West Covina Plaza Debuts Its New Look

The first fruits of a $120-million renovation and expansion of the Plaza at West Covina were unveiled last week in what city and business officials hope will be the dawning of a new era for the shopping center.

The two-part project involves a redesign of the plaza’s interior and the eventual addition of 40 stores to the facility, said Michael Shulman, a managing partner of the plaza.

Shulman said a May Co. department store will be the largest of the new businesses. May Centers Inc. of St. Louis bought a 15% partnership in the plaza in 1988.

The first phase, a $40-million renovation, was begun in December and was completed this month, General Manager Gregory S. Beyer said.

Beyer said the work, which included the installation of new carpeting, lighting, landscaping and the addition of 10 fast-food outlets, was done to keep the plaza competitive with other shopping centers.

“It’s a brand new shopping center, for all intents and purposes,” Beyer said.

Construction of a new wing to house 40 additional stores will begin in January, Beyer said, and should be open by fall of 1992.

West Covina City Manager Robert Fast said the renovation and expansion of the shopping center should help boost the city’s income.

The plaza currently generates about 15% of West Covina’s sales tax revenues, or $1.2 million, Fast said. The city hopes to be taking in close to $2 million a year after the expansion is complete.

The plaza has 150 businesses, including JC Penney, The Broadway and Bullock’s department stores, and takes in about $120 million annually, Beyer said.