The Quad at Whittier

The Quad at Whittier
Side Entrance of the Quad
Map
LocationWhittier, California, USA
Coordinates33°57′39″N 118°1′56″W / 33.96083°N 118.03222°W / 33.96083; -118.03222
AddressCnr SEC Whittier Blvd. & Painter Avenue
Opening date1953
OwnerTerramar Retail Centers
No. of anchor tenants7
Total retail floor area432,596 sq ft
WebsiteThe Quad at Whittier
The front corner of the Quad in Whittier, CA

The Quad at Whittier is a shopping mall in Whittier, California.

History

It was built in 1953[1] and expanded in 1965 with the addition of a 3-story, 248,000-square-foot May Company California department store.[2] Arcadia-based Hinshaw's and Pasadena-based Nash's were other major tenants.[3]

The center began to seriously struggle in 1986 after May Company closed, though it had not been a solid performer beforehand. Without May, merchants struggled due to poor visibility as commercial centers on Whittier Boulevard siphoned off traffic.[4] A minor renovation including new landscaping and the demolition of a small portion of the center had begun by March 1987.[5] The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake collapsed the parking garage in front of the May building, leading to its demolition.[6] At the urging of the city of Whittier, which was anxious to replace lost tax revenue, Schurgin Corporation acquired the Quad property in 1988 from Golden West Properties; Schurgin planned to demolish the entire center except for Hinshaw's, which would reduce its footprint.[7] Hinshaw's, the only store not affected by the earthquake, closed in 1992.[8]

Present day

The current shopping center includes[9] in the old Hinshaw's), Michael's, Old Navy, Rubi's, Ross Dress for Less, Staples, Rite Aid (formerly Thrifty Drugs), Vallarta Supermarkets (formerly Ralphs), Olive Garden, Chili's, and TJ Maxx.[10]

References

  1. ^ "WHITTIER QUAD Offers Variety". Los Angeles Times. March 11, 1976. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  2. ^ "May Co Opens Store In Whittier Tomorrow". The Los Angeles Times. August 1, 1965. p. 118. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "Fourth Nash Store Opens at Whittier on Friday". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1954. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  4. ^ "New Guidelines Adopted to Help Boost Struggling Mall". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 3, 1988. p. IX:2. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Whittier Quad to Be Remodeled". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 15, 1987. p. VIII:13. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Elliott, Charles (December 17, 1987). "15,000 tons: May Co. parking recycled for roads". East Review. Whittier, California. p. A5. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Marrs, Valerie (September 29, 1988). "Quake hurls Uptown Whittier revamp toward 21st century". East Review. Whittier, California. pp. B3, B5. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Heck, Marilyn (January 8, 1992). "Hinshaw's Stays in Arcadia, but Whittier Site to Close". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Just a few years after the earthquake, the remains of the popular May.Co. were transferred to Whittier Boulevard which runs on the north side, and Ocean View Avenune north-south, on the southeastern corner to become a popular medical plaza.
  9. ^ California development projects retailtrafficmag.com [dead link‍]
  10. ^ Property information terramarcenters.com [dead link‍]