The Magic Johnson Theatres at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, a longtime community fixture for many in South Los Angeles, closed on June 14.
"I am deeply saddened to learn of AMC's decision to close the Magic Johnson Theatre at Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Mall," Johnson said in a statement. "AMC purchased the Magic Johnson Theatres several years ago. This was my first (theater), so a piece of me will definitely close with it. I want to thank the community for their support and loyalty over the years. The (theater) has truly been the heartbeat of that community."
The theaters are expected to open up again under new operator and name by the end of the year, according to Ken Lombard, a partner and president of Capri Urban Investors LLC, owners of the mall.
"We are committed to bringing a first-class theater with all of the bells and whistles you would find in the newest theaters," Lombard said, adding that an announcement of a new operator is expected in coming weeks.
The plans are to have wide-ranging changes, including 3-D screens and stadium seating.
The closure and remodeling of the theater is part of the first phase in a $30 million renovation of the mall.
Plans include a new community room, concierge services, improved landscaping and more.
"The mall is a 30-plus-year-old mall," Lombard said. "The work will include everything including flooring ... lighting. There is some significant work that we're anticipating like bringing the food court up to today's standards."
New tenants are also being recruited, including Buffalo Wild Wings and a "signature restaurant" expected to set up shop next to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
"We want to do everything that we can to try to make the mall an attractive place for all types of tenants," Lombard said. "Part of the first step in being able to persuade them is to get through this refurbishment and start the conversations in a way that they are looking at an A-level mall as a possibility. There are a lot of tenants on our list that fall in the category of taking the existing tenant mix to a higher level."
Lombard estimates the renovation will generate between 1,000 to 2,000 jobs during the construction phase. More jobs should also be generated with the addition of more mall tenants, he added.
Because of agreements with the anchor tenants, renovations to the inside of the mall will not get underway until after the holiday season, he said.
The $30 million renovation is expected to be completed before the 2011 holiday season.
Capri has been working closely with the Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and city council offices on the project and has won support of Villaraigosa and City Councilman Bernard Parks.
"The plans to upgrade Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza represent a tremendous investment in the community at a time when it really counts," Parks said in press release. "I am thrilled that the team is not only making an immediate investment to boost the mall to Class-A status, but also continuing to move forward with their long-term plans to transform the mall into a community center for the Crenshaw District."
Cheryl Tyus, a hair stylist with Hair Architects, a venue in the mall, said she grew up in the area and remembers when the property was an outdoor shopping center that was home to Newberry's, Lindberg Nutrition and other businesses. Tyus said her mother opened a clothing boutique in the mall when it first opened. She called the proposed renovations "a wonderful thing."
"I think it's great. Now we just need to get the people to come in here and do what they need to do," Tyus said. "Not only are they going to have to renovate the mall, they are going to have to renovate the minds of the community as well. The people in the community were so used to going outside the community to shop, going west to Fox Hills, going to Nordstrom; it was hard to get them to come into the mall. But I think the renovations are great. We deserve it."
Chico C. Norwood is a writer for the L.A. Watts Times.
Graphic from L.A. Watts Times.
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