On February 10, 1964, Westfield Topanga, known as Topanga Plaza at the time, opened its doors to become the first enclosed shopping center west of the Mississippi River. ‘The News’ described the new center as “an entirely covered mall which is completely air-conditioned for year-round spring time with a complete range of shopping facilities all contained in one unified building complex arranged around this centrally enclosed two-story promenade.” This state-of-the-art shopping center, owned by West Valley Partnership, boasted 83 stores and was anchored by May Company, Broadway and Montgomery Ward Department stores. Two of the original stores remain to this day: See’s Candies and Lane Bryant.
In addition to these shops, Topanga Plaza featured the Topanga Plaza Ice Arena and a falling glycerin “fountain,” making Topanga Plaza the place for entertainment in the West San Fernando Valley. Many of Westfield Topanga’s shoppers fondly recall these two features from the 1960’s and 70’s. The center was expanded with a new Nordstrom in 1983 and a modern food court replaced the ice arena. The center received a renovation in 1992 and again in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake. Acquired by Westfield in 1993, Topanga Plaza became Westfield Topanga.
On February 17, 2005, nearly 41 years after the original opening, Westfield held an official ground breaking, announcing the new ‘Westfield Topanga’ and its newest features, including a new Nordstrom, a two-level Target, 100 new small shops and, in 2008, a new Neiman Marcus. The Westfield ground breaking ceremony featured District 3 Councilman, Dennis P. Zine as a speaker and presented $20,000 in corporate gifts to the nearby El Camino Real High School and the Valley Cultural Center. The celebration concluded with a “bang” as part of the old Westfield Topanga building was demolished to make way for the new center.
On February 10, 1964, Westfield Topanga, known as Topanga Plaza at the time, opened its doors to become the first enclosed shopping center west of the Mississippi River. ‘The News’ described the new center as “an entirely covered mall which is completely air-conditioned for year-round spring time with a complete range of shopping facilities all contained in one unified building complex arranged around this centrally enclosed two-story promenade.” This state-of-the-art shopping center, owned by West Valley Partnership, boasted 83 stores and was anchored by May Company, Broadway and Montgomery Ward Department stores. Two of the original stores remain to this day: See’s Candies and Lane Bryant.
In addition to these shops, Topanga Plaza featured the Topanga Plaza Ice Arena and a falling glycerin “fountain,” making Topanga Plaza the place for entertainment in the West San Fernando Valley. Many of Westfield Topanga’s shoppers fondly recall these two features from the 1960’s and 70’s. The center was expanded with a new Nordstrom in 1983 and a modern food court replaced the ice arena. The center received a renovation in 1992 and again in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake. Acquired by Westfield in 1993, Topanga Plaza became Westfield Topanga.
On February 17, 2005, nearly 41 years after the original opening, Westfield held an official ground breaking, announcing the new ‘Westfield Topanga’ and its newest features, including a new Nordstrom, a two-level Target, 100 new small shops and, in 2008, a new Neiman Marcus. The Westfield ground breaking ceremony featured District 3 Councilman, Dennis P. Zine as a speaker and presented $20,000 in corporate gifts to the nearby El Camino Real High School and the Valley Cultural Center. The celebration concluded with a “bang” as part of the old Westfield Topanga building was demolished to make way for the new center.
