The Paseo
An open-air mixed-use shopping and entertainment center in downtown Pasadena, California.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Paseo is an open-air mixed-use shopping and entertainment development in downtown Pasadena, California. It occupies approximately three city blocks between Colorado Boulevard and Green Street, near the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and Pasadena Conference Center. The complex is connected to Old Pasadena by the Garfield Promenade pedestrian bridge and combines retail, restaurants, entertainment, offices, hospitality, and residential accommodation rather than functioning solely as a conventional enclosed shopping mall. The property originated as Plaza Pasadena, an enclosed shopping center that opened on September 3, 1980. Developed by The Hahn Company on an approximately 11-acre site, the original project cost $115 million and contained more than 120 stores. Its principal department-store anchors were J.C. Penney, The Broadway, and May Company California. The development was designed by Charles Kober & Associates, and its architectural design received a Progressive Architecture Magazine Design Award in 1979. Plaza Pasadena initially performed well, but the revitalization of nearby Old Pasadena gradually redirected shoppers, tenants, and investment toward the historic district. The original center lost important anchors during the 1980s and 1990s. May Company California closed in 1989, after which its space was divided for smaller tenants. The Broadway store was converted to Macy’s in 1996, while J.C. Penney subsequently closed. In 1998, developers announced plans to replace the enclosed mall with an outdoor, mixed-use center. The resulting Paseo Colorado opened in September 2001. It retained the Macy’s store while adding a supermarket, restaurants, public-oriented outdoor spaces, and a movie-theater component. Developers Diversified Realty acquired the development in 2003 for $114 million. During the Paseo Colorado period, the project continued to broaden its hospitality and entertainment offer. The former Pacific Paseo 14 cinema was replaced by ArcLight Pasadena in 2010. That year also saw the opening of Noor, a large event venue with ballroom and audiovisual facilities. The development’s retail base changed significantly in 2013, when Macy’s announced the closure of its Pasadena store and Gelson’s Markets announced that it would close its supermarket location. The departure of both major retail anchors left the center without a traditional anchor-store chain and accelerated its shift toward hospitality, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use real estate. Plans were then developed to replace the former Macy’s building with a Hyatt Place hotel and a mixed-use condominium project. After local approvals were obtained, demolition of the Macy’s structure began in August 2015. In January 2016, Developers Diversified Realty sold the retail development to Cypress Equities, a Dallas-based real-estate company. The property was renamed The Paseo in 2017, and H&M opened a store there in December of that year. Hyatt Place opened in December 2018 on the former department-store site, strengthening the project’s hotel and visitor-oriented role. The entertainment component was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ArcLight Pasadena closed in March 2020, and ArcLight’s parent company announced in April 2021 that its theaters would not reopen. In 2023, Regal Cinemas acquired the lease for the former ArcLight location and reopened the theater as a Regal venue on June 1. The center has also experienced tenant restructuring, including the closure of Rubio’s Coastal Grill’s Paseo Pasadena location during the restaurant company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in June 2024. The Paseo therefore represents the continuing redevelopment of a downtown shopping property from an enclosed department-store mall into an open-air, mixed-use destination centered on dining, entertainment, hotel accommodation, residential uses, offices, and selected retail.
History
The property began as Plaza Pasadena, an enclosed shopping mall developed by The Hahn Company and opened on September 3, 1980. Built on an approximately 11-acre site at a reported cost of $115 million, it contained more than 120 stores and was anchored by J.C. Penney, The Broadway, and May Company California. Charles Kober & Associates designed the center, whose design received a Progressive Architecture Magazine award in 1979. Plaza Pasadena lost momentum as nearby Old Pasadena underwent revitalization and attracted increasing numbers of retailers and visitors. May Company closed its store in 1989, and the space was divided among smaller tenants. The Broadway location became a Macy's in 1996, while J.C. Penney also closed. In 1998, developers announced plans to demolish the enclosed mall and replace it with an outdoor mixed-use center. Paseo Colorado opened in September 2001. The redevelopment retained Macy's and added a supermarket, a cinema, restaurants, and open-air pedestrian areas. Developers Diversified Realty acquired the project in 2003 for $114 million. The entertainment and event components evolved during the following decade: Pacific Paseo 14 was replaced by ArcLight Pasadena in May 2010, and Noor opened later that year as a large event venue with audiovisual facilities and ballroom space. The center's retail-anchor model weakened in 2013. Macy's announced its closure in January, and Gelson's announced the closure of its supermarket in March. After both stores departed, the project no longer had a major conventional retail anchor and increasingly emphasized hospitality, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use development. Plans were prepared to replace the Macy's building with a Hyatt Place hotel and a mixed-use condominium complex. Following local approvals, demolition began in August 2015. In January 2016, Developers Diversified Realty sold the retail development to Cypress Equities. The property was renamed The Paseo in 2017, when H&M also opened a store. Hyatt Place opened in December 2018 on the former Macy's site. ArcLight Pasadena closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ArcLight's parent company announced in April 2021 that its theaters would not reopen. Regal Cinemas later acquired the former theater lease and opened a Regal location on June 1, 2023. The property has continued to experience tenant turnover, including Rubio's Coastal Grill's 2024 closure of its Paseo Pasadena restaurant during Chapter 11 proceedings.
- 2023
Regal theater opens
[1]Regal Cinemas reopened the former ArcLight location on June 1.
- 2018
Hyatt Place opens
[1]Hyatt Place opened in December on the former Macy's site.
- 2017
Paseo Colorado is renamed The Paseo
[1]The development adopted its current name, and H&M opened a store in December.
- 2016
Cypress Equities becomes owner
[1]Cypress Equities acquired the retail development from Developers Diversified Realty.
- 2015
Former Macy's building is demolished
[1]Demolition began in August to make way for a hotel and mixed-use redevelopment.
- 2013
Macy's and Gelson's depart
[1]The closure of Macy's and Gelson's removed the development's major retail anchors and shifted its role toward hospitality and mixed use.
- 2010
ArcLight Pasadena and Noor open
[1]ArcLight replaced the former Pacific Paseo 14 cinema, while Noor introduced a substantial event and ballroom venue.
- 2003
Developers Diversified Realty acquires the property
[1]Developers Diversified Realty purchased the outdoor development for $114 million.
- 2001
Paseo Colorado opens
[1]The redeveloped outdoor center opened in September with retail, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use components.
- 1998
Outdoor redevelopment is announced
[1]Developers announced plans to replace the enclosed mall with an open-air center.
Products and positioning
An urban, open-air mixed-use destination combining shopping, restaurants, entertainment, hospitality, offices, and residences in downtown Pasadena.
Retail and shopping · 2001
Open-air retail district
The Paseo provides an outdoor retail environment spread across several downtown Pasadena blocks. Its tenant mix has included fashion, specialty stores, restaurants, and services. Unlike the original Plaza Pasadena format, the current development is organized around open-air pedestrian circulation and a broader mixed-use destination model.
Entertainment · 2023
Regal Cinemas at The Paseo
The cinema component began as Pacific Paseo 14, became ArcLight Pasadena in 2010, and was later closed during the pandemic. Regal Cinemas acquired the former ArcLight lease and reopened the location in June 2023, restoring a movie-theater use to the development.
Hospitality · 2018
Hyatt Place Pasadena
Hyatt Place opened in December 2018 on the site formerly occupied by Macy's. Its development reflects the property's shift from department-store anchoring toward hotel accommodation and visitor-oriented mixed use.
Events and hospitality · 2010
Noor
Noor is an event venue that opened in 2010. It includes large and smaller ballroom spaces, audiovisual and lighting capabilities, and capacity for banquets and other organized events.
Residential · 2001
Terrace Apartment Homes
The development includes approximately 400 loft-style residential units known as Terrace Apartment Homes. These residences are integrated above or alongside the commercial components, reinforcing The Paseo's mixed-use character.
Brand decisions
2023
Reopen the cinema under the Regal brandProduct launchBackground
ArcLight Pasadena had closed in 2020, and ArcLight's parent company later announced that its theaters would not reopen.
Action taken
Regal Cinemas acquired the lease for the former ArcLight location and opened its theater on June 1.
Aftermath
The cinema component returned to operation under a new operator and brand.
2016
Sell the retail development to Cypress EquitiesM&ABackground
The property was undergoing redevelopment after the departure of major retail anchors and the planned replacement of the Macy's building.
Action taken
Developers Diversified Realty sold the retail development to Cypress Equities.
Aftermath
The property was renamed The Paseo in 2017 and continued with a mixed-use repositioning.
2013
Shift from department-store retail toward hospitality and mixed useStrategyBackground
Macy's and Gelson's both announced closures, removing the development's principal large-format retail anchors.
Action taken
The property pursued plans to replace the former Macy's building with a Hyatt Place hotel and a mixed-use condominium project.
Aftermath
The Macy's building was demolished in 2015, Hyatt Place opened in 2018, and the development became more oriented toward hospitality, dining, entertainment, and residential uses.
1998
Replace the enclosed mall with an open-air centerStrategyBackground
Plaza Pasadena faced increasing competition for shoppers and tenants from the revitalized Old Pasadena district, while several original anchors had closed or changed status.
Action taken
Developers announced plans to demolish the enclosed shopping mall and create an outdoor mixed-use development.
Aftermath
Paseo Colorado opened in September 2001 with retail, dining, entertainment, and residential components.
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