Andrea's Commentary

The Sherman Oaks Galleria was the real mall used in the movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High. As a little girl growing up in Alabama I dreamed about the day I would move to LA and be part of everything in the big city I had only seen on TV & in movies. In 1995 when I finally moved to LA, the Galleria was already going downhill fast. Instead of Claires, Contempo, and the usual, there were junky stores run by Asian women selling fake Louis Vittons and things that should be sold downtown on the street instead of a mall.

Alas, it is now made up of only a movie theatre and a couple of restaurants. Gone is the famous entrance in Fast Times, the lovely glass, chrome & mauve decor of the 80's and all the signs in art deco font that was popular in the early 80's. Replaced by tan morrocan tile & stone w/black lettering it looks ethnic & ugly like every other boring "lifestyle center" here in LA these days.

C.M. Gonzalez's Commentary

The entry for this mall seems a little dated. The mall has re-opened, though it is nowhere near as awesome as it once was.

Also, the "famous entrance" referred to in the entry, isn't gone, it was never in Sherman Oaks. It's actually the entrance for the Santa Monica Place Mall, and it's not going away any time too soon. You can see it here: http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/2763.

Jeff Arellano's Commentary

This mall opened in the 1970's with May Company and Robinsons, and a 5 screen Pacific Theatre on the fourth floor. In the early 90's, Robinsons and May Company merged. Both department stores were turned into Robinsons-May (the north had mens and home, south women and children).

This mall closed after the 1994 Northridge quake due to damage sustained. It would reopen later that year, but would never be the same. Stores never filled the three levels again, and some that stayed started to close. It was determined that before the mall closed, it would be turned into offices. In 1999, the mall would close for remodeling. This turned to be the nail in the coffin.

In 2002, the mall reopened, but only on the outside. the mall itself, minus one section on the south side, became offices for Warner Brothers Animation. The south court became the main enterance. All that is there is a few restaurants, a gym, and Pacific moved back in with the Pacific 16 Theatres in the former Robinsons-May south store.

Links

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