FACE-LIFT SPRUCES VALLEY'S OLD MALL.Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer PANORAMA CITY It's been a long time since the Panorama Mall passed for chic, but the Valley's oldest mall is returning to its swanky swank·y adj. swank·i·er, swank·i·est Swank. swank  i·ly adv.swank former self. Its old, wooden parquet floor has been ripped out and replaced with more modern tile. The Macerich Co., which bought the mall in 1979, has brightened the interior and dumped $1 million into making it over. In coming months, it will spend again to fix up the old roof and rework re·work tr.v. re·worked, re·work·ing, re·works 1. To work over again; revise. 2. To subject to a repeated or new process. n. the weathered exterior. While the monetary amount pales in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to open the new Simi Valley Town Center Simi Valley Town Center is a shopping center located in Simi Valley, California. The mall opened in 2005 with Macy's and Robinsons-May as anchor stores. The Robinsons-May store was converted into a Macy's Men and Home Store on September 9, 2006. or to renovate Westfield Topanga Westfield Topanga, formerly known as the Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga and more commonly known to locals as the Topanga Mall or Topanga Plaza, is a two-story shopping mall consisting of 230 tenants spread across three sections. , it's had an immediate effect in brightening up what was for years a dark, uninviting place. ``This company believes in this community and knows that it will get its investment back,'' said Chris Facas, vice president of property management for the Santa Monica-based Macerich. ``It's a huge investment, but it's just a start for what we're going to do in the next few years.'' The mall, which began as an upscale center anchored by a Broadway department store in the early 1950s, fell out of vogue long ago as its high- toned tenants pulled out. But what it lacked in panache, it made up for with numbers. Largely because of its two-story Wal-Mart and Latino-oriented electronics and home appliance retailer La Curacao, the mall still draws 7 million shoppers a year. It logs $400 in sales per square foot, a respectable number in Southern California's competitive retail scene. ``The changes in the mall look tremendous, symbolic of what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. in the surrounding community,'' said Councilman Alex Padilla Alex Padilla is a politician in California. He was elected as the State Senator for the 20th District of California in November 2006 and was inaugurated in early December. In order to enter the Senate he had to resign as Councilman for the 7th District on the Los Angeles City , who represents the area and cruised the mall with buddies as a teen. ``This reminds us of what we've become and where we've come from. The Panorama Mall holds a special place in our hearts.'' With the cosmetic improvements, which also include new tables and chairs to make the space more welcoming to residents, Macerich hopes to lure new tenants to round out its mix of national names and independent stores. ``I like what they've done,'' Roberto Torres Roberto Torres is a Cuban musician. He is considered to be one of the highest authorities in the history of the Cuban music. His singing career with Sonora Matancera puts him at the peaks and among the top singers of Cuba of all times. , a 26-year-old construction worker who lives nearby, said in Spanish. ``There's more people, it's more entertaining. If it looks better, more people will come now.'' Brent Hopkins, (818) 713-3738 brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3 -- color) Panorama Mall, top, in Panorama City has been undergoing changes, including the addition of this skylight skylight Roof opening covered with translucent or transparent glass or plastic designed to admit daylight. Skylights have found wide application admitting steady, even light in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, especially those with a northern orientation. , above, and tiles replacing the parquet wood floor, left. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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