The Mall of Orange plans to revamp its look and store mix under a three-year remodeling plan.
The mall’s owner, HMA Enterprises-Mall of Orange LP, is funding the renovation. The center also is looking to get some assistance from the City of Orange and its redevelopment agency, but nothing has been approved, according to mall general manager Karie Najemnik. Financial details were not disclosed.
“We were built 30 years ago and it’s time,” Najemnik said.
The mall, which has about 822,000 square feet of retail space, doesn’t plan to increase its current size. But Najemnik said the property plans to release 50% of its retail space to existing and new undisclosed tenants. The center, which reported $170 million in 2000 taxable sales, up 5% from 1999, plans to remain open during the changes.
Anchors tenants,Sears, JC Penney and Wal-Mart,are set to remain onboard, according to Najemnik. But the center wants to lure other big names, such as Old Navy, which has expressed intent, she said. Other new stores include Bath & Body Works and Anchor Blue.
A few tenants “have been excused from the table,” Najemnik said.
The renovation also calls for modern signage and flooring, updated common areas and a food court, which will be accessible from the back of the mall.
The mall’s renovation hasn’t been presented to the City Council for approval yet, said Linda Boone, director of economic development. She added that the city would like to see a renovation at the mall, which is a big source of revenue for the city.
“It’s our crown jewel,” Boone said. “We’re really proud of it.”
Still, the mall has fallen behind the times,as far as look goes.
Najemnik said the area has changed dramatically in the past 30 years, and the center eventually failed to meet the basic needs of its core customers,residents from nearby affluent neighborhoods.
In the meantime, more modern centers began popping up, such as The Marketplace Tustin/Irvine.
But Najemnik says competition isn’t the real issue. She said it’s more important that North County shopping centers, including the Mall of Orange, hold their own,and keep shoppers from heading south.
“We don’t want people to turn their attention to someplace else,” she said. n
