Iconic CA Mall May Shutter, The Latest Among These Major Golden State Mall Closures

CALIFORNIA — The slow death of malls is continuing, and California's once bustling shopping malls aren't immune to the trend. This year alone, several lost their anchors, sold their last Cinnabon and await an army of bulldozers. Still, many others hang on, half vacant and facing an uncertain fate.

The last year saw major anchors such as Nordstrom, JCPenney and Macy's close at multiple Bay Area and Southern California malls following the shuttering of mall-mainstays such as Claire's, Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. Two longstanding malls in Orange County recently shuttered, the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach is slated to partially close and the San Francisco Centre and North County Mall in Escondido have been plagued by widespread vacancies and uncertain futures.

The San Francisco Centre, the city's largest mall has become a ghost town, further exacerbated by the recent closure of major fast-fashion retailer H&M this month. The San Francisco Centre went through a foreclosure auction in November. The new owners of the mall have since been attempting to slash costs by pushing tenants out, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The property is currently being marketed. However, a plan for what the property's future holds has not been made public.

Nationwide, malls have been dying at a rapid rate, thanks in part to changing consumer behaviors and the rise of e-commerce.

There were nearly 11,000 malls across the United States in 2010. Today, it is estimated that only 1,200 remain, and that number is only expected to decrease significantly in the next 10 years.

Projections suggest that up to 87% of large shopping centers will close over the next 10 years, according to a report by Capital One. These shuttered malls, on average, remain empty for nearly four years.

City officials announced in October the closure of the Westminster Mall, a popular shopping center and staple of the Orange County community for more than 50 years. There are plans to convert the now shuttered mall into mixed-use housing, according to city officials.

The Village at Orange Mall, another Southern California shopping center, closed in 2024. It has since been demolished to make way for a 167-unit condominium.

The South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach is also expected to partly close, according to a report by The Union, a student-run newspaper at El Camino College. A development project, known as the South Bay Galleria Mixed-Use Project, will also see the construction of new homes on the property.

On the other hand, in San Diego County, the North County Mall's new investor-owners are attempting a revitalization. Toward that end, a deal was announced to bring to the mall a Spo-Cha sports entertainment zone and YUU Japanese Food Hall, What Now San Diego reported.