My favorite thing about traveling is getting lost because it allows me to discover unexpected gemsfinding a hidden museum or stumbling upon a beautiful park in the middle of the city. Chances are, youve seen the inside of Gwinnett Place Mall, whether you know it or not. I have memories of going to Hawthorne Mall and especially the movie theater that was right across the street from the mall. Many of the merchants at Hawthorne Plaza are your neighbors and opened their shops as an alternative to the mainstream. Time is only making things worse; every year, these monuments to obsolescence decay further and play host to more shady activity. Hawthorne Plaza is an abandoned former shopping mall along Hawthorne Boulevard between 120th Street and El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne, California . The mall was open from 1977 to 1999, and during that time, it slowly succumbed to crime and a changing economy. [10], On December 15, 2022, mall owner Arman Gabaee was sentenced to four years in prison for bribing a Los Angeles County official in a scheme to sign a lucrative tenancy agreement for the abandoned mall.[11]. Watch: Exploring the Spooky Abandoned Hawthorne Mall [Curbed LA], Soak up the splendor of Jayne Mansfields Pink Palace. After issuing hundreds of administrative citations against the mall's owner, M&A Gabaee, LLC, the city's next step is apparently a nuisance abatement lawsuit. Truly, Metro North Mall no longer looks like a mall, but a creepy, bygone, haunted sanitarium. Intro music. Nice to hear about peoples fond memories of places like Hawthorne Plaza. As of 2021 the future developments have been put on an indefinite hold. The mall was designed as a tribute to Ancient Greek culture, as its name suggests. In 1992, the mall was heavily looted and damaged during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, but sales stayed consistent following the unrest briefly until the end of the decade. A real estate developer was sentenced to four years in federal prison Thursday, Dec. 15, for bribing a Los Angeles County official in exchange for steering the county to enter into a $45 million agreement to lease space at the derelict Hawthorne Plaza mall.. The southern section of the mall was demolished in 1998 and rebuilt as a strip mall, now featuring a supermarket, a pharmacy, and some small restaurants. We can cite him for unsightliness, trash, blight, homeless issues and stray cats. One of the suspects opened fire before they ran to a car and fled the scene. Why does LA have a mall based on the Babylon set from a 1916 epic? Richard . / KCAL News. Thats why its current decay is so haunting; a place deliberately alluding to ancient ruins is itself becoming one. We did everything we could to make this happen. The mall went further into decline in the 1980s and 1990s, due in part to the economic decline of the area after the cutbacks in aerospace jobs, white flight, and to competition from other shopping centers. In 1992, the mall was looted and damaged during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. But it only remained viable for about two decades, when a swift decline forced store closures and an upswing never materialized. Sign up for notifications from Insider! A beloved barber was slain in Hawthorne, leading to the city years later to call for the shopping center to be declared a nuisance in 2020. Paul "PJ'' Foster was killed last June 28. The Real-World Locations of 14 Sci-Fi Dystopias - Atlas Obscura Join Tom as he explores the Hawthorne Plaza; a mall that closed over 15 years but remains standing as a post modern cathedral to failed commerce. The Hawthorne Plaza Mall redevelopment is a project that is currently underway in the city of Hawthorne, California. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. Coupled with varying degrees of theft in the area, Rolling Acres gained a poor reputation. I have very fond memories of the Hawthorne mall in the 80s I would take my daughter there to get an Icee thats the only place she wanted to go for that!!. Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on our interpretation of available data and advice. He worked at En Effect barber shop and was described by friends at the time as a "gentle giant'' as well as a dedicated family man with two children. Now shes 38, married moved away and 2 children . Plans were for a movie theater, gym, bowling alley, and many shops, offices and homes. Its important to remember that while things may change over time, we can still hold onto the positive memories and experiences we had in the past. The stores also offer a variety of dining options, including fast food, casual dining, and fine dining. Hawthorne Plaza - Dead Mall [YouTube], 12730 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250, Soak up the splendor of Jayne Mansfields Pink Palace. The mall is part of the Centennial community. Hawthorne Plaza. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation. Hawthorne Plaza was part of the Hawthorne Plaza Redevelopment Project, approved in 1969, which called for the redevelopment of a 35-acre (14ha) plot of land. The Hawthorn Mall is part of the Centennial community. Abducted on his way home from Bennett-Kew Elementary School in Inglewood on May 24, 1990, William was found dead seven hours later in a Hawthorne . Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Will the ruins of San Pedros Sunken City finally open to the public? Neither Matthews nor a representative for him could be immediately reached for comment. The Hawthorne Mall is an abandoned shopping mall in Hawthorne, California. The decline continued in the 1980s and 1990s due to the economic downturn in the area after cutbacks in aerospace jobs, white flight, and competition from other shopping centers. BALTIMORE (WBFF) Two men have been arrested in the shooting of a 16-year-old at Middle River's Hawthorne Plaza shopping center in November.