The Quad at Whittier

The Quad at Whittier is a shopping center in Whittier, California. It was established in 1953 and has served as a significant retail destination in the Whittier area through several major changes in ownership, tenant mix, physical configuration, and commercial role. The center expanded in 1965 when May Company California added a three-story, 248,000-square-foot department store. That expansion gave the property a major regional anchor and complemented other prominent tenants, including Hinshaw's of Arcadia and Nash's of Pasadena. The center's performance weakened substantially after May Company closed in 1986. The Quad had already faced competitive pressure, but the department store's departure removed its principal traffic generator. Merchants also contended with limited visibility as commercial activity along Whittier Boulevard drew shoppers away from the property. A modest renovation program was under way by March 1987, including landscaping work and the removal of a small portion of the center, but the property's situation was further affected by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The earthquake caused the parking garage in front of the former May building to collapse, and the damaged structure was subsequently demolished. In 1988, Schurgin Corporation acquired the property from Golden West Properties. The acquisition occurred with encouragement from the City of Whittier, which was concerned about the loss of sales-tax revenue associated with the center's decline. Schurgin's redevelopment plan called for demolishing most of the existing center while retaining and reducing the footprint of Hinshaw's. Hinshaw's, the only store described as unaffected by the earthquake, nevertheless closed in 1992. These changes marked the end of the original department-store-oriented configuration. The present-day Quad operates as a multi-tenant shopping center rather than as a traditional enclosed department-store mall. Its listed tenants and businesses include Michaels, Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Five Below, Staples, Rite Aid, Vallarta Supermarkets, Rubi's, Olive Garden, Chili's, and Chuck E. Cheese. Several occupants represent later replacements or successors to earlier tenants: Rite Aid formerly operated as Thrifty Drugs, and Vallarta Supermarkets occupies space formerly associated with Ralphs. Burlington Coat Factory occupied the former Hinshaw's building alongside Staples before closing its store in 2024. The Quad's identity is therefore rooted in adaptation. It began as a mid-century shopping center, gained a major department-store anchor during its 1965 expansion, suffered from anchor loss and regional competition in the 1980s, endured earthquake-related physical damage, and was subsequently reshaped into a contemporary open retail and dining destination. Its current appeal rests on a broad mix of discount apparel, specialty retail, office supplies, groceries, pharmacy services, restaurants, and family entertainment.

The Quad at Whittier opened in 1953 as a shopping center in Whittier, California. Its early retail identity was built around a collection of department-store and general-merchandise tenants serving the local market. In 1965, the property underwent a major expansion with the addition of a three-story, 248,000-square-foot May Company California department store. The department store became the center's principal anchor, while Hinshaw's, based in Arcadia, and Nash's, based in Pasadena, were also identified as important tenants. The property began experiencing serious commercial difficulties in 1986 after May Company California closed. The center had not been a consistently strong performer before the closure, but the loss of its largest traffic generator made the situation substantially worse. Stores were also disadvantaged by poor visibility and competition from commercial centers along Whittier Boulevard, which drew shoppers away from the Quad. A limited improvement program had begun by March 1987. The work included new landscaping and demolition of a small part of the center, suggesting an attempt to modernize and simplify the property rather than undertake a complete reconstruction. The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake created another turning point. The parking garage located in front of the former May building collapsed during the earthquake. Because of the damage, the garage and the former May structure were demolished. The event compounded the center's commercial problems and eliminated much of the physical legacy of its department-store era. At the request of the City of Whittier, which wanted to recover retail activity and replace lost tax revenue, Schurgin Corporation acquired the property from Golden West Properties in 1988. Schurgin's plan was to demolish nearly the entire center, retaining only Hinshaw's and reducing that store's footprint. Hinshaw's was the one store described as not being affected by the earthquake, but it ultimately closed in 1992. The closure removed another historic anchor and completed the transition away from the original multi-department-store format. The modern center is organized as a multi-tenant shopping destination with retail, grocery, pharmacy, dining, and entertainment uses. Listed occupants include Michaels, Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Five Below, Staples, Rite Aid, Vallarta Supermarkets, Rubi's, Olive Garden, Chili's, and Chuck E. Cheese. Rite Aid formerly operated at the site under the Thrifty Drugs name, while Vallarta Supermarkets occupies space formerly associated with Ralphs. Burlington Coat Factory later occupied the former Hinshaw's building together with adjacent Staples space, but Burlington closed in 2024. The Quad's history illustrates the changing structure of suburban retail in Southern California. Its initial model relied on department-store anchors and established regional retailers. After the loss of May Company, earthquake damage, and competition from other commercial corridors, the property moved toward a diversified tenant strategy. The current tenant mix emphasizes value-oriented apparel, specialty retail, groceries, pharmacy services, restaurants, and family-oriented entertainment, allowing the center to function as a local shopping and services hub rather than a department-store mall.

• 2024

  Burlington departs

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  Burlington Coat Factory closes its store in the former Hinshaw's building.

• 1992

  Hinshaw's closes

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  Hinshaw's, the remaining historic major tenant, closes after the center's redevelopment period.

• 1988

  Schurgin Corporation acquires the property

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  Schurgin Corporation buys the center from Golden West Properties and proposes a substantial demolition and redevelopment plan.

• 1987

  Earthquake damages the parking garage

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  The Whittier Narrows earthquake collapses the parking garage in front of the former May building, which is subsequently demolished.

• 1986

  May Company California closes

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  The principal department-store anchor closes, accelerating the center's commercial decline.

• 1965

  Major May Company expansion

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  A three-story, 248,000-square-foot May Company California department store is added as a major anchor.

• 1953

  Shopping center opens

  [1]The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org

  The retail center that became The Quad at Whittier is built and opens in Whittier, California.

A community-oriented, multi-tenant shopping center serving Whittier and nearby communities through a broad mix of value retail, specialty stores, grocery, pharmacy, restaurants, and family entertainment.

• Shopping center · 1953

  Retail and shopping center space

  The Quad's principal offering is a multi-tenant shopping-center environment rather than a single branded product. Its space accommodates national and regional retailers, grocery and pharmacy services, restaurants, and family entertainment businesses serving Whittier and surrounding communities.

• Apparel and general merchandise

  Value and off-price retail

  The center's tenant mix includes Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, and TJ Maxx, providing discount-oriented apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, and general merchandise. Five Below adds low-price lifestyle and novelty merchandise.

• Specialty retail

  Specialty and essential retail

  Michaels provides arts-and-crafts merchandise, while Staples serves office-supply and business-service needs. Rite Aid provides pharmacy and health-related retail services and previously operated at the site as Thrifty Drugs.

• Supermarket

  Grocery retail

  Vallarta Supermarkets is the center's identified grocery offering. The location was formerly associated with Ralphs, reflecting the property's continuing role as a provider of everyday food and household shopping.

• Restaurants and family entertainment

  Dining and entertainment

  The Quad includes casual dining and entertainment businesses such as Rubi's, Olive Garden, Chili's, and Chuck E. Cheese. Together, these tenants broaden the center's use beyond shopping and support meal, recreation, and family-oriented visits.

• 1988

  Acquisition by Schurgin CorporationM&A

  Background

  The center was struggling after the loss of May Company California, competition from Whittier Boulevard, and earthquake damage. The City of Whittier was concerned about declining retail activity and lost tax revenue.

  Action taken

  Schurgin Corporation acquired the property from Golden West Properties and planned to demolish most of the existing center while retaining and reducing the footprint of Hinshaw's.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition initiated a transition away from the original department-store-centered layout. Hinshaw's later closed in 1992, and the property evolved into the multi-tenant shopping center operating today.

  Source

1. 1The Quad at Whittieren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Terramar Centers property information for The Quadterramarcenters.com