Westfield Century City Turns Into a Ghost Mall for 2016

Westfield Century City's $800 million remake is underway -- but for now, that means it's looking like a ghost mall. Most retail and restaurants have now closed, with the exception of the food court and AMC movie theater, and some retail around it.

The LA Times summed up the new look last fall:

The overhaul comes after a major renovation just a decade ago, underscoring the challenge of keeping pace with the revolution in retail.

When the work is completed in 2017, Westfield will have spent about $1 billion on improvements since acquiring the mall in 2002, estimated Peter Lowy, co-chief executive of Westfield Corp.

The project will transform and expand the luxury property with new shops and a heavy emphasis on restaurants — largely in an outdoor setting intended to embody the Southern California lifestyle.

The transformation into a so-called lifestyle center — a concept popularized in Los Angeles at the Grove — will include the addition of a Nordstrom department store that is moving from rival Westside Pavilion, and the first California branch of Eataly, a fashionable gourmet Italian food emporium co-owned by celebrity chef Mario Batali.

The latest restaurant to depart: BJ's, which joins Pink Taco, Seasons 52 and The Counter in leaving. Macy's is now closed, as are most shops on the East end of the mall.