Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
Encyclopedia
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (BHCP) is a shopping mall (the first post-war retail complex in California), whose first two stores opened in October and November of 1947. The original open-air complex, known as the Broadway-Crenshaw Center, was located in Los Angeles, California
. When it opened in 1947, the retail hub was anchored by a The Broadway
department store, a May Company
department store, Woolworth
variety store, and Von's
supermarket. It consisted of 550,000 square feet (51,000 m²) and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of parking.
The complex underwent a massive renovation, which got underway in the mid-1980s. Much of the original inline store space was razed. A two-level, fully enclosed mall structure was built, which was anchored by the existing The Broadway
and May Company
stores and included a new Sears as a third anchor. The shopping hub, now known as Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, was officially dedicated in November 1988. BHCP encompassed 850,000 square feet (79,000 m²).
After a series of rebrandings of the two original department stores, BHCP is anchored by the state's only three-story Wal-Mart
(in the old The Broadway building), Macy's
(in the old May Company structure), Sears, and an Albertson's supermarket. The mall contains an additional 115 retail and specialty shops on over 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land which is located in one of the most densely populated areas in the United States. BHCP also serves as a community center for the Baldwin Hills
and Crenshaw
communities. The mall maintains its cultural roots with a Museum of African Art located on the third level of Macy's.
On February 1, 2006, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza was purchased by Capri Capital Partners of Chicago
. In 2011, the mall is under renovation that is expected to be completed in November.
(formerly the Magic Johnson Theatre) opened. The renovation is expected to be completed in November 2011.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. When it opened in 1947, the retail hub was anchored by a The Broadway
The Broadway
The Broadway was a mid-level department store chain headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Founded in 1896 by English born Arthur Letts, Sr., who later went on to develop Holmby Hills, The Broadway became one of the dominant retailers in Southern California and the...
department store, a May Company
May Company
May Company may refer to several American businesses:*The May Department Stores Company, a defunct retail company acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2006**May Company California, a defunct California department store that merged with J. W...
department store, Woolworth
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
variety store, and Von's
Vons
Vons is a southern California and southern Nevada supermarket chain and a division of Safeway Inc. It is headquartered in Arcadia, California, and operates stores under the Vons and Pavilions banners.-Beginning:...
supermarket. It consisted of 550,000 square feet (51,000 m²) and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of parking.
The complex underwent a massive renovation, which got underway in the mid-1980s. Much of the original inline store space was razed. A two-level, fully enclosed mall structure was built, which was anchored by the existing The Broadway
The Broadway
The Broadway was a mid-level department store chain headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Founded in 1896 by English born Arthur Letts, Sr., who later went on to develop Holmby Hills, The Broadway became one of the dominant retailers in Southern California and the...
and May Company
May Company
May Company may refer to several American businesses:*The May Department Stores Company, a defunct retail company acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2006**May Company California, a defunct California department store that merged with J. W...
stores and included a new Sears as a third anchor. The shopping hub, now known as Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, was officially dedicated in November 1988. BHCP encompassed 850,000 square feet (79,000 m²).
After a series of rebrandings of the two original department stores, BHCP is anchored by the state's only three-story Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
(in the old The Broadway building), Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(in the old May Company structure), Sears, and an Albertson's supermarket. The mall contains an additional 115 retail and specialty shops on over 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land which is located in one of the most densely populated areas in the United States. BHCP also serves as a community center for the Baldwin Hills
Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California
Baldwin Hills is a community and neighborhood in the South Los Angeles area of Los Angeles, within southwestern Los Angeles County, California...
and Crenshaw
Crenshaw, Los Angeles, California
Crenshaw is a neighborhood and district in southwestern Los Angeles, California. It derives its name from Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the city's principal thoroughfares....
communities. The mall maintains its cultural roots with a Museum of African Art located on the third level of Macy's.
On February 1, 2006, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza was purchased by Capri Capital Partners of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 2011, the mall is under renovation that is expected to be completed in November.
Revitilization
In 2010, Capri Capital Partners announced that they will be redesigned the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, adding new interior embellishments, a modern food court, a redesigning on the BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW PLAZA bridge, new balcony rails, escalators, and new elevators. Recently a Rave Motion PicturesRave Motion Pictures
Rave Cinemas, formerly known as "Rave Motion Pictures," often called Rave and owned by Rave Cinemas, LLC, is a movie theater brand founded in 1999. It is formerly headed by Thomas W. Stephenson, Jr., former CEO of Hollywood Theaters, and currently headed by Rolando B. Rodriguez, former Vice...
(formerly the Magic Johnson Theatre) opened. The renovation is expected to be completed in November 2011.
Anchors
- May Company [1947-1993]/Robinsons-May [1993-2006]/Macy's [2006-] (263,600 square feet)
- The Broadway [1947-1996]/Macy's [1996-1999]/Wal-Mart [2003-] (213,100 square feet)
- Sears [1988-] (141,900 square feet)