Multiple malls in Orange County are getting new lives with their empty retail spaces being replaced with housing and entertainment.
MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana exemplifies this shift, evolving into a mixed-use destination where people can live, shop and dine, according to a report from TV station NBC 4 Los Angeles. Similarly, the Orange Mall, closed for a year, is being redeveloped by Integral Communities, which plans to convert the site into a residential and commercial space.
“Our plan is to bring residents here. We’re still working with the city, so it’s a way off,” said John Stanek, principal at Integral Communities.
Economic Development Manager Aaron Schulze describes it as the first step in revitalizing an area with deep emotional ties for residents.
In Westminster, the mostly vacant Westminster Mall is in redevelopment mode, with city officials reviewing proposals.
This trend isn’t unique to Orange County.
“Everything from Chula Vista to Brea to Crenshaw, I mean, you name a location, you can find some redevelopment activity centered around the mall,” Scott Wild, consulting principal with John Burns Research and Consulting, told NBC 4.
Wild emphasized that malls aren’t disappearing; rather, they’re adapting. He believes their future lies in blending retail with housing and other uses to remain relevant.
Nationally, more than 200 malls have already added housing on sites formerly occupied by department stores, according to Georgia Tech Professor Ellen Dunham-Jones. Another 200 proposals exist, she added, though not all will be realized due to challenges including high construction costs and capital access.
The shift from traditional malls to mixed-use developments reflects changes in consumer behavior and retail trends as online shopping reduces the need for large-scale retail spaces.
In 2023, MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana converted part of its parking lot into an apartment community, according to NBC 4. Now a former Nordstrom building on the east side of the mall is being turned into a second apartment community and a new food district.
— Joel Russell
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