Yuppie Food Court Will Kick Off Renovation of Westminster Mall

The renovation of Westminster Mall will begin with a bow to the yuppie culture: an upscale food court.

The mall’s owners, Corporate Property Investors, formally announced that construction is scheduled to begin late this month on a 20,000-square-foot food court on the upper level near Sears.

The $2-million addition--the first part of the 2 1/2-year remodeling--will transform the now-vacant space into a center serving sushi, Vietnamese snacks, various finger foods and the fare offered by some of the mall’s food merchants, according to mall spokeswoman Kim Kelley.

The second renovation phase is scheduled to start in the spring of 1988 and will include 13,000 square feet of new retail space in the food-service area.

The 12-year-old Westminster Mall--the county’s second-highest-grossing retail center last year with $188 million in sales--is renovating to fight off competition from other area shopping centers.

“We’d like to bring up the look of the mall,” Kelley said.

Four other Orange County malls have announced plans to remodel or renovate within the last year. They are South Coast Plaza, the county’s top mall with $489 million in sales; Brea Mall, which placed third in 1986 with $178 million is sales; fourth-rated Newport Center Fashion Island, which had $173 million in sales, and the newly renovated and enlarged Main Place/Santa Ana.