Grossmont Center
 | |
| Location | La Mesa, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°46′41″N 117°00′41″W / 32.77804°N 117.01127°W |
| Address | 5500 Grossmont Center Drive |
| Opening date | 1961 |
| Developer | Del E. Webb Construction Company |
| Owner | FR Grossmont, LLC |
| Architect | Welton Becket & Associates |
| Stores and services | 100 |
| Anchor tenants | 7 |
| Floor area | 939,000 square feet (87,000 m2)[1] |
| Floors | 1 |
| Public transit | Grossmont Transit Center |
| Website | grossmontcenter |
Grossmont Center is an outdoor shopping mall in La Mesa, California, a suburb in East County, San Diego. The mall opened in 1961 and is managed by Federal Realty Investment Trust. The anchor stores are Target, Macy's, RH Outlet, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Reading Cinemas.
History
[edit]The mall was built in 1961 by Del E. Webb Construction Company, with Welton Becket and associates as architect. It occupied 110 acres (45 ha) of land and cost over $20 million to build. At the time, it was the largest development in La Mesa's history.[2]
Montgomery Ward and Marston's[3] were the original two anchor stores. Marston's had a location in downtown San Diego, and began searching for a site for their first branch location in 1956. The store design featured 3,200 feet (980 m) of moldings, gold leaf lettering, murals painted by five artists, and a Gothic-style canopy over its entry.[2] Marston's was sold to Broadway-Hale Stores in 1961, prior to the store's opening, and retained the Marston's name until 1964, when the store was renamed The Broadway. By 1965, a 1,000 seat movie theater was added to the mall.[2]
Actress and Playboy model, June Wilkinson cut the ribbon at Harris & Frank Shoe store to celebrate their 105th anniversary. Other major tenants included Longs Drugs, Buddy's Barbershop, Dryer's Furniture, a Gallen Kamp, Holiday Shoes, Weatherby-Kayser, and Leed's Shoe stores, Grossmont Center Florist, House of Fabrics, Koven's Jeweler,S. H. Kress & Co. and F. W. Woolworth Company.[2] See's Candies is an original store at Grossmont Center and stands in the same location since .[4]
On October 5, 1961, 50,000 people attended the mall's opening ceremonies; 20,000 more than the population of La Mesa.[2]
In 1979, Buffum's was added as a third anchor store in a newly constructed wing.[5] In 1983, Bullock's joined as a fourth anchor[2] and a new parking deck was constructed.[6] In 1990, Buffum's closed and was replaced by Oshman's SuperSports USA in 1991. Oshman's was bought out by Sports Authority) in 2001. [7]
In 1992, the mall's movie theater complex closed,[8] and reopened following an expansion on May 26, 1995.[9] Barnes & Noble Booksellers replaced the vacant Woolworths in November, 1997. In 1993, Bullock's and Woolworth closed while a Cost Plus World Market and a food court were added.[10]. In 1995, Target opened in the vacant Bullock's store.
On August 2, 1993, a Chuck E. Cheese pizza restaurant opened at Grossmont Center as a relocation of a Pizza Time Theatre that was located in El Cajon. Chuck E. Cheese closed on December 29, 2024, due to their lease expiring. A new updated Chuck E. Cheese opened 15 minutes from Grossmont Center in Santee on September 18, 2023.[11]
In 1996, The Broadway chain was bought out and rebranded to Macy's.[12] Montgomery Ward closed as part of the chain's bankruptcy in 2000 and was replaced by a Walmart in 2004.[13]
In 2016, Sports Authority closed after the chain filed for bankruptcy and was replaced by a Restoration Hardware Outlet in September, 2016.[14]
In 2021 Federal Realty, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, purchased a majority interest in the center, which had been owned and operated for decades by one family. Reportedly, 99 percent of the retail space was occupied at the time of the sale. In 2025, Federal Realty announced they were considering options for major redevelopment, when they will have full control of the space, as most of the mall leases were coming due.[15]
On January 8, 2026, Macy's announced that it would be closing as part of a plan to close 14 stores by the end of Q1 2026.[16] Developers have announced Macy's will be replaced by new retail, which will most likely be announced in summer or fall, 2026.
References
[edit]- ^ "Leasing information". Grossmont Center. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Newland, James D. (September 18, 2011). "Grossmont Center's Kickoff Included Playboy Bunny, Chargers Season Tix". La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Engstrand, Iris Wilson (2005). San Diego: California's Cornerstone. Sunbelt Publications. p. 172. ISBN 9780932653727.
- ^ "Reinventing the mall: Grossmont Center hopes stress on value is right on Target". The San Diego Union-Tribune. April 6, 1995.
- ^ "Center growing with addition of 15 new stores and Buffum's coming soon". Los Angeles Times. May 25, 1978. ProQuest 158625033. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Spiller, Virginia (December 28, 1983). "Expanded Grossmont Center notes substantial rise in sales". San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ^ Pate, Kelly. "Gart Sports to acquire Oshman's Combination could create nation's most profitable sporting-goods firm Article 1 of 1 found". Denver Post. Denver Post. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- ^ "Cinema Grossmont is quietly closed, leaving county just 2 movie palaces". San Diego Union-Tribune. February 18, 1992.
- ^ "Grossmont theater complex to reopen with 9 new screens". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 25, 1995.
- ^ "Sales at regional shopping centers up 2.5%". San Diego Union-Tribune. October 26, 1993.
- ^ "First New Age Chuck E. Cheese Location Set to Open in San Diego".
- ^ "Macy's make-over boosts sales". The San Diego Union-Tribune. October 5, 1996.
- ^ "New Wal-Marts expected to give a boost to La Mesa, El Cajon malls". San Diego Source. April 26, 2004. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Hirsh, Lou (September 29, 2016). "La Mesa Revs Up For Redevelopment PROPERTY: Various Projects Add to Momentum for Change". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2017.(subscription required)
- ^ Horn, Jonathan (August 13, 2021). "Grossmont Center has new owner with redevelopment plans". ABC 10 News San Diego. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "Macy's shrinking again with new round of store closings". Axios. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.