Opening Northridge Fashion Center
The first stores of Northridge Fashion Center began arriving in 1971, changing a vacant tract into a regional destination with modern retail on display.
Bullock's welcomed shoppers in September 1971, The Broadway followed in October, and Sears cut its ribbon in November before JCPenney opened in April 1972.
Together, these openings created over 1.3 million square feet of enclosed shopping space with structured parking and more than 120 stores in operation.
By the time the ribbon dropped for JCPenney in April 1972, the mall was recognized as Southern California's largest interior retail complex.
The four anchors provided it with regional reach, each store offering multiple levels of goods and expansive showrooms.
The project had been launched two years earlier, when developer J. David Gladstone broke ground on July 28, 1970.
The plan promised a modern center in Northridge, featuring structured parking to accommodate thousands of cars and enclosed concourses connecting every store.
Shoppers who came through the doors that fall found polished tile, open concourses, and department stores like Bullock's and The Broadway lined up with fresh displays. Sears brought in its familiar mix of tools, home products, and apparel.
The new JCPenney was billed as the largest of its chain in the Los Angeles area.
At four levels and over 181,000 square feet, it completed the roster of anchors and secured Northridge Fashion Center as a commercial hub and a steady entry in guides for things to do north of Los Angeles, CA.
Expansion and New Anchors in the 1980s
Northridge Fashion Center entered a new phase in 1985 with the announcement of an ambitious expansion.
The plan called for new anchor stores, added wings, and improved parking facilities. Developers sought to enhance the mall's reputation as one of the most prominent shopping centers in Los Angeles.
The first new anchor, J.W. Robinson's, opened in September 1988. The store featured three levels of sales floors, a modern layout, and new entrances that were directly connected to the mall's concourses.
Its opening drew large crowds and immediately shifted customer traffic toward the new wing.
In late 1989, May Company California opened as the second addition. The store occupied three levels as well, introducing a wide range of merchandise that broadened the mall's retail mix.
The completion of this wing included expanded space for specialty retailers, providing dozens of new leasing opportunities.
To accommodate the increase in visitors, two new parking garages were constructed alongside the expansions.
The investment made it easier for shoppers to navigate the growing complexity and reinforced its regional appeal.
By the end of the 1980s, the mall contained six major anchors. Bullock's, The Broadway, Sears, JCPenney, Robinson's, and May Company operated together, surrounding more than 150 smaller shops.
Earthquake and Rebuilding in the 1990s
The morning of January 17, 1994, brought widespread damage when the Northridge earthquake struck the mall.
Concourses cracked, glass shattered, and several parking structures were left unusable. Every anchor was affected, with some requiring repairs and others facing complete reconstruction.
Bullock's suffered the worst impact. Engineers condemned the store soon after the quake, declaring it unsafe for occupancy.
JCPenney also sustained major structural damage, and crews gutted the building before rebuilding it in full. The Broadway and Sears managed to reopen sections by the end of 1994, even as repairs continued around them.
By June 1995, the rebuilt JCPenney welcomed customers once again. Workers had spent months reinforcing foundations, replacing walls, and bringing the store back into service.
Meanwhile, Bullock's was demolished entirely, and its replacement rose from the ground up in the following years.
The renovation process carried into 1996, when Federated Department Stores converted the new Bullock's into Macy's.
That same year, The Broadway shut its doors, ending its run as one of the mall's original anchors. These moves reshaped the balance of department stores on-site.
By the close of the decade, six years after the earthquake, the Northridge Fashion Center had been rebuilt.
Retail Shifts and Anchor Changes 1996–2006
After the earthquake, the mall entered a decade of steady reconfiguration. In 1996, Federated Department Stores transformed the new Bullock's into a Macy's.
That same year, The Broadway closed entirely, though plans had once suggested a Bloomingdale's would open in its place. With that closure, the center lost one of its original anchors but prepared space for other uses.
In 1997, Robinsons-May consolidated into a single store, leaving one of its large boxes vacant. The empty structure was demolished, and a movie theater was built in its place.
The shift added an entertainment component that helped balance the mall's retail-heavy mix.
Meanwhile, the former Broadway site was divided into smaller units, making way for specialty tenants and drawing diverse leasing interest.
General Growth Properties led a redesign in 1999 that introduced an outdoor promenade. The project brought Borders Books & Music along with several dining chains, giving the property an updated draw.
The addition marked a clear effort to expand beyond enclosed shopping into more flexible retail and restaurant space.
In 2006, Macy's acquired the Robinsons-May chain. The consolidation transformed the store into a Macy's Home unit, extending the brand's reach and maintaining a large-format retail presence at the property.
Renovations and New Tenants 2011–2021
The next decade brought closures and new arrivals that reshaped Northridge Fashion Center again. Borders, once a central draw in the promenade, shut its doors in 2011.
Its space was quickly taken by Sports Authority, which remained until 2016, when the chain itself collapsed. That vacancy was filled by Dave & Buster's, adding entertainment and dining to the mix.
In 2013, Ross Dress for Less opened in the space once occupied by Circuit City. Around the same time, management invested in a large-scale renovation.
Workers replaced tile across the concourses, redesigned the food courts, and expanded the outdoor dining patios. Accessibility upgrades were also made, bringing the entire mall into compliance with ADA standards.
Sears Holdings transferred properties to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015, and the Northridge Sears store was included in that real estate transaction.
By November 2019, Sears announced 96 closures nationwide. This location shut permanently on January 5, 2020, marking the end of its decades-long tenure as a mall anchor.
By May 2021, the large box was back in use. Dick's Sporting Goods opened on the lower level, Curacao filled the upper floor, and Gold's Gym and Blaze Pizza added further variety.
These changes helped keep the former Sears wing active with steady traffic.
Media Features and Community Events 1987–2022
In 1987, Northridge Fashion Center was featured in Innerspace. The interior doubled as Santa Clara Fashion Square during a chase sequence early in the film.
The mall returned to film in 2020 when The Prom staged a dance number in the center court. Its fountain and open space gave producers a ready-made backdrop.
On April 7, 2022, the Los Angeles police reported a robbery incident inside the property. Two suspects were seen running through the concourses during the response.
Crowds were ushered aside while entrances were monitored by officers. The event disrupted shopping for a short period, but normal operations resumed the same day.
Five days later, on April 12, 2022, Porto's Bakery opened in the former Sears Auto Center. Customers formed lines to try pastries at the mall's newest tenant.
By 2022, the complex had evolved into more than just a retail center. It doubled as an event space for live shows and a launch pad for new food businesses.
New Projects and Tenant Mix 2024–2025
On June 19, 2024, Trammell Crow Company's High Street Residential division unveiled plans for a new housing project in Northridge. The 4.78-acre site will be developed into a 350-unit apartment community called Residences at Northridge.
Construction is set for 2025, with delivery aimed for 2027. The plan combines housing with commerce, tied to the center's 14 million yearly visits.
By March 2025, posts announced Candeeland was coming soon. The opening date was not given, but the news highlighted another round of tenant activity at the center.
As of mid-2025, anchors included JCPenney, Macy's, Macy's Men's & Home, AMC Theatres, Dave & Buster's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Curacao.
Northridge Fashion Center feels like a mall caught between two identities. It's not abandoned, and people still come for stores, food, and the theater, but the place shows its age.
Some wings look tired and in need of investment, while newer additions like Dave & Buster's and Porto's Bakery give it a pulse.
Overall, it's a functioning mall that survives primarily through its dining and entertainment offerings, rather than its retail strength.