Macerich Inc., which owns Santa Monica Place mall, announced this week that it will purchase 11 former Robinsons- May stores, including the one in Santa Monica that has been vacant for more than a month. With the sale, Macerich plans to move forward on its plans to redevelop the mall into an open-air shopping center under the same “lifestyle center” model, complete with retail, restaurants, movie theaters and recreation. A plan has not been submitted to City Hall but a former plan that was scrapped included three 21-story high rises.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.