Carousel Mall

Carousel Mall was a downtown shopping and office complex in San Bernardino, California. It opened on October 11, 1972, as Central City Mall, an urban-renewal project intended to strengthen the city's traditional retail district along 3rd Street. The two-story center initially contained 52 stores and three major anchors: JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company, a long-established San Bernardino department store that had occupied its site since 1927. City and redevelopment planners viewed the mall as a major catalyst for downtown investment, and early concepts included complementary projects such as a monorail, a new commerce building, a public park, and an additional anchor store. Most of those proposals were never realized. The property encountered structural and competitive problems within several years of opening. During the late 1970s and 1980s, local gang activity, frequent changes in management, political complications, and the broader weakening of downtown San Bernardino reduced the mall's appeal. Retail competition intensified as shoppers increasingly preferred Inland Center, a regional mall with better access to the I-215 and I-10 interchange and a stronger ability to retain or replace anchor tenants. In an effort to reposition the property, its owners renovated and renamed it Carousel Mall in 1991. The new identity centered on a large carousel, colorful interior finishes, and brighter façades designed to attract families and discourage uses of the center as a gang gathering place. The makeover did not reverse the long-term decline. Anchor losses accelerated in the 2000s. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the retailer went out of business, and JCPenney, the final remaining major anchor, departed in 2003. Vacated retail areas were partly repurposed for mixed-use occupancy, including offices for San Bernardino County departments. The county became the mall's largest tenant for a period, while the retail component contracted to a small collection of independent stores, restaurants, and service businesses. A neighboring movie theater also closed in 2008, further reducing visitor traffic. Ownership and redevelopment plans changed repeatedly. LNR Property Corp. acquired the property in 2006 with plans for a denser residential and commercial project, then sold it in 2008 to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million. Later redevelopment efforts faced ownership disputes, financing problems, competing development locations, city bankruptcy proceedings, and the dissolution of California redevelopment agencies. Carousel Mall finally closed on August 22, 2017, after the remaining tenants were evicted. The carousel that gave the complex its name was sold by the city in 2018. In 2022, city leaders approved demolition of the buildings on the approximately 43-acre site and a future disposition and redevelopment program. Lincoln Property Company withdrew from a redevelopment effort in October 2022. Demolition began in April 2023 and was substantially complete by late 2023, although the former Harris building, a parking structure, and an enterprise building remained standing as of April 2024. The Harris building was later affected by a fire in October 2024. The former mall site remains associated with plans for new office, retail, and housing development rather than with an operating shopping center.

Carousel Mall began as Central City Mall, which opened in downtown San Bernardino on October 11, 1972. The project was conceived as a major urban-renewal intervention for the city's established 3rd Street retail district. Its two-story design contained 52 stores and three principal department-store anchors: JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company. Harris had operated at the location since 1927, making the mall a combination of new development and an established local retail institution. Plans associated with the mall envisioned a broader downtown transformation, including a monorail, public park, commerce building, and a fourth anchor. These additions were not delivered, leaving the mall dependent on the performance of the original retail concept. Problems emerged during the late 1970s. Gang activity made the mall a gathering place and affected perceptions of safety, while changes among management companies and competing interests among city leaders complicated efforts to operate and improve the property. Downtown San Bernardino itself weakened, and the mall faced growing competition from Inland Center. That center benefited from stronger highway access and greater success in maintaining occupied anchor and inline retail space. By the late 1980s, the owners and developers pursued a new revitalization strategy. The 1991 renovation produced the Carousel Mall name. A large carousel, colorful interior decoration, and brighter exterior façades were intended to make the property more attractive to families with young children and to change the mall's social environment. The rebranding provided a new identity but did not resolve the underlying market problems. During the 1990s, the mall continued to lose business as consumers shifted toward Inland Center and as downtown vacancies increased. The movement of retail businesses and department-store activity away from the property weakened its role as a regional shopping destination. The anchor base then collapsed. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the chain went out of business. JCPenney remained for roughly two more years before closing in 2003, leaving the mall without a major department-store anchor. Vacant retail areas were subsequently adapted for mixed uses. The city and property owners permitted county offices to occupy portions of the former retail space, including areas near the 3rd Street entrance and western court or lobby. San Bernardino County became the property's largest tenant for a time, although county and school-district offices later moved elsewhere. By the early 2010s, only a limited number of retail businesses remained, including independently operated stores, restaurants, service providers, and an AM radio station. Ownership changes and redevelopment proposals continued. LNR Property Corp. bought the property in February 2006 with the intention of creating a higher-density residential and commercial project. That plan did not materialize, and the property was sold in January 2008 to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million. The adjoining CinemaStar theater also closed in 2008, further reducing foot traffic. Later attempts to rehabilitate, demolish, or replace the mall were affected by complicated ownership arrangements, financial institutions, tribal and other stakeholder interests, city bankruptcy proceedings, and the statewide closure of redevelopment agencies. The surrounding downtown's economic decline and the availability of more accessible development sites elsewhere in San Bernardino made the property difficult to reposition. The mall closed on August 22, 2017, after the remaining tenants were removed. The city sold the namesake carousel in 2018. A fire caused damage at the closed complex in May 2022, and a fatal electrocution occurred during an attempted copper-wire theft later that year. In July 2022, city leaders approved a plan to demolish the buildings and sell the property. Lincoln Property Company withdrew from a redevelopment effort in October. Demolition began in April 2023 and was substantially complete by April 2024, though the Harris building, parking structure, and enterprise building remained. The former Harris building was later damaged by fire in October 2024. The city has described the future of the broader site in terms of office, retail, and housing development, but Carousel Mall itself is defunct.

• 2024

  Most of the mall is demolished

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  By April 6, most of the mall had been demolished, although several associated structures remained.

• 2023

  Demolition begins

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition began in April as the city moved to clear the former shopping-center complex.

• 2022

  Demolition plan approved

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  San Bernardino approved demolition of the mall buildings and a future sale and redevelopment process for the site.

• 2017

  Mall closes

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Carousel Mall closed on August 22 after the remaining tenants were evicted.

• 2008

  Property changes hands

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  LNR sold the property to M & D Properties for a reported $23.5 million; the adjoining CinemaStar theater also closed.

• 2006

  LNR Property Corp. acquires the property

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  LNR Property Corp. purchased the property with plans for a denser residential and commercial redevelopment.

• 2003

  JCPenney departs

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closed, leaving Carousel Mall without its last major department-store anchor.

• 2001

  Montgomery Ward closes

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Montgomery Ward closed after the retailer ceased operations, removing one of the mall's principal anchors.

• 1991

  Rebranding as Carousel Mall

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A renovation introduced the Carousel Mall name, a large carousel, colorful interiors, and brighter façades.

• 1972

  Central City Mall opens

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Central City Mall opened on October 11 with two stories, 52 stores, and JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company as major anchors.

• 1927

  The Harris Company establishes its site

  [1]Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Harris Company had occupied the future mall location since 1927, making it a longstanding downtown retail landmark before the mall was built.

A downtown urban-renewal shopping center repositioned as a family-oriented mixed-use property, but ultimately undermined by anchor departures, suburban competition, declining downtown conditions, and prolonged redevelopment obstacles.

• Retail · 1972

  Department-store retail

  The mall's original commercial proposition depended heavily on department stores. JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and The Harris Company served as its principal anchors, offering broad assortments of apparel, household merchandise, accessories, and general goods. Their departures removed the traffic-generating function on which the center's smaller tenants depended.

• Retail and food service

  Independent retail and dining

  After the anchor stores closed, the remaining commercial mix consisted primarily of independently operated stores, restaurants, and service businesses. The property also accommodated small specialty and administrative tenants, but these uses were insufficient to restore the mall's earlier role as a regional shopping destination.

• Mixed-use occupancy

  County office space

  Vacated retail areas were converted in part to offices for San Bernardino County departments. County employees became the mall's largest tenant group for a period, demonstrating the property's transition from a primarily retail center toward a mixed-use civic and commercial facility.

• 2022

  Demolition and site dispositionStrategy

  Background

  The mall had been closed since 2017, and earlier rehabilitation and mixed-use proposals had stalled.

  Action taken

  San Bernardino city leaders approved demolition of the buildings on the approximately 43-acre property and a process to sell or otherwise reposition the site.

  Aftermath

  Demolition began in April 2023, with future plans centered on office, retail, and housing uses rather than a renovated enclosed mall.

  Source

• 2006

  High-density redevelopment proposalStrategy

  Background

  The aging mall had lost major anchors and faced competition from more accessible retail and development locations.

  Action taken

  LNR Property Corp. acquired the property with an intention to develop a higher-density residential and commercial project.

  Aftermath

  The proposal did not come to fruition, and the property was sold in 2008.

  Reported acquisition price in 2008. $23.5 million (2008)

  Source

• 2003

  Conversion of vacant retail areas to mixed useStrategy

  Background

  JCPenney's closure left the mall without a major anchor after Montgomery Ward had already departed.

  Action taken

  Property owners allowed portions of the former retail space to be used for San Bernardino County offices and other non-retail occupancy.

  Aftermath

  The county became the largest tenant for a period, but the change did not restore the mall's retail traffic or long-term viability.

  Source

• 1991

  Family-oriented rebranding and renovationStrategy

  Background

  The former Central City Mall faced gang activity, management difficulties, and declining downtown conditions.

  Action taken

  Owners renovated the center, renamed it Carousel Mall, installed a large carousel, and used brighter and more colorful design elements to attract families and alter the property's public image.

  Aftermath

  The rebranding created a distinctive identity but did not prevent continuing retail decline during the 1990s.

  Source

1. 1Carousel Mallen.wikipedia.org