Origins and Early Days (1961 – 1970s)
Whittwood Town Center began its journey in 1961 as Whittwood Mall, marking the start of what would become a key retail hub in Whittier, California.
Developed during a time when suburban shopping centers were booming, it was created to compete directly with The Quad at Whittier, another prominent shopping destination. At the time, Whittwood was an open-air mall, a design that allowed visitors to enjoy the sunny California weather while they shopped.
From the start, Whittwood Town Center attracted well-known anchor stores. JCPenney took the east side, while The Broadway, a popular department store, anchored the west. In the center, Boston Store, owned by the Boston Stores chain, completed the trio.
These big names helped the mall quickly establish itself as a major player in the local retail scene. Smaller stores like Sav-On Drugs added to its appeal, offering visitors a one-stop shopping experience.
This was a time when malls were less about enclosed spaces and more about bringing the community together outdoors.
Whittwood enjoyed a successful start in the 1960s, becoming a popular gathering spot for Whittier residents. Desmond’s, a high-end men’s clothing store, opened in 1962, drawing shoppers looking for luxury fashion.
This was Whittwood’s golden era. However, like many malls of that time, it would eventually need to adapt to changing retail trends, setting the stage for its future transformations.
Transition to an Enclosed Mall and Expansion (1970s – 1980s)
By the late 1970s, Whittwood Town Center had undergone a major transformation. The original outdoor layout was enclosed, turning it into a fully indoor shopping mall.
This redesign was intended to give shoppers a more comfortable experience, protect them from the elements, and create a more modern retail environment. Dark wood and brick accents dominated the interior, reflecting the popular design styles of the time.
As part of this expansion, a fourth anchor store, Mervyn’s, joined the mall in the 1980s. The new addition, located near The Broadway, reshaped Whittwood’s layout into an L-shape.
This was a period of growth for the mall. A small food court was added near the center, providing visitors with new dining options. It was located right across from Sav-On Drugs, making it a convenient stop for shoppers.
In the late 1980s, Whittwood’s exterior was remodeled to attract businesses from The Quad at Whittier, which had closed temporarily after being damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.
The revamped look, combined with new stores and amenities, gave the mall a fresh appeal. The northern parking lot began to fill with standalone restaurants, starting with Mimi’s Cafe.
Krikorian Theatres also opened a 10-screen movie theater on the back lot, adding entertainment to the shopping experience.
Decline and Closure of the Mall (1990s – 2004)
Despite these expansions, Whittwood Mall entered a period of decline in the 1990s. The first major setback came when Boston Store closed in the early part of the decade.
Unlike the previous expansion, which had brought new life to the mall, no anchor stepped in to replace the space. This marked the beginning of Whittwood’s downward trend.
In 1996, Federated Department Stores bought out The Broadway. However, instead of converting the Whittwood location into a Macy’s, as many had hoped, the store was shuttered.
Sears eventually took over the space in 1998, but the closure of The Broadway was a blow to the mall’s retail appeal. The interior stores began to struggle as well, with several smaller shops closing their doors during this time.
By 2004, Whittwood Mall’s fate was sealed. The central mall structure, which had housed dozens of retailers for decades, was demolished. Only the anchor stores—JCPenney, Sears, and Mervyn’s—remained operational, standing like islands in a sea of concrete.
The Sav-On Drugs store, one of the last holdouts in the enclosed mall, eventually moved to a standalone location within the mall property.
This marked the end of Whittwood Mall as an enclosed retail space, setting the stage for its transformation into Whittwood Town Center.
The Transformation into Whittwood Town Center (2005 – 2010s)
In 2004, after the demolition of the central mall structure, the developers aimed to give the site a fresh, modern appeal that would attract new tenants and better align with changing consumer preferences.
The redevelopment plan focused on big-box retailers and standalone stores, creating an entirely new layout while retaining the major anchor stores.
Target became one of the new key anchors in this revitalized space. Alongside long-standing names like JCPenney and Sears, new retailers such as Kohl’s—which replaced Mervyn’s in 2009—gave the center a strong mix of shopping options.
The shift to larger retail spaces was part of a broader trend in shopping center design during the 2000s when outdoor centers started replacing enclosed malls across the country.
In addition to new retail spaces, Whittwood Town Center added more dining options. Restaurants like Red Robin and Panera Bread began drawing in locals, adding to the center’s appeal as a place to gather and socialize.
Meanwhile, the northern portion of the property saw residential development as condominiums were built where the old movie theater had stood.
This mix of retail and residential spaces gave Whittwood a new identity as a community hub rather than just a shopping destination.
Current Day Whittwood Town Center (the 2020s and Beyond)
Today, Whittwood Town Center is an open-air shopping and dining destination in Whittier, CA. Its major anchor stores—Target, Sears, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Vons, PetSmart, and Old Navy—remain central to its success.
While the traditional department store format has faced challenges in recent years, Whittwood has maintained a strong retail lineup by balancing national chains with local businesses.
The addition of 24 Hour Fitness further diversified the types of companies operating in the center, providing fitness and wellness options for residents.
Whittwood Town Center also offers a variety of dining choices, from casual spots like Chipotle and Buffalo Wild Wings to sit-down restaurants like Black Angus Steakhouse.
These eateries contribute to the lively atmosphere of the center, making it a popular spot for locals to grab a bite while shopping or meet friends for a meal.
The center’s inclusion of banks, mobile phone carriers, and service-oriented businesses like the US Post Office also makes it a convenient one-stop destination for daily errands.
Managed by Kimco Realty Corporation, Whittwood Town Center covers over 65 acres of retail and community space. Its convenient location near major highways like Interstate 605 and Pomona Freeway helps it draw visitors from beyond Whittier.
The addition of residential units has only strengthened its role as a central gathering place for locals, blending the lines between retail and community living.
