Puente Hills Mall
Encyclopedia
Puente Hills Mall, located in the City of Industry, California, United States, is a major regional shopping center in the San Gabriel Valley
region of Los Angeles County. It is most famous for serving as the filming site for the Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall for Back to the Future
.
Associates. Two anchors departed in 1996, The Broadway
(at the time purchased by Macy's
) and JCPenney
. At the time of JCPenney's departure, the mall had about a 50% occupancy. http://retailtrafficmag.com/mag/retail_puente_hills_comeback/ The mall was extensively renovated afterwards and now features a 20-screen AMC Theatres
multiplex, and stores traditionally found in power centers such as 24 Hour Fitness and Burlington Coat Factory
, in addition to the remaining two original anchors, Macy's
(formerly Robinsons-May
) and Sears
. It also includes popular stores such as Forever 21
, Hollister
, Old Navy
, Hot Topic
, Zumiez
, Aéropostale
and Pac Sun. On August 28, 2010, the Japanese sports entertainment chain Round1 opened Round1 Bowling & Amusement, a state-of-the-art video game arcade and bowling alley with karaoke rooms, as a new anchor to Puente Hills Mall, marking the Japanese company's first store overseas. The newest addition to the mall, Toys R Us, opened its doors in June 2011.
Today the mall is almost fully occupied and is the regional hub of a shopping and entertainment district that includes restaurants, auto dealerships, big-box stores, and a go-kart track.
The center of the mall previously featured a large cubed water fountain, then a merry-go-round attraction built in 1990, but it was later removed by the mall's owners, Krausz Companies, as they were losing money in its operation. An East Asian-style koi pond
replaced the carousel, but was removed as of 2006. The koi were moved to Sycamore Lake at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. The mall underwent a full makeover in 2007, shortly after the removal of the koi pond.
Due to the large and influential Asian immigrant populations residing and/or operating businesses in nearby areas (notably in Industry, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar), past owners of the mall redesigned some elements of Puente Hills Mall in order to conform to feng shui
principles.
There are also outlets of the Filipino chain restaurants Max's of Manila, Jolibee, and Chow King in the mall, designed to attract the large Filipino-American population in the Rowland Heights, Walnut, and West Covina areas. Puente Hills Mall also caters to a large Latino population that primarily reside in the La Puente, El Monte, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar and West Covina areas.
. In the film, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd
) uses the mall's south parking lot (visible in the above photograph) to stage his time travel experiments with the DeLorean time machine
. A JCPenney store (later 24 Hour Fitness, Linens 'n Things, and currently Burlington Coat Factory) and Robinson's (later Robinson's-May and now Macy's) features prominently in the background. A Ross Dress For Less store can be seen in a strip mall across the street; this store eventually relocated to the mall. The scenes were filmed in January 1985. According to the DVD
audio commentary
, screenplay writer Bob Gale
says that several fans gathered at the Puente Hills Mall in the early hours of October 26, 1985, the date given in the film as the present day
, to see if anything would happen.
, a 2007 American comedy featuring Alan Rickman, Mary Steenburgen, Bryan Greenberg and Danny DeVito was filmed at Puente Hills Mall in 2005.
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
region of Los Angeles County. It is most famous for serving as the filming site for the Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall for Back to the Future
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
.
History
Puente Hills Mall was built in 1974 after the completion of the Pomona Freeway a few years earlier. It opened with four primary anchors in a cross-shaped design by architecture firm Victor GruenVictor Gruen
Victor David Gruen, born Viktor David Grünbaum , was an Austrian-born commercial architect best known as a pioneer in the design of shopping malls in the United States.- Biography :...
Associates. Two anchors departed in 1996, 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...
(at the time purchased by 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...
) and JCPenney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
. At the time of JCPenney's departure, the mall had about a 50% occupancy. http://retailtrafficmag.com/mag/retail_puente_hills_comeback/ The mall was extensively renovated afterwards and now features a 20-screen AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres , officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens, second only to Regal Entertainment Group, and one of the United States's four national cinema chains AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as...
multiplex, and stores traditionally found in power centers such as 24 Hour Fitness and Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
, in addition to the remaining two original anchors, 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...
(formerly Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California...
) and Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
. It also includes popular stores such as Forever 21
Forever 21
Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers with branches in major cities in The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that offers fashion and accessories for young women and men....
, Hollister
Hollister Co.
Hollister Co., sometimes advertised as Hollister or HCo., is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. The concept was originally designed to attract consumers aged 14–18 through its SoCal-inspired image and casual wear. Goods are available in-store and through the company's online store...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
, Zumiez
Zumiez
Zumiez is a mall-based, specialty apparel store founded by Tom Campion and Gary Haakenson in 1978, and publicly traded since 2005. "Offering gear and clothing for the skater, snowboarder, and surfer," Zumiez sells action-sports related clothing and has created an image based around action sports...
, Aéropostale
Aéropostale (clothing)
Aéropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14-to-17-year-old young women and men through its Aéropostale stores and 7-to-12-year-old kids through its P.S. from Aéropostale stores...
and Pac Sun. On August 28, 2010, the Japanese sports entertainment chain Round1 opened Round1 Bowling & Amusement, a state-of-the-art video game arcade and bowling alley with karaoke rooms, as a new anchor to Puente Hills Mall, marking the Japanese company's first store overseas. The newest addition to the mall, Toys R Us, opened its doors in June 2011.
Today the mall is almost fully occupied and is the regional hub of a shopping and entertainment district that includes restaurants, auto dealerships, big-box stores, and a go-kart track.
The center of the mall previously featured a large cubed water fountain, then a merry-go-round attraction built in 1990, but it was later removed by the mall's owners, Krausz Companies, as they were losing money in its operation. An East Asian-style koi pond
Koi pond
Koi ponds are ponds used for holding koi, usually as part of a landscape. Koi ponds can be designed specifically to promote health and growth of the Nishkigoi or Japanese Ornamental Carp....
replaced the carousel, but was removed as of 2006. The koi were moved to Sycamore Lake at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. The mall underwent a full makeover in 2007, shortly after the removal of the koi pond.
Due to the large and influential Asian immigrant populations residing and/or operating businesses in nearby areas (notably in Industry, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar), past owners of the mall redesigned some elements of Puente Hills Mall in order to conform to feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
principles.
There are also outlets of the Filipino chain restaurants Max's of Manila, Jolibee, and Chow King in the mall, designed to attract the large Filipino-American population in the Rowland Heights, Walnut, and West Covina areas. Puente Hills Mall also caters to a large Latino population that primarily reside in the La Puente, El Monte, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar and West Covina areas.
Back to the Future
Puente Hills Mall served as a filming location for the fictional Twin Pines Mall (later Lone Pine Mall) in the 1985 film Back to the FutureBack to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
. In the film, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Allen Lloyd is an American actor. He is best known for playing Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, and Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He played Reverend Jim Ignatowski in the television series Taxi and more...
) uses the mall's south parking lot (visible in the above photograph) to stage his time travel experiments with the DeLorean time machine
DeLorean time machine
The DeLorean time machine is a fictional automobile-based time travel device featured in the Back to the Future trilogy. In the feature film series, Dr...
. A JCPenney store (later 24 Hour Fitness, Linens 'n Things, and currently Burlington Coat Factory) and Robinson's (later Robinson's-May and now Macy's) features prominently in the background. A Ross Dress For Less store can be seen in a strip mall across the street; this store eventually relocated to the mall. The scenes were filmed in January 1985. According to the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
audio commentary
Audio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
, screenplay writer Bob Gale
Bob Gale
Michael Robert "Bob" Gale is an American screenwriter who co-wrote the science fiction film Back to the Future with writing partner Robert Zemeckis, and the screenplays for the film's two sequels. Gale also co-produced all three films....
says that several fans gathered at the Puente Hills Mall in the early hours of October 26, 1985, the date given in the film as the present day
Present day
The term "present day" is used to describe the approximate period of time that surrounds the present. Depending on the context, this period may be as narrow as referring to the immediate moment, or as broad as referring to the current year or decade...
, to see if anything would happen.
Nobel Son
Nobel SonNobel Son
Nobel Son is a 2007 American black comedy about a dysfunctional family dealing with the kidnapping of their son for ransom following the father's winning of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry...
, a 2007 American comedy featuring Alan Rickman, Mary Steenburgen, Bryan Greenberg and Danny DeVito was filmed at Puente Hills Mall in 2005.
Anchors
- AMC 20 85000 square feet (7,896.8 m²), formerly The BroadwayThe BroadwayThe 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...
- Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
82000 square feet (7,618 m²), formerly JCPenney - Forever 21Forever 21Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers with branches in major cities in The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that offers fashion and accessories for young women and men....
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy'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...
152000 square feet (14,121.3 m²), formerly Robinsons-May - Ross Dress For Less, formerly JCPenney
- Round1 Bowling & Amusement 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) (:ja:ラウンドワン)
- Sears 196165 square feet (18,224.3 m²)
Former Anchors
- Robinsons-MayRobinsons-MayRobinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California...
(converted to Macy's in 2006) - JCPenneyJ. C. Penney-External links:*...
(closed 1996, replaced by 24-Hour Fitness, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross Dress for Less, and Linens 'N Things/Round1 Bowling & Amusement) - Linens 'n ThingsLinens 'n ThingsLinens 'n Things is an online retailer of home textiles, housewares and decorative home accessories. Until 2008, the company also did business as a big box retailer under the name Linens 'n Things, Inc., headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey, United States, and did business across the United States...
(closed 2008 due to entire chain liquidation, replaced by Round1 Bowling & Amusement in 2010) - The BroadwayThe BroadwayThe 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...
(closed 1996, and expand to the larger theater space and became AMC Theaters)