SouthBay Pavilion
A partially enclosed shopping mall in Carson, California, anchored by major retailers and community-oriented events.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
SouthBay Pavilion is a partially enclosed shopping mall in Carson, California, United States. Originally developed as Carson Mall, the property opened in 1973 after a development plan was announced the previous year with JCPenney, Sears, The Broadway, and J. J. Newberry among its principal participants. The center was created as a conventional suburban shopping destination, but its history has been defined by repeated changes in ownership, anchor tenants, physical configuration, and retail strategy. The mall added Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre in 1983 and Toys "R" Us by 1985. The Toys "R" Us location was notable because it was the first store from that chain to operate inside a shopping mall. Ownership changed in 1987, when the property was sold to Macerich and then transferred to the MacDonald Group only five months later. Renovations in the late 1980s and early 1990s added public restrooms, a food court, and retailers including Big 5 Sporting Goods, but the center continued to experience weak traffic and vacant space. The Broadway closed its location in 1991, creating an opportunity for a major redevelopment. That same year, the Carson city council approved a financing package connected with IKEA's move into the former Broadway space. The mall adopted the SouthBay Pavilion name during this period, establishing the identity it uses today. Toys "R" Us closed in 2002. A proposed Circuit City replacement was cancelled in 2003, and Target ultimately took the site. In May 2003, Hopkins Real Estate acquired the property and began a broader renovation program. The redevelopment included demolition of the IKEA/Toys "R" Us wing for a new Target store, which opened in 2005, as well as the addition of a 24 Hour Fitness outparcel, Old Navy, and a relocated Big 5 Sporting Goods. Vintage Real Estate acquired the mall in 2009. SouthBay Pavilion continued to reposition itself as a mixed retail, entertainment, dining, and service destination. Chuck E. Cheese's underwent a remodel in 2005 and later moved within the center after Old Navy was relocated to accommodate a Cinemark theater. Cinemark opened in May 2015, followed by Kay Jewelers during 2015 and a Sephora location inside JCPenney in May 2016. A 2016 architectural announcement described a further expansion involving Forever 21's F21RED concept, which opened in early 2017. The mall's anchor strategy changed again when Sears Holdings separated the Sears property into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. Sears announced in 2017 that its SouthBay Pavilion store would close after an earlier plan to reduce its footprint. The store shut on July 3, 2017. Parts of the former Sears building were subsequently used by Ross Dress for Less and Burlington, while the former automotive center was redeveloped for food and restaurant operators including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Smashburger, Jersey Mike's, and Norms. Burlington and Ross opened in the former Sears space in summer 2019. Payless ShoeSource also closed at the center in early 2019. Today, SouthBay Pavilion is characterized by a combination of department-store, off-price, home-furnishing, apparel, beauty, entertainment, fitness, and food uses. Its documented marketing and event programs have received recognition from the International Council of Shopping Centers for innovative programming related to community service and social responsibility. The mall also appeared in a 2013 episode of the television series Nathan for You, in which an unauthorized Santa-meet concept was staged at the property. Public transit access includes Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority routes 205 and 246 and Long Beach Transit routes 1 and 2.
History
SouthBay Pavilion began as Carson Mall, a suburban shopping center whose development was announced in 1972. The original 1973 opening was associated with JCPenney, Sears, The Broadway, and J. J. Newberry. The center expanded its entertainment and specialty-retail offer with the addition of Chuck E. Cheese's in 1983 and Toys "R" Us by 1985. The latter was the first Toys "R" Us store located within a shopping mall. Ownership changed several times. Macerich acquired the property in 1987, but sold it to the MacDonald Group five months later. Renovations during the late 1980s and early 1990s added public restrooms, a food court, and additional retailers. These improvements did not fully resolve low traffic and vacancies. The Broadway departed in 1991, and the Carson city council approved a financing package to support IKEA's move into the vacated space. The center was renamed SouthBay Pavilion during this redevelopment period. Toys "R" Us closed in 2002. Circuit City was considered for the former space in 2003, but that proposal was cancelled. Target instead became the replacement anchor. Hopkins Real Estate purchased the mall in May 2003 and initiated a more extensive renovation. The IKEA/Toys "R" Us wing was demolished for a new Target, which opened in 2005. Other changes included a 24 Hour Fitness outparcel, Old Navy, and the relocation of Big 5 Sporting Goods. Vintage Real Estate purchased the property in 2009. The following decade brought a stronger emphasis on entertainment and updated retail. Chuck E. Cheese's was remodeled in 2005. Plans for a Cinemark theater were confirmed in 2013, requiring Old Navy to move; the cinema opened in May 2015. Kay Jewelers also opened in 2015, while Sephora launched inside JCPenney in May 2016. KTGY Architecture + Planning announced another expansion in 2016 involving Forever 21's F21RED concept, which opened in early 2017. Sears Holdings transferred ownership of 235 properties, including its SouthBay Pavilion store, to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. Sears later announced that the store would close, and it ceased operations on July 3, 2017. The former Sears building was subdivided for Ross Dress for Less and Burlington, which opened in summer 2019. The former automotive center was adapted for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Smashburger, Jersey Mike's, and Norms. Payless ShoeSource closed in early 2019. SouthBay Pavilion remains a multi-category regional center with retail, dining, cinema, fitness, and service uses. Its community-service and social-responsibility marketing programs have received recognition from the International Council of Shopping Centers. The property has also been used as a setting for popular culture, including a 2013 episode of Nathan for You. Transit service is provided by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority routes 205 and 246 and Long Beach Transit routes 1 and 2.
- 2019
Burlington and Ross open in former Sears space
[1]Burlington and Ross Dress for Less opened in portions of the former Sears building during summer 2019.
- 2017
Sears closes
[1]Sears ended operations at the mall on July 3, with the former store later divided among new tenants.
- 2016
F21RED expansion announced
[1]KTGY Architecture + Planning announced an expansion involving Forever 21's F21RED concept.
- 2015
Cinemark opens
[1]Cinemark opened a cinema at the mall, adding a major entertainment use.
- 2009
Vintage Real Estate acquisition
[1]Vintage Real Estate acquired SouthBay Pavilion.
- 2005
Target redevelopment opens
[1]A new Target opened after the IKEA/Toys "R" Us wing was demolished, and additional retail and fitness uses were introduced.
- 2003
Hopkins Real Estate acquisition
[1]Hopkins Real Estate purchased the mall and began planning a substantial renovation.
- 1991
IKEA redevelopment and renaming
[1]The Broadway closed, Carson approved a financing package connected with IKEA's relocation, and the mall adopted the SouthBay Pavilion name.
- 1987
Ownership changes to Macerich
[1]Macerich acquired the mall before transferring it to the MacDonald Group five months later.
- 1985
Toys "R" Us opens
[1]A Toys "R" Us store was added; it was the chain's first location inside a shopping mall.
Products and positioning
A regional shopping and entertainment center serving Carson and the wider South Bay area, with a tenant mix spanning value-oriented retail, department stores, home furnishings, cinema, fitness, and dining.
Retail destination · 1973
Shopping-center retail
SouthBay Pavilion offers a broad mall-based retail mix rather than a single merchandise line. Its documented tenants and anchor formats include department stores, off-price retailers, apparel, beauty, jewelry, sporting goods, home furnishings, and general merchandise. The tenant strategy has repeatedly changed as the property replaced departing anchors and subdivided large spaces.
Entertainment · 1983
Entertainment and leisure
Entertainment uses have been part of the center's evolution since Chuck E. Cheese's was added in 1983. Cinemark opened in 2015, strengthening the mall's role as a destination for moviegoing and leisure alongside shopping, dining, and fitness services.
Food and services · 2005
Dining and services
The property includes restaurant and service-oriented uses in addition to conventional stores. Following the Sears closure, the former automotive center was reused for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Smashburger, Jersey Mike's, and Norms. The center has also housed fitness and family-entertainment operators.
Marketing campaigns
- Community service and social-responsibility event programming
Carson · South Bay area · United States
SouthBay Pavilion has been recognized by the International Council of Shopping Centers for innovative marketing and event programs emphasizing community service and social responsibility.
Outcome. The programs received recognition from ICSC; the available reference does not specify the award title or year.
Brand decisions
2017
Replace the departing Sears anchorStrategyBackground
Sears announced the closure of its SouthBay Pavilion store after an earlier plan to downsize the location.
Action taken
The Sears building was divided for Ross Dress for Less and Burlington, and its former automotive center was adapted for restaurant tenants.
Aftermath
Ross and Burlington opened in the former Sears space in summer 2019, while several food operators occupied the former auto center.
2013
Approve Cinemark theater developmentProduct launchBackground
The mall sought to add a cinema and broaden its mix beyond conventional retail.
Action taken
Cinemark was confirmed as the theater operator, and Old Navy was relocated to accommodate the project.
Aftermath
The Cinemark theater opened in May 2015.
2003
Undertake a major renovation and anchor replacementStrategyBackground
After Toys "R" Us closed and a proposed Circuit City replacement was cancelled, Hopkins Real Estate acquired the mall.
Action taken
The redevelopment removed the IKEA/Toys "R" Us wing, created space for Target, and added or repositioned retailers and an outparcel fitness operator.
Aftermath
Target opened in 2005, accompanied by additional tenant changes including Old Navy and Big 5 Sporting Goods.
1991
Redevelop the former Broadway space for IKEAStrategyBackground
The Broadway closed its Carson store after the mall had experienced low traffic and vacancies despite earlier renovations.
Action taken
Carson city council approved a financing package that enabled IKEA to move into the vacated anchor space, while the mall was renamed SouthBay Pavilion.
Aftermath
The decision marked a major repositioning of the property around a large home-furnishings anchor.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/southbay-pavilion · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled