The Hawthorne Plaza mall, a South Bay landmark closed longer than it was open, is finally being demolished. Dump trucks recently signaled the start of work on the sprawling property on Hawthorne Boulevard. It closed in 1999, 22 years after its 1977 opening, leaving it abandoned and eerily preserved for decades.
Hawthorne Plaza once promised "luxury" to the South Bay, anchored by JCPenney, The Broadway, and Montgomery Ward, with numerous shops and a movie theater. It aimed to boost Hawthorne's downtown but faced fierce competition. By the early 1990s, its storefronts dwindled; officials blamed layoffs at Northrop Grumman Corp. Failed efforts like a light-rail line or open-air plaza could not reverse its fortunes.
After its shuttering, the mall became an accidental celebrity, a backdrop for urban explorers, music videos by Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, and films like Steven Spielberg’s "Minority Report" and "The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift." Despite this notoriety, neighbors increasingly complained about blight. Francisco Diaz, 72, described it as "like a landfill," attracting dumped furniture, graffiti, and skateboarders.
The city of Hawthorne actively pushed for action against property owners Charles Co. and affiliate M&A Gabaee. A 2021 city lawsuit alleged health and safety violations. In 2022, Charles Co. co-founder Arman Gabaee was sentenced for bribing a Los Angeles County official. By 2025, Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety commissioners declared the plaza a nuisance, citing "years of inaction by the property owners," per a city news release. A permanent court injunction mandates redevelopment or demolition by August 14.
For longtime residents, the demolition elicits a mix of relief and nostalgia. Ervin Gomez, 53, recalling dates and outings in his youth, exclaimed "Al fin, al fin!" (Finally!) upon seeing the trucks. Audrey Lopez, 61, while acknowledging the building’s current state, said "I miss it," remembering the mall as a "gathering place" for friends.
Demolition will occur in five phases. The future of the prime site, at Hawthorne and El Segundo boulevards, remains uncertain. However, Hawthorne has seen recent economic revival from SpaceX and Inglewood developments. Its redevelopment is considered critical for the city’s downtown, potentially following a trend of converting old malls into housing, similar to plans for the former Westminster Mall.