Ontario Mills

Ontario Mills is a large, single-level outlet and value-oriented shopping center in Ontario, California. Located in San Bernardino County within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, the property occupies the former site of Ontario Motor Speedway and benefits from direct proximity to Ontario International Airport, Interstate 15, Interstate 10, and Auto Club Speedway. Its location gives it a substantial local customer base as well as visitors traveling through Southern California. The center was conceived in the late 1980s by Western Development Corporation as part of the Landmark Mills portfolio. The original plan called for approximately 1.5 million square feet of retail space, roughly 250 outlet, specialty, and off-price stores, a multiplex cinema, and a large food court organized around themed internal neighborhoods. Development was delayed by financial and legal difficulties, and construction ultimately began in 1995 under Mills chief executive Laurence C. Siegel. Ontario Mills opened on November 14, 1996, with a large first-day turnout and immediate recognition as a major regional shopping destination. The property follows the characteristic Mills format: a racetrack-like circulation plan divided into themed neighborhoods, allowing a large number of tenants to be grouped into recognizable sections. Ontario Mills has ten such neighborhoods, more than other Mills properties identified in the source material. The center has historically combined outlet versions of national brands with specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and value-focused department-store concepts. It has been described by its former owners as the largest one-level shopping mall in Western North America and as California's largest outlet and value-retail destination, although these descriptions are attributable to the former owner rather than an independent ranking. Entertainment has been an important part of the property's tenant mix. AMC Ontario Mills 30 opened in December 1996 and was described at the time as the world's largest multiplex, with 30 screens. Ontario Mills also formerly hosted a Vans Skatepark, which later closed. The property has continued to use restaurants, food-court redevelopment, and new entertainment tenants to broaden its appeal beyond traditional outlet shopping. Ownership and control have changed several times. Melvin Simon & Associates held an early joint-venture interest. The Mills Corporation and KanAm later became principal stakeholders, and a fund managed by JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management acquired a 50 percent interest in 2004. Simon Property Group acquired The Mills Corporation's portfolio, including its 50 percent interest in Ontario Mills, in a transaction completed in April 2007. Simon later acquired full control of management through a 2012 transaction involving Farallon Capital Management's interest in a portfolio of Landmark Mills properties. Simon has periodically repositioned and renovated the center. A 2012 program remodeled the food court, renamed The Market, refreshed portions of the exterior, and expanded selected tenants including Forever 21 and Nordstrom Rack. A further 2016 redevelopment converted the former JCPenney Outlet space into a group of new stores and restaurants and added the Fashion Alley area, with retailers such as The North Face, Original Penguin, Samsonite, Uniqlo, and Blaze Pizza. Later tenant changes reflected both the volatility of off-price retail and the arrival of newer specialty concepts. JCPenney's outlet division was sold and subsequently discontinued, while Toys "R" Us Outlet closed during the retailer's 2018 bankruptcy process. Ontario Mills temporarily closed with other Simon properties in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The center remains an active retail and entertainment destination, with a tenant mix that includes outlet and specialty apparel, footwear, accessories, home-related merchandise, food service, and entertai…

Ontario Mills originated as a Landmark Mills development proposed by Western Development Corporation in February 1988. The planned center was intended to occupy approximately 1.5 million square feet and contain about 250 outlet, specialty, and off-price retailers. The design also included a movie theater, a large food court, and themed internal sections known as neighborhoods. The project's site was the former Ontario Motor Speedway, placing the future center near major transportation routes and regional attractions. Western Development worked with the German KanAm Grund Group on financing and development, while Melvin Simon & Associates held joint-venture interests. The original schedule anticipated a 1991 opening, but financial problems and legal obstacles delayed the project. Construction began in 1995 under Laurence C. Siegel, who led the completion of the development at a reported total cost of $150 million. Ontario Mills opened on November 14, 1996, just before the holiday shopping season. The opening attracted more than 150,000 visitors and generated reported first-day sales of $7 million. The center expanded its entertainment profile soon after opening. On December 13, 1996, AMC opened a 30-screen multiplex at the mall. AMC Ontario Mills 30 was described at the time as the world's largest megaplex and achieved a record single-theater gross for the company. Ontario Mills also formerly contained a Vans Skatepark; its permanent closure was announced in May 2003. Ownership evolved as the Mills portfolio changed. In May 2002, Simon Property Group sold its interest in Ontario Mills back to The Mills Corporation and KanAm as part of a larger transaction involving several Mills properties. In August 2004, The Mills Corporation and KanAm sold a 50 percent stake in Ontario Mills to a fund managed by JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, while The Mills Corporation retained the remaining interest. The Mills Corporation later experienced financial difficulties. In February 2007, Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management agreed to acquire The Mills Corporation's portfolio for $1.64 billion after Brookfield Asset Management's competing offer was rejected. The acquisition closed in April 2007, and the portfolio was subsequently presented under the Mills: A Simon Company identity. During the Simon era, Ontario Mills underwent physical and tenant changes. Burlington Coat Factory expanded to approximately 112,000 square feet in October 2010. In January 2012, Simon announced a renovation of the food court, which became The Market, along with exterior improvements and expansions for Forever 21 and Nordstrom Rack. Some food-service tenants were replaced during the work. In March 2012, Simon acquired full management control of the property portfolio by purchasing Farallon's interest in 26 Landmark Mills malls. JCPenney's outlet division was sold to SB Capital Group, and the Ontario Mills store became JC's 5 Star Outlet. That concept closed in early 2014 as the outlet division was discontinued. Simon redeveloped the former space in 2016, adding twelve stores and restaurants and creating an expanded section called Fashion Alley. The project introduced or accommodated tenants including The North Face, Original Penguin, Samsonite, Uniqlo, and Blaze Pizza. The redevelopment opened on April 29, 2016, with an additional mall entrance. raSmith was identified as the architect for the renovation. In 2016, mall management characterized the property's twentieth anniversary as less important than its ongoing retail transformation. The center added several tenants in 2017, including Stickhouse, WeStyle, francesca's, BoxLunch, and Kidpik. Toys "R" Us Outlet, which had operated at the mall for less than a year, closed during the retailer's nationwide bankruptcy-related store closures in 2018. Ontario Mills closed temporarily in March 2020 along with Simon's other U.S. properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequent years brought additional openings, closures, and repositioning. Daiso reportedly closed in February 2024, while MOIDA, Lush Cosmetics, Psycho Bunny, and Vitamin World were reported among newer additions. In 2025, reported openings included Marc Jacobs and Suit Emporium, followed by Popeyes, Carbonstar, New Balance, and TARANIS. Forever 21 reportedly closed in May 2025 after the retailer's U.S. bankruptcy process. The source material also reports the opening of Slick City Action Park in March 2026 and a fire affecting several stores on April 10, 2026. Ontario Mills continues to operate as a Simon-managed outlet and entertainment destination.

• 2020

  Temporary pandemic closure

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Ontario Mills temporarily closed with Simon's U.S. properties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2016

  Fashion Alley redevelopment opens

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  A redevelopment of the former JCPenney Outlet space opened with new stores, restaurants, and a new mall entrance.

• 2012

  Food court and exterior renovation announced

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon announced renovations that transformed the food court into The Market and expanded selected tenants.

• 2007

  Simon acquires The Mills portfolio

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management acquired The Mills Corporation's portfolio, including its interest in Ontario Mills.

• 2004

  JPMorgan-managed fund acquires a 50 percent stake

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The Mills Corporation and KanAm sold half of the property to a fund managed by JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management.

• 2003

  Vans Skatepark closure announced

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The property's former Vans Skatepark was announced for permanent closure.

• 1996

  Grand opening

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Ontario Mills opened on November 14, 1996, attracting more than 150,000 visitors and reporting $7 million in first-day sales.

• 1996

  AMC Ontario Mills 30 opens

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  A 30-screen AMC multiplex opened on December 13 and was described at the time as the world's largest megaplex.

• 1995

  Construction begins

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  After earlier delays, construction commenced under Mills chief executive Laurence C. Siegel.

• 1988

  Ontario Mills is announced

  [1]Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Western Development Corporation announced plans for a large Landmark Mills outlet center on the former Ontario Motor Speedway site.

A large, destination-oriented outlet and value-retail center combining national-brand outlet stores, specialty retail, dining, and entertainment in a high-traffic Southern California location.

• Fashion retail · 1996

  Outlet apparel and footwear

  Ontario Mills is principally known for outlet and value-oriented apparel and footwear. Its tenant mix has included national fashion, athletic, outdoor, and specialty brands, with merchandise generally sold through outlet, off-price, or destination-retail formats.

• Retail expansion · 2016

  Fashion Alley

  Fashion Alley is a retail expansion created during the 2016 redevelopment of the former JCPenney Outlet space. The area added stores and restaurants and included tenants such as The North Face, Original Penguin, Samsonite, Uniqlo, and Blaze Pizza.

• Food court · 2012

  The Market

  The Market is Ontario Mills' remodeled food-court concept. It replaced the earlier Big Food identity and forms part of Simon's broader effort to refresh the center's dining and common areas.

• Entertainment · 1996

  AMC Ontario Mills 30

  AMC Ontario Mills 30 is a multiplex cinema opened at the center in December 1996. It originally offered 30 screens and was promoted at opening as the world's largest megaplex.

• 2020

  Temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemicOther

  Background

  Simon temporarily closed its U.S. properties during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  Ontario Mills suspended operations in March 2020 along with other Simon properties in the United States.

  Aftermath

  The center later resumed activity, while its tenant base continued to change through subsequent openings and closures.

  Source

• 2016

  Fashion Alley redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The former JCPenney Outlet space became available after the outlet division was sold and then discontinued.

  Action taken

  Simon renovated the space, added twelve stores and restaurants, expanded the center through Fashion Alley, and created a new entrance.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment added new fashion, luggage, dining, and specialty concepts to the center.

  Source

• 2012

  Simon renovates The Market and expands the tenant mixStrategy

  Background

  Simon sought to refresh the center's common areas and strengthen its fashion and dining offer.

  Action taken

  The food court was remodeled and renamed The Market, portions of the exterior were updated, and Forever 21 and Nordstrom Rack were expanded.

  Aftermath

  The project repositioned Ontario Mills around a more contemporary shopping and dining environment.

  Source

• 2007

  Simon Property Group acquires The Mills portfolioM&A

  Background

  The Mills Corporation was experiencing financial difficulties, and its portfolio became the subject of competing acquisition interest.

  Action taken

  Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management agreed to acquire The Mills Corporation's portfolio, including The Mills' interest in Ontario Mills. The transaction closed in April 2007.

  Aftermath

  Ontario Mills became part of Simon's Mills portfolio and was subsequently operated under the Mills: A Simon Company identity.

  Portfolio acquisition value. $1.64 billion (Announced February 2007; completed April 2007)

  Source

1. 1Ontario Millsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ontario Mills official pagesimon.com