LOS ANGELES — Westfield Corp., a mixed-use developer based in Sydney, Australia, is opening its $1 billion redevelopment of Westfield Century City mall in the Century City district of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Westfield expects the open-air development to have the majority of its more than 200 shops and restaurants open for the event, including a new three-level Nordstrom.
The 1.3 million-square-foot development will also feature a remodeled, three-level Bloomingdale’s, a new two-level Macy’s and an Equinox fitness club and spa.
The center’s new and existing dining options include Bibigo, California Pizza Kitchen, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Everytable, Lifehouse Tonics + Elixirs, Panda Express, Randy’s Donuts, See’s Candies, Shake Shack, Wexler’s Deli and the West Coast’s first Eataly, an Italian market concept that will open later in the month. Eataly will feature multiple restaurants, food and beverage counters, retail items and cooking classes.
In addition to the department store anchors and existing AMC movie theater, new and existing retailers include Apple Store, Banana Republic, Disney Store, J. Crew, Kate Spade New York, Madewell, Microsoft, SUITSUPPLY, Tory Burch and Warby Parker.
Westfield’s in-house design studio worked with Los Angeles-based designer Kelly Wearstler to redesign the project’s outdoor plazas, landscaped terraces and events and entertainment spaces, including the 18,000-square-foot venue called the Atrium.
The shopping destination will also feature artwork from the Annenberg Center for Photography, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, ceramics sculptor Stan Bitters and “dango” sculptures (Japanese for “rounded form”) from Jun Kaneko.
Westfield Century City will include the first-ever Uber Lounge and multiple Uber stations to facilitate ride sharing to and from the project, as well as a Go Green Auto Spa.
Westfield has more than doubled the parking capacity at Westfield Century City and increased entry points from every direction. The center will include valet services and new smart parking and reserved parking services, which allow visitors to reserve spaces in advance.
Westfield’s charity partner for the grand opening is the Infinite Hero Foundation, a charity addressing the physical and mental health needs of returning servicemen and servicewomen.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Westfield’s co-CEOs, Peter and Steven Lowy, will be in attendance for the grand opening alongside community leaders, VIPs, local neighborhood residents, customers and representatives of Infinite Hero Foundation.
— John Nelson