South Bay Galleria
South Bay Galleria is a regional shopping mall in Redondo Beach, California, anchored by department stores, entertainment venues, and specialty attractions.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
South Bay Galleria is a shopping mall in Redondo Beach, California, serving the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. The property originated as South Bay Center, an open-air shopping center that opened on August 22, 1959, at the intersection of 174th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard. Its original development occupied approximately 50 acres and was designed by architects including A. Quincy Jones, Frederick Emmons, and Victor Gruen Associates. The center opened with 37 tenants and a large freestanding May Company department store designed by Albert C. Martin and Associates. The May Company building included retail departments, a restaurant, and a public fallout shelter in its basement. The center became an established retail and civic destination during the 1960s and 1970s as tenants changed and new retail, dining, automotive, and entertainment uses were added. One of its most notable public events occurred on November 1, 1960, when Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy delivered a campaign speech at South Bay Center during the final stop of his tour. The property later underwent a major physical transformation. In 1985, Forest City Development replaced the open-air format with an enclosed shopping mall named Galleria at South Bay. The redevelopment added Nordstrom and Mervyn's as major anchors alongside the existing department-store business. The mall's retail identity continued to change through corporate transactions and anchor-store conversions. Forest City sold a half-interest to CalPERS in 1992 and later repurchased that interest in 2001. The May Company location became a Robinsons-May store in 1993 and was converted to Macy's in September 2006. A 16-screen General Cinema multiplex opened in 1997 and became an AMC Theatres location after AMC acquired General Cinema in 2002. Mervyn's closed its South Bay store in December 2008 as the chain entered bankruptcy; Kohl's subsequently acquired the property associated with the former Mervyn's space and became a major anchor. Nordstrom announced in December 2012 that it would relocate from South Bay Galleria to the rebuilt Del Amo Fashion Center. After the store's departure, the former Nordstrom premises were held for broader renovation planning. The space later accommodated Q on the first floor and the Wonder of Dinosaurs exhibit on the upper floors. In January 2018, Australian investment firm QIC acquired the mall from Forest City and proposed a substantial redevelopment involving landscaped outdoor areas, a grand staircase, standalone buildings, and residential development. The mall also experienced tenant pressure during the retail downturn of the late 2010s: Forever 21 announced in November 2019 that it would close its South Bay Galleria location as part of its nationwide Chapter 11 restructuring, with the store closing in January 2020. As of the latest reference material, Kennedy Wilson took control of the property through foreclosure on July 31, 2025, following ownership by L Catterton. Mixed-use redevelopment and affordable housing have been considered. The active mall continues to combine department-store retail, specialty shopping, food and beverage, entertainment, and temporary or experiential attractions. It is served by multiple Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Torrance Transit, GTrans, Lawndale Beat, and Beach Cities Transit routes, and is expected to receive a station through the proposed extension of the Metro K Line to Torrance.
History
South Bay Galleria developed from South Bay Center, a major open-air shopping center announced in February 1955 and opened on August 22, 1959. The original project occupied a 50-acre site at 174th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard in Redondo Beach. Its principal architectural contributors included A. Quincy Jones, Frederick Emmons, and Victor Gruen Associates. The center's freestanding four-story May Company department store was designed by Albert C. Martin and Associates and included a book and record department, furniture department, camera shop, soda fountain, restaurant, and basement fallout shelter. Thirty-seven tenants were present at opening, and the launch included a circus and a car-prize drawing. During the 1960s and 1970s, the center evolved through tenant replacements and additions. Retailers and restaurants such as Sunset House Gifts, Florsheim Shoes, Nobby, Pier One Imports, and Putney Station Restaurant were among the businesses associated with later phases of the property. The site also gained automotive and theatrical uses. Its civic profile expanded in 1960 when John F. Kennedy delivered a presidential campaign speech there on November 1, eight days before the general election. The largest early transformation came in 1985, when Forest City Development enclosed the open-air center and renamed it Galleria at South Bay. The redevelopment added Nordstrom and Mervyn's, creating a more conventional regional enclosed mall format. Ownership also changed over time. Forest City sold a half-interest to CalPERS in 1992, then bought that interest back in 2001 and adopted the official name South Bay Galleria. The original May Company operation became Robinsons-May in 1993 and later changed to Macy's in 2006. Entertainment became a more significant part of the property after General Cinema opened a 16-screen multiplex in 1997. The cinema became affiliated with AMC Theatres after AMC acquired General Cinema in 2002. Department-store changes continued when Mervyn's closed all locations in December 2008 during bankruptcy proceedings. Kohl's acquired 48 former Mervyn's properties, including the South Bay Galleria location, and occupied the former Mervyn's space. Nordstrom's decision to relocate to Del Amo Fashion Center, announced in December 2012, removed one of the mall's long-standing anchors. The former Nordstrom space was subsequently held for redevelopment rather than immediately replaced by another traditional department store. The first floor became occupied by Q, while the upper floors were used for the Wonder of Dinosaurs exhibit. The mall announced in 2015 that it would defer selecting a permanent replacement until a broader renovation could be undertaken. QIC acquired South Bay Galleria from Forest City in January 2018. Its proposed plans included renovation of the existing property, approximately six acres of landscaped outdoor space, a grand staircase connected to the mall, standalone buildings, and apartment buildings. The property nevertheless faced the broader disruption affecting enclosed retail centers. Forever 21 announced in November 2019 that its location would close during the retailer's Chapter 11 restructuring; the store closed in January 2020. The latest supplied reference identifies a further ownership transition on July 31, 2025, when Kennedy Wilson took the property through foreclosure from the previous owners associated with L Catterton. Future mixed-use development and affordable housing were being considered. South Bay Galleria remains a locally focused retail and entertainment destination, with department stores, cinema, specialty attractions, food service, public transportation access, and possible integration into future transit and residential development around the Metro K Line extension to Torrance.
- 2025
Kennedy Wilson takes over property
[1]Kennedy Wilson took control through foreclosure, with mixed-use and affordable-housing concepts under consideration.
- 2019
Forever 21 closure announced
[1]Forever 21 announced that its mall store would close during its nationwide Chapter 11 restructuring.
- 2018
QIC acquisition and redevelopment proposal
[1]QIC acquired the mall and proposed new landscaped space, standalone buildings, apartments, and a renovated retail environment.
- 2015
Replacement-anchor search deferred
[1]The mall said it would postpone replacing Nordstrom until a broader renovation was undertaken.
- 2012
Nordstrom announces departure
[1]Nordstrom announced plans to relocate to Del Amo Fashion Center.
- 2008
Mervyn's closes and Kohl's takes over the space
[1]Mervyn's closed during bankruptcy, and Kohl's acquired the associated property among a portfolio of former Mervyn's locations.
- 2006
Robinsons-May becomes Macy's
[1]The former May Company department-store location was renamed Macy's in September.
- 2001
Forest City regains full ownership
[1]Forest City bought back CalPERS' interest and changed the property's official name to South Bay Galleria.
- 1997
Multiplex opens
[1]General Cinema opened a 16-screen multiplex at the mall.
- 1992
CalPERS acquires a half-interest
[1]Forest City sold a half-interest in the center to CalPERS.
Products and positioning
A regional, experience-oriented shopping and entertainment destination for residents of the South Bay, combining department stores, specialty tenants, dining, cinema, temporary attractions, and potential future mixed-use development.
Department store · 2006
Macy's
Macy's is one of the mall's principal department-store anchors. The location descends from the original May Company store that opened with South Bay Center in 1959, later became Robinsons-May in 1993, and adopted the Macy's name in 2006. Its department-store format contributes apparel, accessories, beauty, home goods, and related merchandise to the mall's tenant mix.
Department store · 2008
Kohl's
Kohl's occupies the retail space associated with the former Mervyn's anchor. The store entered the property after Kohl's acquired a portfolio of former Mervyn's locations in 2008, providing a broad-value department-store offer spanning clothing, footwear, home merchandise, accessories, and seasonal goods.
Cinema and entertainment · 1997
AMC Theatres
The mall's multiplex originated as a 16-screen General Cinema theater opened in 1997. It became an AMC Theatres venue after AMC acquired General Cinema in 2002, adding film exhibition and evening entertainment to the center's department-store and specialty-retail offer.
Department store
Q
Q occupies the first floor of the former Nordstrom premises. It is identified in the supplied reference as a department-store use established after Nordstrom's departure, forming part of the mall's effort to activate the large former anchor space while broader renovation plans were considered.
Experiential attraction
Wonder of Dinosaurs
Wonder of Dinosaurs is an experiential dinosaur-themed exhibit occupying the second and third floors of the former Nordstrom space. Its presence reflects the mall's use of temporary or destination attractions to supplement conventional retail and maintain activity in a large vacant anchor area.
Brand decisions
2025
Kennedy Wilson takes control through foreclosureM&ABackground
The property changed hands after the ownership period associated with L Catterton.
Action taken
Kennedy Wilson took over the property from foreclosure on July 31, 2025.
Aftermath
Mixed-use redevelopment and affordable housing were identified as possible future directions for the site.
2019
Forever 21 store closureOtherBackground
Forever 21 announced a nationwide store-reduction program during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
Action taken
The retailer announced closure of its South Bay Galleria location; the store closed in January 2020.
Aftermath
The closure reduced the mall's specialty-apparel tenant base amid broader structural pressure on enclosed retail centers.
2018
QIC acquires the mall and proposes redevelopmentM&ABackground
QIC acquired the property from Forest City during a period when regional malls were seeking new retail, public-space, and residential formats.
Action taken
QIC announced plans for renovation, landscaped outdoor space, a grand staircase, standalone buildings, and apartment development.
Aftermath
The proposal positioned the property for a mixed-use-oriented renewal, although later reference material records another ownership transition through foreclosure.
2012
Nordstrom relocationStrategyBackground
Nordstrom had operated at the mall for nearly 30 years, while the Del Amo Fashion Center was undergoing a reconstruction project.
Action taken
Nordstrom announced that it would relocate its South Bay store to Del Amo Fashion Center.
Aftermath
South Bay Galleria deferred a permanent replacement for the anchor and later used portions of the space for Q and Wonder of Dinosaurs.
2008
Transfer of the former Mervyn's space to Kohl'sM&ABackground
Mervyn's closed all stores during bankruptcy, leaving its South Bay Galleria anchor space vacant.
Action taken
Kohl's acquired 48 Mervyn's properties, including the South Bay Galleria property, and took over the former store space.
Aftermath
The transaction replaced a departing department-store anchor with Kohl's.
1985
Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The original South Bay Center operated as an open-air shopping center with shaded outdoor walkways.
Action taken
Forest City Development built an enclosed shopping mall and renamed the property Galleria at South Bay, adding Nordstrom and Mervyn's as anchors.
Aftermath
The redevelopment shifted the property toward the enclosed regional-mall model and expanded its department-store lineup.
Recent events
- 2025
Kennedy Wilson takes control following foreclosure[1]
M&A
Kennedy Wilson took over the property from foreclosure on July 31, 2025, after the preceding ownership period associated with L Catterton. Mixed-use and affordable-housing plans were under consideration.
- 2019
Forever 21 announces South Bay Galleria closure[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Forever 21 announced that its mall store would close as part of the retailer's nationwide Chapter 11 restructuring. The location closed in January 2020.
- 2018
QIC acquires South Bay Galleria[1]
M&A
Australian investment firm QIC acquired the property from Forest City and outlined plans involving mall renovation, outdoor public space, standalone buildings, and apartments.
- 2012
Nordstrom announces relocation to Del Amo Fashion Center[1]
Other
Nordstrom announced that it would leave South Bay Galleria after nearly three decades and move to the reconstructed Del Amo Fashion Center.
- 2008
Mervyn's closes its South Bay Galleria store[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
Mervyn's shut all of its stores during its bankruptcy, including its South Bay Galleria location. Kohl's later acquired the associated retail property and took over the space.
- 1997
General Cinema opens a 16-screen multiplex[1]
Product launch
A 16-screen cinema opened at the mall under General Cinema and later became an AMC Theatres location following AMC's acquisition of General Cinema.
- 1985
Open-air center is redeveloped as Galleria at South Bay[1]
Other
Forest City Development replaced the original open-air format with an enclosed mall and added Nordstrom and Mervyn's as anchor tenants.
- 1960
John F. Kennedy gives campaign speech at South Bay Center[1]
Other
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy spoke at the center on November 1 during the final stop of his campaign tour.
- 1959
South Bay Center opens as an open-air shopping center[1]
Other
The shopping center opened in Redondo Beach on August 22 with 37 tenants, a major May Company store, outdoor breezeways, and a public grand-opening celebration.
Sources2 sources
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