. The center underwent several ownership, naming, and tenant changes over the following decades. The official name became Plaza at West Covina in 1991. A new wing anchored by Robinsons-May was added in 1992–1993. In the mid-1990s, changes involving Federated Department Stores, The Broadway, Bullock’s, Macy’s, and Sears reshaped the anchor lineup. The former Broadway location ultimately became Sears, while the Bullock’s building was converted for Macy’s. Westfield America, a predecessor of Westfield Group, acquired the property in 1998. The mall was later renamed Westfield Shoppingtown West Covina, although the “Shoppingtown” portion was removed in 2005. During the late 2000s, Westfield carried out a substantial redevelopment program. The work expanded the former Robinsons-May space into a large Macy’s, replaced the former Bullock’s/Macy’s building with a Best Buy and additional retail and restaurant space, introduced a flagship Forever 21 location, and added a Nordstrom Rack mini-anchor and fitness use along the northern side of the center. In October 2013, Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital Group while retaining a minority equity interest reported at 10 percent. Pacific Retail Capital Partners became the property’s manager. Subsequent changes included the closure and demolition of the Crazy Horse entertainment venue, followed by the opening of Porto’s Bakery in April 2019. Sears closed in February 2020 after a nationwide store-closure announcement, leaving the former Broadway/Sears building vacant after a short-term Spirit Halloween occupancy later that year. The mall’s current tenant mix has included Macy’s, JCPenney, Nordstrom Rack, Best Buy, EōS Fitness, restaurants, specialty retailers, and a multilevel food court. The former Forever 21 space and the former Sears premises have been identified as vacant in descriptions of the property. In 2025, the former Gold’s Gym location was reported as being rebranded EōS Fitness after EōS acquired most Gold’s Gym locations in Southern California other than Venice. The center is also served by Foothill Transit, including the Silver Streak bus rapid-transit service.
History
The retail history of Plaza West Covina begins with the expansion of West Covina after World War II. In 1954, developers announced West Covina Center, a 36-acre shopping center planned around a 50,000-square-foot J. C. Penney store. The project was financed and built by Los Angeles financier Sylvan S. Shulman and associates and was intended to provide the growing community with a major metropolitan-style department store and parking for more than 2,000 vehicles. A second retail complex was created at the northwest end of the present mall site. West Covina Plaza opened in 1962 with The Broadway, which opened on August 6, and Desmond’s, which opened on April 30. The two earlier centers were eventually absorbed into the larger enclosed mall, although most of their buildings were later demolished. Desmond’s disappeared as a retailer in the late 1970s and its former premises became a Tower Records location. By 1968, West Covina’s general plan characterized the shopping-center district as suffering from weak traffic circulation and signs of deterioration. The city’s assessment distinguished between the poorly planned West Covina Center and the more architecturally developed West Covina Plaza, while still calling for renewal of the broader district. In 1973, plans were announced for a new enclosed mall that would replace the two centers. The project, designed by Burke Kober Nicolais and developed by Shulman, opened in 1975 as West Covina Fashion Plaza. The new mall opened in stages. Bullock’s opened in September 1975, while JCPenney moved from its earlier standalone building into a new, much larger store that opened on October 22 alongside approximately 40 mall shops. The earlier Broadway building remained as an anchor. The resulting center established the basic enclosed regional-mall format that continued for subsequent decades. The property changed its official name to Plaza at West Covina in 1991. In 1992–1993, construction added an eastern wing anchored by Robinsons-May. Anchor restructuring accelerated in 1996. Federated Department Stores sold The Broadway chain, but lease considerations prevented the store from becoming Bloomingdale’s; instead, the location was converted into Sears. The former Bullock’s location became Macy’s. Sears also moved into the mall from a nearby Covina location. Federated later converted the Robinsons-May store to Macy’s in 2006, temporarily leaving the mall with two Macy’s stores. Tower Records closed in late 2006. The property also hosted entertainment and restaurant uses, including Crazy Horse Live and a Bob’s Big Boy location in a former Chevy’s space. A major redevelopment program followed in the late 2000s. One phase expanded the former Robinsons-May premises into a 180,000-square-foot Macy’s. Another phase demolished the vacant former Bullock’s/Macy’s building and replaced it with a Best Buy mini-anchor, new retail space, restaurants, and a remodeled Forever 21 store. A further phase extended the lifestyle-oriented development along the northern frontage and added a Nordstrom Rack mini-anchor and fitness facility. Westfield America, a predecessor of Westfield Group, acquired the center in 1998. The property was subsequently known as Westfield Shoppingtown West Covina, although the “Shoppingtown” branding was removed in June 2005. In October 2013, Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital Group while keeping a reported 10 percent equity stake. Pacific Retail Capital Partners became the property manager. The 2010s and 2020s brought further tenant turnover. Sears Holdings transferred the Sears property into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. Crazy Horse closed in 2015 and its building was demolished for the Porto’s Bakery project, which opened in April 2019. Sears announced the closure of its Plaza West Covina store in November 2019, and the store closed on February 16, 2020. Spirit Halloween occupied the empty space temporarily during the 2020 Halloween season but left in November. The mall remains an active regional retail property with department stores, off-price fashion, electronics, fitness, food and beverage, and specialty shops. Its listed anchor mix has included Macy’s, JCPenney, Nordstrom Rack, Best Buy, and EōS Fitness, while the former Sears and Forever 21 spaces have been described as vacant. Foothill Transit routes, including Silver Streak, provide public transportation access.
- 2025
Gold’s Gym location becomes EōS Fitness
[1]The former Gold’s Gym location was reported as transitioning to EōS Fitness after a sale of most Gold’s Gym Southern California locations.
- 2020
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed on February 16 following a nationwide closure announcement.
- 2019
Porto’s Bakery opens
[1]Porto’s Bakery opened on April 30 at the former Crazy Horse site after the entertainment venue was demolished.
- 2015
Sears property enters Seritage portfolio
[1]Sears Holdings spun off the Plaza West Covina Sears property into Seritage Growth Properties.
- 2013
Starwood Capital Group becomes owner
[1]Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital Group and retained a reported minority equity interest; Pacific Retail Capital Partners took over management.
- 2006
Former Robinsons-May becomes Macy’s
[1]Federated renamed the former Robinsons-May store as Macy’s, temporarily operating two Macy’s locations at the mall.
- 2005
Shoppingtown branding is dropped
[1]The property stopped using the “Shoppingtown” portion of the Westfield Shoppingtown West Covina name.
- 1998
Westfield America acquires the property
[1]Westfield America, a predecessor of Westfield Group, acquired the shopping center.
- 1996
Major anchor conversions reshape the mall
[1]The former Broadway location became Sears, while the Bullock’s store was converted to Macy’s.
- 1992
Robinsons-May wing is developed
[1]A new wing was constructed on the eastern side of the mall and anchored by Robinsons-May.
Products and positioning
A broad-based regional shopping and dining destination combining traditional department-store anchors, off-price fashion, electronics, fitness, restaurants, and specialty retail for West Covina and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley.
Retail property · 1975
Regional enclosed shopping mall
The core offering is a two-level regional shopping center containing department stores, specialty retailers, food and beverage venues, a second-level food court, and complementary service businesses. The property serves local shoppers and visitors from the wider eastern San Gabriel Valley.
Apparel and general merchandise · 1975
Department-store and off-price fashion anchors
The mall’s anchor strategy has historically centered on large-format department stores, including JCPenney and Macy’s, supplemented by Nordstrom Rack. These stores provide apparel, footwear, beauty, home merchandise, accessories, and other general retail categories.
Food and beverage · 2019
Dining and bakery destinations
Plaza West Covina includes restaurants, food-court operators, kiosks, and larger destination food uses. Porto’s Bakery opened at the former Crazy Horse site in 2019, adding a prominent bakery and café destination to the property.
Fitness and wellness · 2025
Fitness facilities
Fitness has been part of the mall’s later lifestyle-oriented tenant mix. A former Gold’s Gym location was reported as rebranding to EōS Fitness in 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Transition Gold’s Gym location to EōS FitnessM&ABackground
Gold’s Gym reportedly sold most of its Southern California locations, excluding Venice, to EōS Fitness.
Action taken
The fitness location at Plaza West Covina was rebranded as EōS Fitness.
Aftermath
The mall retained a large-format fitness tenant under a new operating brand.
2019
Replace Crazy Horse site with Porto’s BakeryProduct launchBackground
The Crazy Horse entertainment venue had closed and its structure was demolished.
Action taken
The site was redeveloped for Porto’s Bakery, which opened on April 30, 2019.
Aftermath
The property added a destination bakery and café use to its food and beverage offering.
2013
Transfer ownership from Westfield to Starwood Capital GroupM&ABackground
Westfield reorganized its ownership of the shopping center and related real-estate interests.
Action taken
Starwood Capital Group acquired the mall, while Westfield retained a reported 10 percent equity stake and Pacific Retail Capital Partners assumed management.
Aftermath
The property continued operating under the Plaza West Covina name with Starwood as owner and Pacific Retail Capital Partners as manager.
2008
Launch multistage mall redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property sought to modernize its tenant mix and replace an obsolete vacant anchor building.
Action taken
Redevelopment expanded Macy’s, added Best Buy, new retail and restaurant space, introduced a flagship Forever 21 format, and later added Nordstrom Rack and a fitness anchor.
Aftermath
The mall gained a more lifestyle-oriented northern frontage and a broader mix of national tenants.
2006
Expand the Macy’s presenceStrategyBackground
Federated converted the Robinsons-May anchor after the Robinsons-May brand was retired in the market.
Action taken
The former Robinsons-May store was renamed Macy’s, temporarily giving the mall two Macy’s locations.
Aftermath
The conversion preceded later redevelopment and consolidation of the mall’s large-format anchor space.
1996
Convert major anchor locations to Sears and Macy’sGeneration changeBackground
Federated Department Stores’ acquisition and disposition activity affected the mall’s Broadway and Bullock’s anchor positions.
Action taken
The former Broadway store became Sears because of lease considerations, while the former Bullock’s building was converted to Macy’s.
Aftermath
The mall’s department-store lineup was reconfigured around Sears and Macy’s, alongside JCPenney and Robinsons-May.
1973
Redevelop two predecessor centers into an enclosed mallStrategyBackground
Planning assessments had identified circulation and deterioration problems in the existing West Covina retail district.
Action taken
Developers announced a new enclosed regional shopping mall, replacing most of West Covina Center and West Covina Plaza while retaining the Broadway building during the transition.
Aftermath
West Covina Fashion Plaza opened in 1975 and became the principal retail property on the site.
Recent events
- 2025
Former Gold’s Gym location transitions to EōS Fitness[1]
M&A · Product generation
Following the reported sale of most Gold’s Gym Southern California locations to EōS Fitness, the mall’s Gold’s Gym location was rebranded as EōS Fitness.
- 2020
Spirit Halloween temporarily occupies former Sears space[1]
Other
Spirit Halloween used the vacant Sears premises for a temporary seasonal store before leaving the building in November 2020.
- 2019
Porto’s Bakery opens at the former Crazy Horse site[1]
Other
After the Crazy Horse entertainment venue closed and was demolished, Porto’s Bakery opened at the location on April 30, 2019.
- 2019
Sears announces closure of its Plaza West Covina store[1]
Bankruptcy
Sears announced that the Plaza West Covina location would close as part of a nationwide round of store closures. The store shut in February 2020.
- 2013
Westfield sells Plaza West Covina to Starwood Capital Group[1]
M&A
Westfield Group sold the shopping center to Starwood Capital Group and retained a reported 10 percent equity interest. Pacific Retail Capital Partners became the mall’s manager.
Sources1 sources
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