Beverly Center

Beverly Center is a large enclosed shopping mall in Los Angeles, California, located at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard, Third Street, and San Vicente Boulevard. The property is associated with the Beverly Grove and West Hollywood shopping districts and is anchored by Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Its prominent urban location places it near major entertainment-industry facilities, hotels, restaurants, and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center area. The mall opened on February 4, 1982, on land previously occupied by Beverly Park, a small amusement park. The development was created by A. Alfred Taubman, Sheldon Gordon, and E. Phillip Lyon. Because the site is relatively constrained and is surrounded by several diagonally aligned streets, the building was constructed above a substantial multistory parking structure rather than as a conventional low-rise suburban mall. Its location also overlies part of the Salt Lake Oil Field; oil production infrastructure has remained on the western portion of the broader property. At opening, Beverly Center was anchored by Bullock's and The Broadway department stores. It quickly became known for its unusual massing, large scale, and prominent exterior circulation elements. A 14-screen Cineplex opened in July 1982 and was described at the time as the largest multiplex in the United States. The mall also hosted the first Hard Rock Cafe in the United States, which opened in October 1982 and operated until 2006. Other notable tenants included the British furniture retailer Habitat, which opened an anchor-format store in 1989 before closing in 1993. The anchor lineup changed substantially during the 1990s. Bullock's was converted to Macy's in 1996, while The Broadway closed in the same year and later reopened as Bloomingdale's after renovation. The former Macy's men's space eventually became a fitness and entertainment area, including Gold's Gym and Lucky Strike Lanes. The former cinema had several operators after its initial closure, but it ultimately shut permanently in 2010. Beverly Center underwent a renovation between 2006 and 2008 and began another major redevelopment program in 2016. The later project included a redesigned perforated-metal exterior, upgraded parking facilities, improved wayfinding technology, a planned food hall, a skylight, and new street-level restaurants. The traditional food court was removed in 2014, with part of its former space later occupied by Uniqlo. These changes reflected a broader shift from department-store-and-food-court retail toward luxury, fashion, dining, fitness, and experiential uses. The property has also had an unusually visible role in popular culture. Its site appeared as industrial wasteland in David Lynch's 1977 film Eraserhead, and the mall has been used or referenced in films, television, music videos, literature, and video games. It was a setting in the 1991 film Scenes from a Mall and appeared in or influenced scenes associated with Volcano, Selena, Chopping Mall, Grand Theft Auto V, and later music releases. In May 2009, rapper Dolla was fatally shot at the mall, an event that generated significant local news coverage. Taubman Centers, the successor to A. Alfred Taubman's shopping-center interests, acquired its partners' minority interests in 2004. In November 2025, Taubman Realty Group and its assets, including Beverly Center, were acquired by Simon Property Group. The mall remains an active Los Angeles retail and entertainment destination, although its tenant mix and physical facilities continue to evolve.

The Beverly Center occupies a site with a layered industrial, recreational, and commercial history. Before the mall was built, the property contained Beverly Park, a small amusement park with attractions including a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, miniature roller coaster, and pony rides. The site also formed part of the Salt Lake Oil Field, and oil-production facilities remained associated with the western portion of the property after the mall opened. The shopping center was developed by A. Alfred Taubman, Sheldon Gordon, and E. Phillip Lyon and opened on February 4, 1982. Its design responded to a difficult urban parcel bounded by several angled streets. Rather than spreading across a conventional surface parking lot, the mall was constructed entirely above a multilevel parking garage. The building's location near Beverly and La Cienega boulevards also corresponds to the geographic center of the Los Angeles studio zone, a notable point for entertainment-industry labor and production geography. Beverly Center opened with Bullock's and The Broadway as its principal department-store anchors. A 14-screen Cineplex opened on July 16, 1982, and was recognized at the time as the largest multiplex in the United States. On October 24 of the same year, the first American Hard Rock Cafe opened inside the mall. The restaurant operated for more than two decades before closing at the end of 2006. During the late 1980s, three smaller cinema screens were removed and replaced with two larger auditoriums constructed on the roof. Tenant changes continued through the 1990s. Terence Conran's British home-furnishings company Habitat opened an anchor-format store in 1989, but the location closed in 1993 and was later converted into Bullock's Men's Store. In 1996, Bullock's became Macy's, with the men's operation also becoming part of the Macy's structure. The Broadway closed in 1996 and, following renovation, reopened in 1997 as Bloomingdale's. These changes established the department-store configuration associated with the mall for much of its later history. Taubman Centers, the public real-estate investment trust that succeeded Taubman's shopping-center interests, bought its partners' minority stakes in Beverly Center in 2004. The mall underwent a renovation from 2006 through 2008, including reconstruction of the highly visible exterior escalators. The cinema experienced several operating transitions: it closed in January 2006 following the Loews and AMC merger, reopened under Mann Theatres in February, closed again in August 2009, reopened under Rave Motion Pictures in September, and finally closed on June 3, 2010. The mall's food and dining strategy also changed. Its food court operated until 2014, when the space was eliminated; Uniqlo subsequently opened one of its early Southern California locations in part of the former food-court area. A major renovation launched in March 2016, with reported plans for a food hall, new street-level restaurants, a skylight, a perforated steel facade, and parking improvements designed to help visitors locate their vehicles. The redevelopment reflected the increasing importance of dining, architecture, convenience technology, and experiential amenities in enclosed-mall competition. Around 2021, Macy's Men's Store closed, and its former space was repurposed for Gold's Gym and Lucky Strike Lanes. In November 2025, Simon Property Group acquired Taubman Realty Group and its assets, bringing Beverly Center into Simon's ownership structure. The property has maintained a strong connection with popular culture. Industrial scenes in Eraserhead were filmed on the undeveloped site before the current mall existed. The mall was later used as a setting or visual reference in Scenes from a Mall, Chopping Mall, Volcano, Selena, a Saturday Night Live sketch, and music videos. It is represented in Grand Theft Auto V as Rockford Plaza and has been referenced in music and literature. The 2009 fatal shooting of rapper Dolla at the mall was another widely reported event in the property's public history.

• 2025

  Simon Property Group acquires Taubman assets

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group acquired Taubman Realty Group and assets including Beverly Center.

• 2021

  Macy's Men's Store space is repurposed

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The former men's department-store space was converted for Gold's Gym and Lucky Strike Lanes.

• 2016

  Major redevelopment begins

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A large-scale renovation introduced a new exterior treatment, parking upgrades, and plans for dining and public-space improvements.

• 2014

  Food court is removed

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The traditional food-court operation ended, and the space was subsequently adapted for retail use including Uniqlo.

• 2010

  Cinema closes permanently

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall's cinema ceased operations permanently on June 3.

• 2006

  Renovation and cinema transition

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall's renovation period began, while the cinema changed operators after closing in connection with the Loews/AMC merger.

• 2004

  Taubman Centers consolidates ownership

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Taubman Centers acquired its partners' minority interests in the property.

• 1997

  The Broadway space reopens as Bloomingdale's

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  After renovation, the former The Broadway location reopened as Bloomingdale's.

• 1996

  Bullock's becomes Macy's and The Broadway closes

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall's original anchor structure changed as Bullock's was converted to Macy's and The Broadway closed.

• 1989

  Habitat opens an anchor-format store

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Terence Conran's British furniture retailer Habitat opened a large store at the mall.

• 1982

  Beverly Center opens

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on February 4 with Bullock's and The Broadway as its department-store anchors.

• 1982

  Cineplex Beverly Center 14 launches

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A 14-screen cinema opened in July and was described as the largest multiplex in the United States at the time.

• 1982

  First U.S. Hard Rock Cafe opens

  [1]Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The first Hard Rock Cafe in the United States opened at the mall on October 24.

An urban, fashion-focused Los Angeles shopping and lifestyle destination combining department stores, designer and contemporary retail, dining, fitness, entertainment, and prominent architectural design.

• Department stores · 1982

  Department-store retail

  Beverly Center's principal anchors include Bloomingdale's and Macy's. These stores provide broad assortments spanning fashion, accessories, cosmetics, home products, and seasonal merchandise, while also serving as important traffic generators for the mall's specialty tenants.

• Fashion · 1982

  Luxury and contemporary fashion retail

  The mall is positioned around an urban fashion mix that includes designer, luxury, contemporary, beauty, jewelry, and accessories retailers. The tenant environment is designed to appeal to Los Angeles residents, visitors, and shoppers seeking premium brands in a high-profile setting.

• Food and beverage · 1982

  Dining and food service

  Dining has evolved from a conventional food court toward restaurants and street-level food concepts. The mall formerly hosted the first Hard Rock Cafe in the United States, and later redevelopment plans emphasized a food hall and additional restaurant spaces.

• Entertainment · 1982

  Cineplex Beverly Center 14

  The 14-screen cinema was a major opening attraction and was once described as the largest multiplex in the United States. After multiple operator changes and temporary reopenings, the cinema closed permanently in 2010.

• Fitness and entertainment · 2021

  Fitness and leisure venues

  Following the closure of Macy's Men's Store, part of the former anchor space was adapted for Gold's Gym and Lucky Strike Lanes. These uses broaden the property beyond conventional retail by adding fitness, bowling, and leisure-oriented visits.

• 2025

  Transfer to Simon Property GroupM&A

  Background

  Taubman Realty Group and its property portfolio became the subject of an ownership transaction involving Simon Property Group.

  Action taken

  Simon Property Group acquired Taubman Realty Group and its assets, including Beverly Center, in November 2025.

  Aftermath

  Beverly Center became part of Simon Property Group's shopping-center portfolio.

  Source

• 2016

  Launch of a major physical redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The property sought to modernize its appearance, improve visitor circulation, and strengthen dining and experiential uses in a competitive Los Angeles retail market.

  Action taken

  A major renovation began, including a perforated steel facade, parking-structure improvements, vehicle-location technology, a planned food hall, a skylight, and new street-level restaurants.

  Aftermath

  The project repositioned Beverly Center as a more contemporary lifestyle and dining destination rather than relying only on department stores and enclosed retail corridors.

  Reported renovation cost. US$500 million (Renovation program beginning in 2016)

  Source

• 2014

  Shift away from the traditional food courtStrategy

  Background

  The mall reassessed its conventional food-court format as its retail and dining strategy evolved.

  Action taken

  The food court was removed, and the space was adapted for new retail and future dining uses.

  Aftermath

  Uniqlo opened in part of the former food-court area, while later plans emphasized restaurants and a food hall.

  Source

• 2010

  Permanent closure of the cinemaOther

  Background

  The mall cinema had closed and reopened under different operators following the Loews/AMC merger and subsequent changes in theater management.

  Action taken

  The cinema ceased operations permanently on June 3, 2010.

  Aftermath

  The property no longer operated the former multiplex as an entertainment anchor.

  Source

• 2004

  Taubman Centers consolidates property interestsM&A

  Background

  Taubman Centers, the public real-estate investment trust associated with A. Alfred Taubman's shopping-center business, held an opportunity to consolidate the ownership structure of Beverly Center.

  Action taken

  The company purchased its partners' minority investment interests in the property.

  Aftermath

  The transaction gave Taubman Centers a consolidated ownership position before the later transfer of Taubman assets to Simon Property Group.

  Source

1. 1Beverly Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Beverly Center websitebeverlycenter.com