Plan for Office Space in Galleria Advances

SHERMAN OAKS — The Sherman Oaks Galleria, the shopping mall enshrined in San Fernando Valley lore as the second home to “Valley girls,” is headed for a major make-over that will transform most of the flagging retail center into office space.

With the qualified support of a local homeowners group and ringing praise from five council members who represent chunks of the Valley, the City Council voted Tuesday to tentatively approve a developer’s plans for a movie theater, restaurants and up to 630,000 square feet of offices at the landmark mall, which is now more than 60% vacant.

By a vote of 10 to 0, the council gave preliminary approval to the project.

Two years after it opened, the Galleria enjoyed a profitable boost to the status of pop culture icon when Moon Unit Zappa, daughter of the late musician Frank Zappa, immortalized the mall in the 1982 song “Valley Girl.” A movie by the same name followed, bringing the shopping center a 30% increase in foot traffic.