Changes in Store for Fallbrook Mall

WEST HILLS —  To prepare for major changes at Fallbrook Mall, the fourth-largest shopping center in the San Fernando Valley, mall management is changing the mix of retailers and putting more vendors in carts or on short-term leases, a mall executive said recently.

“We’ve had a lot more temporary retailers,” explained Maggie Horn, regional vice president of marketing for the mall, which includes such bargain bastions as K mart, Mervyn’s and a JCPenney outlet store.

“There are more local Ma and Pa retailers.”

Without revealing details, Horn said changes are in store for the mall, which opened in 1966. She said the shorter-term leases give the mall more flexibility to enact those changes.

“We’re looking at the direction of the property,” Horn said. “We’re looking at making some changes here. Shopping centers do that all the time.”

Horn said there currently are no plans to sell or close the mall, adding: “It’s a very profitable center for the company. Our plans are going to make it even better.”

She said increasing the number of temporary leases, which can run from two to 10 years, could allow the mall to bring in a large-space retailer. She said that was one option the mall’s management was considering.

She said the mall also plans to add a deli-style restaurant and a grill to take over space vacated by an Olive Garden and a Mexican restaurant.

Sales at the mall were up an estimated 5% for most of 1998 compared with 1997, Horn said, adding that she expects that trend held for December. “It was better than what we had expected.”

She said that given changes in the mix of stores in the mall, the management had anticipated that “Things were going to be a little flatter.” Instead, Horn said, “We ended a very successful year, financially. It exceeded our expectations.

“We’re looking for more exciting additions in 1999.”