Renovations To Transform Bay Area Malls Into Entertainment Centers
With major retailers like Sears, JC Penney and Macy's struggling to survive, malls around the country have been left with large empty spaces and few options for replacement tenants. Around the Bay Area, malls and large shopping centers are undergoing extensive renovations to remain relevant and attract more foot traffic. These renovations include the addition of entertainment, such as Dave & Buster's, luxury movie theaters and stages for live entertainment, to create experiences more than just places for people to shop.
Check out some of the latest renovations below.
Valley Fair Mall
Owner: Westfield
Location: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara
Estimated Completion: 2018/2019
This massive $1.1B renovation will add 650K SF for 160 additional stores, 10 outdoor restaurants, 60K SF luxury theater ICON, outdoor event space and a 160K SF flagship Bloomingdale’s. After the expansion, the mall will span more than 2M SF. The renovation will include new interior design that will incorporate suspended glass ceilings, common areas with sophisticated seating, contemporary art installations and a two-story play structure designed as a sculpture. A new outdoor dining area will provide intimate seating, alfresco patios, canopy tress and fountains with fire elements. Anticipated entertainment events will include live music, food festivals, fashion shows and art exhibits.
The first phase of renovations, including a design refresh at the existing interior mall, the movie theater and Bloomingdale's, is expected to be completed in summer 2018. The rest of the expansion is expected to open around spring 2019. Westfield partnered with JPRA Architects for this renovation.
The Pruneyard
Owner: Ellis Partners
Location: 1875 South Bascom Ave., Campbell
Estimated Completion: 2017/2018
The 27-acre mixed-use shopping center is undergoing its first renovation in 20 years. Ellis Partners bought the property in 2104 for $280M. Renovations include pedestrian walkways to improve accessibility, new landscaping, improved wayfinding and monument signage and comfortable seating and gathering places throughout. A multipurpose raised platform will be available for seating or entertainment and events. Four new retail buildings with 35K SF to 50K SF of additional space, a 100K SF five-story office building and 680 parking spots will be added. The property also includes a 170-room DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, 235K SF of retail and 365K SF of Class-A office.
Renovations at the shopping center are expected to be completed by Christmas 2017 with the new retail buildings expected to deliver late 2018. Cushman & Wakefield is actively pre-leasing the office, while Bockman Rock is leasing up the retail space.
Hillsdale Shopping Center
Owner: Bohannon Development Co.
Location: 60 31st Ave., San Mateo
Estimated Completion: 2018
The renovation of a 12.5-acre northern parcel of Hillsdale Shopping Center will include tearing down a Sears building and redeveloping the surface parking lot and 291,519 SF of retail, dining and entertainment. New entertainment features will include an 870-seat Cinepolis luxury movie theater and a Pinstripes bowling alley and entertainment center. A new dining terrace is expected to open spring 2018.
General contractor C.W. Driver Cos. is working on the redevelopment under the guidance of recently hired project executive Corky Silva. Related Urban Leasing Manager Daryn Gallaway handles leasing efforts.
Eastridge Mall
Owner: Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Location: 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose
Estimated Completion: Fall 2017
The over 1M SF Eastridge Mall is undergoing an interior and exterior renovation that will add more artwork and entertainment. The renovations, designed by Gensler, include additional soft seating, greenery and earthly inspired finishes at the east and west concourse; two new family lounges; restroom upgrades; a redesigned eatery; an interactive children’s play area with whimsical seating, discovery areas and outlets for creative and artistic expression; the installation of a 30-foot digital wall, digital directories, charging stations and other digital upgrades; and the addition of an interior orchard with live trees, grass, plant walls, flowers and ornamental architecture. Exterior renovations to entrances include clean glass entry and restoration of exterior walls with graphic art, murals and greenery. Additional community art installations will be inside and outside the center of the mall.
Pacific Retail also hosted a culinary competition in May and the winner, Trifecta Cooks, will receive an equipped eatery space, six months free rent and a $50K investment toward its new location at the mall. BMW Realty Advisors handles leasing efforts.
Serramonte Center
Owner: Regency Centers
Location: 3 Serramonte Center, Daly City
Completed: Early 2017
The $109M expansion added 200K SF of retail, bringing the mall to more than 1M SF. The additional space brought in new tenants such as Dave & Buster’s, Ross, Daiso and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Great Mall
Owner: Simon Property Group
Location: Great Mall Drive, Milpitas
Completed: End of 2016
This mall upgrade was the first renovation at the outlet/discount retailer center since Simon Property Group acquired the site in 2007. Renovations included new lounge areas with soft seating, LED lighting throughout the center and surrounding the parking lot, modern directory signage, two infinity fountains to replace the existing fountain and gathering place and new floor tiles and updated ceiling features.
The Great Mall is across the street from a large mixed-use development, The Fields, which will have more than 1,100 units and 150K SF of retail. A Virgin Hotel also is slated to go up within this community.
