Where to Find What You Need at the Malls This Holiday Season

If you have delayed holiday shopping until now, the prospect of finding a parking space and procuring a meal might seem daunting. Managers of San Fernando Valley-area malls agree that shoppers who hope to avoid large-scale crowds should venture out during the weekday, preferably the beginning of the week in the early morning, after the lunch-hour rush between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., or the late evening.

To help soothe the bustling holiday shopping experience, malls are offering extended hours and various forms of entertainment. What follows is a guide to stores and services that can be found at Valley-area malls.

Fallbrook Mall: 6633 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills, 340-5871.

Number of stores: 132 including a JC Penney Catalogue Outlet Store, Mervyn’s, Sears, Target and General Cinema.

Restaurants: 20 including Chili’s, Don Ricardo’s, Marie Callender’s, Nibblers, Papa Monteleone’s and Red Lobster.

Candy stores: Candy Station and Robin Rose Ice Cream and Chocolate.

Toy stores: Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby Shop, and Ricky’s Toys and Hobbies.

Parking: 5,800 spaces in lots. No charge.

Restrooms: four public facilities, two of which (one men’s, one women’s) offer diaper-changing tables and diaper-vending machines.

Holiday entertainment: Choir groups from the community will perform on the weekends.

Glendale Galleria: Brand Boulevard and Broadway, Glendale, 240-9481.

Number of stores: 270 including the Broadway, Buffums, JC Penney, Mervyn’s and Nordstrom.

Restaurants: 26 including Don Carlos, The Good Earth, Harrigan’s and Magic Pan.

Candy stores: See’s Candy and Godiva Chocolates.

Toy stores: Don’s Toys, Kay-Bee Toy, and Hobby Shop and Toys International.

Parking: 6,200 spaces located in two three-level structures. No charge. To ease the holiday parking crunch, a free shuttle service will run Friday through Sunday until Dec. 18, when it will run daily through Dec. 24 and again Dec. 26. The shuttle leaves the north end of the Los Angeles Zoo parking lot and stops at six locations outside the Galleria. In addition, $3 valet parking is available every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 24. Customers may enter the lot on Broadway Street, between Central and Orange avenues (next to Nordstrom).

Restrooms: six public facilities.

Holiday entertainment: Events include a family-oriented play performed by Shooting Star Productions titled “A Gift of Love.” Show times are 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 13 and 15. All shows will take place at the JC Penney stage. No charge.

Janss Mall: Hillcrest Drive and Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, 495-4662.

Number of stores: 64 including Best, Marshalls, Sears and Thrifty.

Restaurants: five including Akio’s Japanese Restaurant, Eggs cetera, Mandarin Wok and Sizzler.

Candy store: Candy Cottage.

Toy store: Toys R Us.

Parking: Ground-level lots. No charge.

Restrooms: The complex does not have public restrooms; patrons are referred to the facilities located in Toys R Us.

Holiday entertainment: In addition to various groups from the community performing Christmas songs daily, the mall will sponsor a petting zoo Dec. 9 through 24, located next to the Thousand Oaks Stationers.

Laurel Plaza: 6100 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, 769-3200.

Number of stores: 33 including the May Co.

Restaurants: Four including Cafe Metro located in May Co.

Parking: 1,520 parking spaces at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: No public restrooms; customers are referred to the facilities located in May Co.

Holiday entertainment: Choir groups from the community will perform throughout the week.

The Oaks Mall, 222 West Hillcrest, Thousand Oaks, 495-2031.

Number of stores: 150 including the Broadway, Bullock’s, JC Penney, May Co. and Robinson’s.

Restaurants: 12 including Beverly Hills Burger Company, Magic Pan and Olga’s Kitchen.

Candy store: See’s Candy.

Toy stores: Captron World of Nintendo, Imaginarium, Ricky’s Toys and Hobbies, and The Game Keeper.

Parking: 4,650 parking spaces at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: two public facilities.

Holiday entertainment: Choir groups from the community will perform through the week. In addition, day care for $3 an hour is available for up to three hours.

Panorama Mall: 8401 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City, 894-9258.

Number of stores: 68, including the Broadway.

Restaurants: eight.

Toy store: Ricky’s Toys and Hobbies.

Parking: 1,800 spaces at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: No public facilities; patrons are referred to the restrooms located in the Broadway.

Promenade Mall: 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 884-7090.

Number of stores: 75 including Bullocks Wilshire, Robinson’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Restaurants: five including Anna Miller’s Cafe, Bob Burns and Magic Pan.

Candy store: Helen Grace Chocolates.

Toy stores: Walden Kids.

Parking: 2,400 parking spaces at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: No public facilities; customers are referred to facilities located in the department stores.

Holiday entertainment: The mall features daily musical entertainment through Dec. 24, including caroling groups, a guitar trio and a harpist. Also, a Jewish food festival will be held Dec. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring free samples of Jewish specialty foods. Chabad of the Valley will conduct a lighting of a menorah Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. on Center Court.

Northridge Fashion Center: 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, 772-0819.

Number of stores: 210 including the Broadway, Bullock’s, JC Penney, May Co., Robinson’s and Sears.

Restaurants: 24 including Anna Miller’s, Big Apple Deli, Coco’s, Don Ricardo’s and Fiddler’s Three.

Candy stores: Ethel M Chocolates, House of Almonds, Morrow’s Nut House, Pop Corn Palace and See’s Candy.

Toy stores: Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby, Imaginarium and Play Things.

Parking: 7,000 spaces located in two three-level and two two-level structures, and lot parking at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: The complex does not have public restrooms; patrons are referred to facilities located in the department stores.

Holiday entertainment: Various caroling groups will perform daily during the week at 7 p.m. and again Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m., at the Broadway Court. A Hanukkah program, including the lighting of a menorah, will be offered Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.

Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, 13067 Riverside Drive., Sherman Oaks, 783-0550.

Number of stores: 50 are currently open at this time, with the possibility of more to open during the holiday shopping season. Anchor stores include the Broadway, Bullock’s and I. Magnin.

Restaurants: three including Fashion Square Deli.

Candy store: See’s Candy.

Toy store: Carl’s Toys.

Parking: 3,600 parking spaces located in a three-level structure, a two-level structure and lot parking at ground level. No charge.

Restrooms: There are no public facilities; patrons are referred to the facilities located in the department stores.

Holiday entertainment: A children’s Hanukkah show is slated for Dec. 16 and 17 at 1 and 3 p.m. both days. A harpist will perform Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 21. Fridays will feature holiday music from 6 to 8 p.m. Carolers will stroll the grounds Saturdays and Sundays during the afternoon.

Sherman Oaks Galleria, 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 783-3550.

Number of stores: 125 including May Co. and Robinson’s.

Restaurants: 22 including Sleuth’s Grill and Bar.

Candy stores: House of Almonds and Helen Grace Chocolates.

Toy stores: Don’s Toys and Hobbies, and Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby Shop.

Parking: 3,628 spaces located in a six-level structure. There will be no charge for parking during December. In addition, $2 valet service is available on the green level during December, with all proceeds going to Valley Shelter.

Restrooms: two public facilities.

Holiday entertainment: Chabad of the Valley will present the lighting of a 25-foot menorah Dec. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Center Court. Choir groups from the community will perform throughout the holidays.

Topanga Plaza, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, 883-9792.

Number of stores: 160 including the Broadway, May Co., Montgomery Ward and Nordstrom.

Restaurants: 18 including California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin.

Candy stores: Ethel M Chocolates, Moorow’s Nuthouse, Pop Corn Palace and See’s Candy.

Toy stores: Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby Shop and Imaginarium.

Parking: 5,210 spaces at ground level. No charge. Valet parking is available for $2, located between Nordstrom and California Pizza Kitchen.

Restrooms: two public facilities.

Holiday entertainment: Choir groups from the community will perform during the holiday season. The mall will feature children’s storytelling Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Center Court. The Community Assistance to Homeless Youngsters organization and the California Highway Patrol will conduct toy drives for foster and needy children through Dec. 16. Collection will be take place on the food court and the north court.