Businesses in West Los Angeles are experiencing significant hardship due to the prolonged closure and redevelopment of the former Westside Pavilion mall. The once-vibrant commercial hub, which closed in 2019, has left a "big vacuum" for local enterprises, according to community leaders.
"We're saying please, please, please because our businesses are dying," said Terri Tippit, chair of the Westside Neighborhood Council and a long-time resident. "We need to have a vibrant business district in order for the residential district to survive too."
The Westside Pavilion, known for its appearances in popular culture like the movie "Clueless" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" music video, began a decline in the 2000s. An initial redevelopment plan aimed to transform the mall into a tech hub called One Westside, with Google headlining the project. However, the pandemic halted these plans, as Google ultimately decided against returning employees to the office.
The adjacent Westside Tavern and Landmark Theater, which were intended to remain operational, eventually closed, largely due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In 2024, UCLA purchased the property to establish the UCLA Research Park. While construction is ongoing, the university has not provided a definitive opening date. Neighbors have been informed of initial occupancy by 2028, with full completion anticipated by 2035. Lisa Morocco, business chair on the Westside Neighborhood Council, acknowledged that the delays are partly due to municipal permitting processes.
"It's not UCLA's fault that they're not here yet," Morocco said. "It's just that they have to go through the process and the permitting of the city, and the city moves in strange and mysterious ways."
The 700,000-square-foot UCLA Research Park is designed to house academic, public, and industrial inventors. Morocco expressed optimism about the project's long-term benefits, stating, "I think honestly, when we look back in five years, we're going to be super proud that we're home to the Research Park."
The mall originally opened in 1985 as an open-air structure by Australia's Westfield Group. It later changed ownership to Macerich before the planned Google development.
Businesses along Pico Boulevard near the former mall have reported significant losses. Morocco urged the community to support local establishments during this interim period. "The Shop Local concept isn't just a cute idea, it's a lifeline now. Go out to a meal. Buy something. Walk the street, even just have some activity," she advised.
Tippit believes that UCLA's presence will ultimately be a positive force for the community, stating, "I think the experience that we're having here is probably something that's happening all over the city. And we are lucky, actually, that we get someone like UCLA to come in and lift the tide."