Santa Monica Place opens

Santa Monica, Calif. Macerich, one of the nation's leading owners, operators and developers of regional shopping centers, on Friday opened the new Santa Monica Place, 524,000-sq.-ft., three-level, open-air retail and dining destination that is located just two blocks from the beach. The center is a recycling of the 1980s-era enclosed mall that Macerich has redeveloped.

The new property opened with a high-wattage roster of 50+ retailers and restaurants, including Bloomingdale's, Barneys Co-op, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, kitson, Nike, CB2, Ted Baker, Juicy Couture, Hugo Boss and more. It also offers a rooftop Dining Deck with an assortment of chef-driven restaurants that offer views of the ocean, city and mountains.

On Aug. 27, Nordstrom will open at Santa Monica Place, alongside additional retailers including Tory Burch, followed by Tiffany & Co. in September. In all, the project is 97% committed and 92% leased.

The project was designed by Venice, Calif.-based architects, The Jerde Partnership. Dallas-based Omniplan was the executive architect.