Santa Monica Place facts for kids
Santa Monica Place seen at dusk in March 2013
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| Location | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 34°00′49″N 118°29′37″W / 34.013621°N 118.493726°W |
| Opening date | 1980 (as original indoor mall) August 6, 2010 (as current outdoor mall) |
| Developer | The Hahn Company and The Rouse Company |
| Management | PRISM Places |
| Owner | PRISM Places |
| Architect | Frank Gehry (1980) Jon Jerde (2010) |
| No. of stores and services | 90 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 1 |
| Total retail floor area | 475,000 sq ft (44,100 m2) |
| No. of floors | 3 |
| Parking | Structured |
Santa Monica Place is a cool outdoor shopping mall in Santa Monica, California. It sits at the end of the famous Third Street Promenade shopping area. The mall is only two blocks from the beach and the Santa Monica Pier.
It first opened in 1980 as an indoor mall. Later, it had a big makeover starting in 2008. It reopened as an outdoor mall on August 6, 2010. The mall has three levels for shopping and dining. It used to have a big store called Nordstrom, which closed on August 26, 2025. Many of the stores here are fancy brands like Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and Tory Burch.
Contents
The History of Santa Monica Place
How the Mall Started
Santa Monica Place first opened its doors in 1980. It was an indoor mall built by The Rouse Company and The Hahn Company. The mall was designed to help the nearby Third Street Promenade become more popular. However, it actually took customers away from the street at first.
It had two main department stores, J. W. Robinson's and The Broadway. There were also 120 other shops, restaurants, and a food court. The mall had three levels.
A Famous Architect's Design
Did you know that Santa Monica Place was one of the first projects by the famous architect Frank Gehry? It was his very first shopping mall design!
In the 1990s, the main stores changed their names. In 1993, Robinson's became Robinsons-May. Then, in 1996, The Broadway store changed to Macy's.
Big Changes and a New Look
Macerich bought Santa Monica Place in 1999. People soon heard rumors that big changes were coming. In 2004, Macerich suggested tearing down the mall. They wanted to build a huge complex with condos, shops, and offices. But local residents didn't like this plan. They felt it was too big for the neighborhood and would cause too much traffic.
In 2006, the Robinsons-May store closed. This happened because Federated bought out May Department Stores. A store called Steve & Barry's took its place in 2007.
Macerich then made a new plan in 2007. This plan was much smaller and the public liked it. The project cost $265 million. Workers removed the mall's roof and changed the inside completely. They created two levels of shops and a third-level food court.
The original Macy's store became a Bloomingdale's. The Steve & Barry's store was replaced by a Nordstrom. The new design was led by architect Jon Jerde. The mall officially reopened as an outdoor shopping center on August 6, 2010.
Recent Updates and Closures
On November 15, 2015, an Arclight Cinemas movie theater opened. It was built on top of the Bloomingdale's store.
On January 6, 2021, Bloomingdale's announced it would close. Its last day was March 28, 2021. The ArcLight Cinemas also closed temporarily in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its lease was ended on April 12, 2021, because rent was not paid.
In 2023, plans were announced for the old Bloomingdale's and ArcLight Cinemas space. It is being renovated to become a large Arte Museum. This museum will feature immersive digital art. The company D'strict from South Korea is creating it. The remaining space might become a high-end fitness center.
On April 3, 2025, PRISM Places took over managing the mall from Macerich. On June 27, 2025, Nordstrom announced it would close. It officially closed on August 26, 2025. This means the mall no longer has any large anchor stores.
Getting to Santa Monica Place
Public Transportation Options
It's easy to get to Santa Monica Place using public transport. The Los Angeles Metro Rail E Line's Downtown Santa Monica station is right across the street. Many Santa Monica Big Blue Bus routes also stop at the mall.
