Sherman Oaks Galleria
An open-air shopping, dining, entertainment, and office center in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Sherman Oaks Galleria is an open-air shopping and mixed-use center at the intersection of Ventura and Sepulveda boulevards in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. It occupies a site associated with Moses Sherman's early twentieth-century real-estate investment in the San Fernando Valley and became one of the area's best-known commercial landmarks after opening on October 30, 1980. The original development was a three-level enclosed mall anchored by Robinsons and May Company department stores, with a Pacific Theatres multiplex on the upper level. During the early 1980s, the Galleria became closely associated with the youth culture of the San Fernando Valley. Its reputation as a teenage gathering place helped inspire the satirical song "Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa and Moon Zappa, which names the Galleria while inaccurately placing it in Encino. The center and its surrounding area also became a recognizable filming location. Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Valley Girl used the property in ways that connected it to contemporary representations of Southern California adolescent life. Other films filmed at or around the Galleria include Night of the Comet, Commando, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mother, Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge, Walk Like a Man, Innerspace, Chopping Mall, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. The property's retail fortunes weakened during the 1990s. The 1993 merger of Robinsons and May Company created Robinsons-May, and the two original department-store spaces were converted into separate men's-and-home and women's-and-children's operations. The January 1994 Northridge earthquake caused the center to close for 11 days. Although the mall reopened, Robinsons-May did not restore its south-wing operation for approximately four years. The resulting loss of an anchor store contributed to the departure of smaller tenants and a prolonged decline in activity. In 1998, mall management and Robinsons-May became involved in litigation: management sought eviction, alleging lease-related failures and damage caused by the delayed reopening, while Robinsons-May attributed the decline to inadequate promotion and management. The enclosed mall closed in April 1999 for a comprehensive redevelopment and reopened in 2002 as an open-air, mixed-use center. Most of the former retail mall was converted into office space, while a portion of the former southern department-store structure retained a theater court. The redesigned property was associated with architects Gensler and contractor Peck/Jones Construction. Its post-redevelopment tenant mix combined offices, restaurants, fitness, personal services, education, and selected retail. Warner Bros. established offices in a former mall entrance, and mortgage and financial-services businesses also occupied space. The entertainment component changed several times. Pacific Galleria 16 was rebranded as an ArcLight Cinemas location in 2007 and underwent a renovation and temporary closure during the transition. ArcLight and Pacific Theatres later announced in April 2021 that their locations would not reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic, and Pacific Theatres filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June of that year. The Galleria subsequently reached an agreement with Regal Cinemas. The theater reopened in July 2021 with expanded premium formats, including IMAX, Regal RPX, ScreenX, and 4DX. Regal warned in January 2023 that the location could close if its lease was not renegotiated, but a new lease agreement was reached in May 2023. In May 2025, Regal announced plans to add an IMAX screen. The property also continued to attract corporate tenants; Hertz Investment Group announced in 2022 that it would move its headquarters to the Galleria. Today, Sherman Oaks Galleria functions less as a traditional enclosed mall than as a hybrid open-air destination combining restaurants, services, offices, retail, and cinema.
History
Sherman Oaks Galleria was developed on land connected to Moses Sherman's original 1911 investment in the area. The three-level enclosed mall opened on October 30, 1980, with Robinsons and May Company as its department-store anchors. Pacific Theatres opened a four-screen cinema in December of that year on the upper level. The center became a prominent gathering place for San Fernando Valley teenagers during the early 1980s. That reputation entered popular culture through Frank Zappa and Moon Zappa's 1982 satirical song "Valley Girl," which mentions the Galleria. The property also appeared in films associated with Valley youth culture, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Valley Girl. It later served as a location for productions including Night of the Comet, Commando, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mother, Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge, Walk Like a Man, Innerspace, Chopping Mall, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. In 1993, the merger of Robinsons and May Company created Robinsons-May. The two department-store spaces were reorganized into a north men's-and-home store and a south women's-and-children's store. The mall subsequently entered a difficult period. The Northridge earthquake forced an 11-day closure in January 1994. Although the center reopened, the south Robinsons-May store remained closed for several years, reducing foot traffic and contributing to the closure of smaller tenants. In 1998, the mall's management sued Robinsons-May in an attempt to remove it, alleging that the delayed reopening violated the lease and harmed the property. Robinsons-May countersued, arguing that weak promotion and management were responsible for the decline. The Galleria closed in April 1999 for redevelopment and reopened in 2002 as an open-air mixed-use center. Most of the original enclosed retail structure was replaced or converted into offices. The former southern Robinsons-May area retained a theater court, which became the principal surviving portion of the original mall. Gensler designed the redevelopment, and Peck/Jones Construction built it. The contractor later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005. The redeveloped property attracted a broad mix of office, restaurant, retail, fitness, educational, and personal-service occupants. Warner Bros. established offices in a former mall entrance, while mortgage and financial-services firms also occupied the center. Named tenants have included 24 Hour Fitness, Burke Williams Day Spa, DSW Shoe Warehouse, DeVry University, Paul Mitchell, Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Buffalo Wild Wings, Starbucks, and Frida Mexican Cuisine. The theater was rebranded from Pacific Galleria 16 to ArcLight Cinemas in June 2007 and renovated during the summer. After ArcLight and Pacific Theatres announced in April 2021 that their locations would not reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic, the property moved to a new cinema arrangement. Pacific Theatres filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 18, 2021, and Regal Cinemas became the new operator at Sherman Oaks Galleria. The cinema reopened in July 2021 with IMAX, Regal RPX, ScreenX, and 4DX features. Regal threatened a February 2023 closure unless a new lease was negotiated, but the parties reached an agreement in May 2023. Regal announced another IMAX addition in May 2025. The Galleria has also remained an office destination, including a planned Hertz Investment Group headquarters relocation announced in 2022.
- 2025
Regal announces another IMAX addition
[1]Regal announced plans to add an IMAX screen at the theater.
- 2023
Regal lease renewed
[1]Regal and the Galleria reached a new lease agreement after a possible closure had been announced earlier in the year.
- 2022
Hertz Investment Group announces headquarters move
[1]Hertz Investment Group announced plans to relocate its headquarters to the Galleria.
- 2021
Regal takes over the cinema
[1]After ArcLight and Pacific Theatres closed their locations, Regal agreed to operate the Galleria theater, which reopened with several premium formats.
- 2007
Pacific Galleria 16 becomes ArcLight Cinemas
[1]The cinema was progressively rebranded and renovated as an ArcLight location.
- 2002
Open-air mixed-use center reopens
[1]The redeveloped Galleria reopened with most of the former retail area converted to offices and with new restaurant, service, and retail uses.
- 1999
Enclosed mall closes for redevelopment
[1]The property closed in April for a major conversion from an enclosed mall into an open-air mixed-use center.
- 1994
Northridge earthquake causes temporary closure
[1]The mall closed for 11 days after the earthquake, while the south Robinsons-May store remained closed for several years.
- 1993
Robinsons and May Company become Robinsons-May
[1]The mall's two department stores were converted into separate Robinsons-May men's-and-home and women's-and-children's operations.
- 1982
Galleria enters popular culture through Valley Girl
[1]The Galleria was named in Frank Zappa and Moon Zappa's satirical song about San Fernando Valley teenage culture.
Products and positioning
A San Fernando Valley mixed-use destination that combines open-air retail and dining with offices, services, and a major cinema complex.
Retail · 1980
Retail and shopping
The Galleria provides a smaller, service-oriented retail mix than its original department-store mall format. Its known retail occupants have included DSW Shoe Warehouse and other specialty operators, alongside restaurants and personal-service businesses. Retail is now integrated into an open-air mixed-use environment rather than organized around the original enclosed mall anchors.
Restaurants · 2002
Dining
Dining is a central component of the redeveloped center. Named restaurant tenants have included Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Buffalo Wild Wings, Starbucks, and Frida Mexican Cuisine. The restaurant offering helps position the property as a local open-air destination serving both office users and neighborhood visitors.
Cinema and entertainment · 1980
Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria
The cinema component began as Pacific 4 in 1980, later expanded as Pacific Galleria 16, and was rebranded as ArcLight Cinemas in 2007. Regal became the operator in 2021 after the ArcLight and Pacific Theatres shutdowns. The reopened theater introduced premium experiences including IMAX, Regal RPX, ScreenX, and 4DX, with another IMAX addition announced in 2025.
Commercial real estate · 2002
Office and business center
Following the 1999–2002 redevelopment, much of the former enclosed mall became office space. Warner Bros. and mortgage and financial-services companies have occupied space, and the property has continued to attract corporate users. This office component is the defining feature of the Galleria's current mixed-use model.
Services · 2002
Fitness, wellness, and education services
The center has housed service tenants such as 24 Hour Fitness, Burke Williams Day Spa, Paul Mitchell, and DeVry University. These uses broaden the Galleria beyond conventional shopping and support regular visits from residents, students, employees, and office tenants.
Brand decisions
2023
Renegotiate the Regal theater leaseStrategyBackground
Regal announced that the theater could close in February if its lease was not renegotiated.
Action taken
Regal and Sherman Oaks Galleria reached a new lease agreement in May, allowing the cinema to continue operating.
Aftermath
The theater remained part of the Galleria's entertainment offering, with a later announcement of an additional IMAX screen.
2021
Replace ArcLight with Regal CinemasStrategyBackground
ArcLight and Pacific Theatres announced that their locations would not reopen, and Pacific Theatres filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Action taken
The Galleria entered into a lease arrangement with Regal Cinemas, which reopened the theater with IMAX, RPX, ScreenX, and 4DX offerings.
Aftermath
Regal remained the operator after a 2023 lease renegotiation and later announced another IMAX addition for 2025.
2007
Rebrand the cinema as ArcLightStrategyBackground
Pacific Theatres owned the ArcLight brand and sought to place the Galleria cinema within that premium-oriented chain.
Action taken
Pacific Galleria 16 was gradually rebranded as ArcLight Cinemas and temporarily closed for renovation during the summer.
Aftermath
The cinema operated under the ArcLight identity until the company announced in 2021 that its locations would not reopen after the pandemic.
1999
Convert the enclosed mall into an open-air mixed-use centerStrategyBackground
Declining retail activity, anchor-store problems, tenant departures, and the prolonged effects of the 1994 earthquake weakened the original enclosed mall format.
Action taken
The property closed in April 1999 for a comprehensive redevelopment that converted most of the mall into offices and redesigned the remaining commercial space as an open-air center.
Aftermath
The Galleria reopened in 2002 with a mixed tenant base spanning offices, restaurants, retail, fitness, education, and personal services.
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