JILLIAN'S JILTS PROMENADE PLANS FOR ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM FIZZLE.Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Staff Writer WOODLAND HILLS - Jillian's Entertainment Holdings Inc. won't be rocking the mall at Westfield Shoppingtown Promenade. The Louisville, Ky.-based company has scotched plans to open a 65,000- square-foot entertainment emporium in the Woodland Hills mall Woodland Hills Mall is one of Oklahoma's largest shopping malls. It features several national as well as local chains. Anchors
It's a setback for the mall's remake re·make tr.v. re·made , re·mak·ing, re·makes To make again or anew. n. 1. The act of remaking. 2. Something in remade form, especially a new version of an earlier movie or song. into an entertainment and shopping destination, a project that is well under way. The company, which operates Jillian's Hi-Life Lanes at Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is a part of Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan originating from Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood. , had big plans for the Promenade. That facility would have been the chain's largest in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, and included a bowling alley, a Sports Video Cafe and Bar, 9 Ball Lounge, dance club and 40,000-square-foot game center. When those plans were announced in the summer Jillian's President Dan Smith boasted the facility would be the anchor of the renovated mall, which also features a Macy's and AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) See AdvancedTCA. movie multiplex See multiplexing. . ``There was a condition in the conditional use permit that was unacceptable to Jillian's and as a result they felt unable to go forward,'' said Catharine Dickey, vice president of Los Angeles-based Westfield America Corp. She declined to offer specifics of the dispute. A Jillian's official also declined to elaborate, saying only that the company had a problem with a city policy. The South Valley Area Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle approved the project a few months ago but required that the operating permit be reviewed after the business had been in operation for a while. However, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the Woodland Hills area, Jillian's and Westfield objected to any additional review. Chick maintained that the city had tight enough control over the business under terms of Jillian's conditional use permit. ``I was very disappointed that the commission did not agree with my recommendation that the project didn't need another review process in a year or a year and a half,'' Chick said Wednesday. Jillian's could also have appealed the commission ruling but did not. Chick said she was disappointed in the outcome. ``I felt very strongly that this was the kind of facility the Valley needs, a place that offers entertainment, sports and a restaurant for the entire family,'' she said. Westfield is now trying to fill the hole Jillian's exit leaves. Dickey said that Barnes & Noble, Maggiano's - an Italian restaurant - and the Corner Bakery are still in the mix. It may take more than one business to replace Jillian's but Westfield is not overly concerned about the slowing economy complicating com·pli·cate tr. & intr.v. com·pli·cat·ed, com·pli·cat·ing, com·pli·cates 1. To make or become complex or perplexing. 2. To twist or become twisted together. adj. 1. the issue. ``We're always looking at the economy but it's an excellent location. We're talking with several groups right now and there are options out there,'' she said. Westfield is also searching for a tenant for Topanga Plaza, where Montgomery Ward is closing in the coming weeks. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Construction is under way on several new stores at Westfield Shoppingtown Promenade in Woodland Hills, which received a blow when plans for an entertainment emporium fell through. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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