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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Glendale Galleria Aims Upscale with Bloomingdale’s

Big changes are coming to the Glendale Galleria. The shopping center, which draws about 26 million shoppers per year, will be undergoing a redesign this year that will include the addition of a new 120,000 square-foot Bloomingdale’s department store. The retailer announced the addition of its new Glendale location in November, making it the second location in the Valley area. Mall officials said there are plans for a new flagship retailer and restaurant to flank the main entrance to the center, though they declined to name the new tenants. With a new anchor, Glendale Galleria plans to add new upscale retailers to its roster of tenants, which currently includes some 250 stores. Mall officials already have started to relocate existing tenants that are currently situated near the future Bloomingdale’s in hopes of finding new tenants that will complement the department store. “We want to clearly upgrade the use (of the space),” said Senior General Manager Larry Martin. The redesign also will include extensive interior and exterior cosmetic changes, giving the shopping center a more modern look, Martin said. Construction is expected to start soon, and the project is slated for completion in fall 2013. The shopping center, a mainstay in the Valley for nearly 40 years, was last renovated in 1997. The mall’s interior features exposed brick accents, gold guardrails and older flooring — a dated look, Martin said. After the revamp, the mall will feature enhanced lighting, stainless steel facades, chandeliers and marble and granite accents. Exterior changes include remodeled parking structures, new signage and graphics around the perimeter of the mall, providing better visibility for pedestrians and drivers. A new nine-foot sign will replace the old Glendale Galleria entrance signage with water features added. Reworking of the mall’s main entrance is a key component to the renovation, Martin said. It will act as a connector between the Galleria and the upscale lifestyle center Americana at Brand, located next door. While many speculated the 2008 opening of Americana at Brand would be a blow to the mall’s traffic flow and activity, Martin said the two centers maintain a “symbiotic” relationship. The Americana has only helped in generate more traffic to the Galleria, he said. Indeed, the new renovations will only help propel the mall to new heights, Martin said. “All we can do is get a lot better,” he said.

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