The owners of Jillian’s have scrapped plans for a 65,000-square-foot entertainment megaplex in Westfield’s Shoppingtown Promenade, sending the mall’s management back to the drawing board in its effort to revive the shopping center. The Jillian’s decision leaves the lower level of the Woodland Hills shopping center without what it expected to be its largest tenant, one that would have occupied more than twice the square footage of the other businesses set to move into the mall. Although Westfield executives expressed confidence that they would soon find a replacement for Jillian’s, they concede that the company’s decision to abandon its plans is a setback. “We are very disappointed over the loss of Jillian’s,” said Karla Hubbell, general manager for Westfield’s Shoppingtown Promenade. “When I go out to the customer service area, most of the customers express a great deal of sadness over the loss.” Hubbell added that the mall’s leasing agents are entertaining a number of alternatives and negotiations are underway, but she said that the talks have not progressed far enough to discuss the possibilities publicly. One alternative rumored to be on the table is a day spa, a business that most merchants thought would fit especially well with the customer base the mall seeks to attract. The Promenade mall has struggled for years to carve a niche in the West San Fernando Valley. Under previous owners, tony retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and dozens of smaller specialty shops have come and gone. Even the opening of a state-of-the-art AMC Theatres multiplex in the mid-1990s, while successfully drawing movie traffic, has failed to boost sales for most of the surrounding shopkeepers. About two and a half years ago, the owners of the neighboring Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga acquired the Promenade mall and set to work to develop a new strategy for the complex. Their solution was to turn the lower level of the 600,000-square-foot shopping center into a destination packed with restaurants, nightlife and other forms of entertainment. Last year, Westfield signed deals with Maggiano’s, a family-oriented Italian restaurant; Corner Bakery, a cafe serving coffees and pastries; and Barnes & Noble bookstore. Those businesses are set to open this summer. But the centerpiece of the remodeling effort was to have been Jillian’s, a huge complex including bars, discos, restaurants, a video-game room and a state-of-the-art bowling alley where players could compete with bowlers in other cities in real time with the help of high-tech projection equipment. Louisville, Ky.-based Jillian’s Entertainment Corp. has opened nearly 40 such complexes throughout the United States since the company was founded in 1988. The Woodland Hills unit was to have been the privately-held company’s first, full-scale Jillian’s in the Los Angeles area, although a scaled-down version of about 25,000 square feet with no live music or dancing opened last year in Universal City. Jillian’s officials did not return numerous phone calls seeking comment on their decision. However, a Westfield spokeswoman said it was related to a conditional use permit which Jillian’s considered unacceptable. Others close to the deal explained that the city of Los Angeles requires establishments serving alcohol to undergo a review once the business is up and running, a stipulation Jillian’s was not willing to accept. Tim Smith, a spokesman for Brinker International, which owns Maggiano’s and Corner Bakery, said the Jillian’s decision would have no effect on their planned opening. Barnes & Noble officials did not return calls. Some merchants had wondered since the deal was announced whether an establishment like Jillian’s would do much to help their sales. They reasoned that the young crowd Jillian’s would attract was unlikely to shop at many of the mall’s upscale home furnishings and gift stores. “They’re not bringing shoppers,” said Suzie Nathanson, manager of A Paris Apartment. “They’re just bringing people.” Others, however, reasoned that many Jillian’s visitors would turn out to be shoppers, if not on the same visit to the mall, in subsequent ones. “I’m a little disappointed,” said Jenn Harshfield, manager of Z Gallerie, an upscale home furnishings store which recently moved from the lower level of the mall to the second floor in anticipation of the remodeling. “I was hoping it would bring us business.” Gideon Ashoori, owner of jewelry retailer Gideon’s, had expected Jillian’s to boost sales during evening hours, but added that he would prefer to see the mall bring in more retailers. “The people who shop at this mall like the atmosphere,” Ashoori said. “I’m sure they wish there were more stores, but they’re very loyal customers and they keep coming back.”
