The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 17

A16 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2005 THE DESERT SUN CALIFORNIA Face-lift spruces up San Fernando Valley's old mall "This reminds us of what we've become and where we've come from. The Panorama Mall holds a special place in our hearts." With the cosmetic improvements, which also include new tables and chairs to make the space more welcoming to residents, Macerich hopes to lure new tenants to round out its mix of national names and independent stores. La Curacao, the mall still draws 7 million shoppers a year. It logs $400 in sales per square foot, a respectable number in Southern California's competitive retail scene. "The changes in the mail look tremendous, symbolic of what's going on in the surrounding community," said Councilman Alex Padilla, who represents the area and cruised the mall with buddies as a teen.

By Brent Hopkins LOS ANGELAS DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES It's been a long time since the Panorama Mall passed for chic, but the valley's oldest mall is returning to its swanky former self. Its old, wooden parquet floor has been ripped out and replaced with more modem tile. The Macerich which bought the Panorama City mall in 1979, has brightened the interior and dumped $1 million into making it over. In coming months, it will spend again to fix up the old roof and rework the weathered exterior. While the monetary amount pales in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to open the new Simi Valley Town Center or to renovate Westfield do in the next few years." The mall, which began as an upscale center anchored by a Broadway department store in the early 1950s, fell out of vogue long ago as its high-toned tenants pulled out.

But what it lacked in panache, it made up for with numbers. Largely because of its two-story Wal-Mart and Latino-oriented electronics and home appliance retailer Topanga, it's had an immediate effect in brightening up what was for years a dark, uninviting place. "This company believes in this community and knows that it will get its investment back," said Chris Facas, vice president of property management for the Santa Monica-based Macerich. "It's a huge investment, but it's just a start for what we're going to f- ill! I LAST 2 DJK! 50 OFF 60 OFF Selected LIZ CLAIBORNE Entire Stock Misses' KORET Orig. $38 each piece.

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Discover I riuiblluUM l.A(JIWO, UIOLUVCI Shop Palm Springs Mall: Monday 9-7, Tuesday 9-7, Wednesday and Thursday 9-6, Friday 6-9 Saturday 9-9, Sunday 10-9. Indlo Fashion Mall: Monday-Thursday 10-7, Friday 6-9, Saturday 9-9, Sunday 11-9 052-46.