Glendale Marketplace renovation includes removal of frog statues

They’re gone — the trio of frog statues once known for spitting out thin jets of water that formed a brief archway over patrons were recently removed from the Glendale Marketplace.

The struggling shopping center has lost most of its tenants in recent years including a movie theater, shops and eateries.

But the departure of the amphibian greeters situated at the Brand Boulevard entrance is part of a larger renovation effort, one the Marketplace owner and city officials hope will renew interest in the shopping center.

Dallas-based Cypress Equities bought the facility two years ago and started upgrading things in August with an anticipated price tag of $1.3 million, said Jeff Plauche, director of asset management.

There will be new landscaping, seats, furnishings and planters to create a sleek feel, all while borrowing influences from successful commercial projects nearby, he said.

The Marketplace renovations consider “[the] surrounding upscale area shopping destinations as well as input from the city of Glendale, particularly in regard to signage and the fountain,” Plauche said.

The frogs — unofficially named Glen, Dale and Hops — were added in 1998. Each clung to a pole and spouted fountain water high over the heads of passers-by. Toward the end, the statues grew riddled with cracks and fading green paint.

Per the renovations, they will be swapped for a water wall.

“Unfortunately, given the amount of rust and deterioration, and the fact that each one had missing appendages, they were disposed of,” Plauche said.

In a scathing 2012 critique of the statues, News-Press columnist Liana Aghajanian called for the frogs’ removal.

“The frogs unfortunately are not helping spruce up the image of the Marketplace area, with its high rate of turnover and tunnel-like, claustrophobia-inducing design,” she said.

The Glendale Historical Society officials declined to comment on the frogs’ removal, stating it wasn’t on the group’s radar. Rick Lemmo, president of the Downtown Glendale Assn., shared similar sentiments, adding that the Marketplace is entering a new phase.

“[The frogs] were cute in a different time in Glendale. Their state of disrepair teamed with the renaissance in the district mean they won’t really be missed,” he said. “Other long-lasting traditions deserve our attention while many new businesses, residents and guests together will create new memories.”

DSW Shoes took over for Marketplace’s former anchor store last year, Old Navy. This summer, Buffalo Wild Wings opened its doors on the ground floor and joined Outback Steakhouse and Vegas Seafood Buffet in the shopping center.

L.A. Fitness is slated to replace the former location of Galaxy Theaters on the second floor. Other tenants already lined up include an AT&T store and Sally Beauty.

Plauche said he expects the Marketplace to be fully occupied with new businesses by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

A ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the renovations is scheduled to be held with the Glendale Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.

Philip Lanzafame, the city’s community development director, said Cypress Equities is revamping the Marketplace in response to the Americana at Brand across the street and coinciding with other area improvements like the Glendale Central Library remodel.

He believes the shopping center will succeed.

“The owners saw that value here in Glendale,” Lanzafame said.

--

Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian