If you're like us, you rarely, if ever, set foot inside the Beverly Center. The block-sized shopping center comes from an era (i.e. the 1980s) when gargantuan, self-contained malls were a totally rad place to spend time. But these days, even in spite of a mix of budget-friendly department stores and high-end boutiques, that type of sealed-off structure has lost momentum to open-air destinations like the Grove and the Third Street Promenade.
The developer behind the Beverly Center is attempting to turn that around with a little bit of sunshine and a lot of cash. The shopping center is embarking on a $500 million renovation, according to the LA Times. Owner Taubman Centers will be adding skylights and a perforated facade to the eight-story mall, alongside an outdoor dining area, nine new restaurants and a food hall curated by chef Michael Mina. Dubbed "the Street," the food hall is slated to include between 15 and 18 high-end eateries, as well as a full-fledged restaurant from Mina on the ground floor.
Photograph: Courtesy Beverly Center
The renovations, overseen by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas, will begin this month and are slated to wrap up by November 2018. The mall will remain open throughout construction.
The Beverly Center certainly isn't alone when it comes to shopping malls scrambling to stay relevant (see: Santa Monica Place, Westfield Century City). But that corner of Beverly and La Cienega is so opaque and unappealing—we dubbed the lifeless monolith one of LA's ugliest buildings—that it faces an especially steep climb to win back Angelenos' affections.
While we'll wait to pass judgment on the redesign, it's hard not to feel let down, especially when considering the dramatic transformation of the Downtown Macy's brick fortress into the potentially neighborhood-anchoring the Bloc. Even with the proposed renovations, the Beverly Center seems like it'll still be the hulking, austere home of Prada, a heliport and an active oil derrick.
Photograph: Courtesy Beverly Center
Photograph: Courtesy Beverly Center
Photograph: Courtesy Beverly Center
