LA HABRA : Old Bullock’s to Be Razed for New Mall

City officials have approved a plan to finish redevelopment of the La Habra MarketPlace commercial center on the northwest corner of Idaho Street and Imperial Highway.

Owners of the 40-acre center said they will demolish the old Bullock’s department store building, which once anchored the 15-acre La Habra Fashion Square Shopping Center.

Fashion Square was developed in 1969 as an open-air mall with Bullock’s, Buffums and smaller clothing stores, restaurants, banks and a movie theater. It began to suffer financially and finally folded with the development of nearby enclosed malls.

Now, however, a Kmart across the street and other new stores at the intersection have revitalized the site.

The old Bullock’s will be demolished in the next two months. The new center is expected to be completed in a year with stores selling such items as sporting goods, housewares, electronics, office supplies, shoes and clothing, MarketPlace owners said.

The owners, M&H; Realty Partners, will have spent at least $20 million by the time the project is complete.

The City Council, acting in its capacity as the Redevelopment Agency, last week praised the owners for their plan. They said they believe the center will be a success and estimate it will bring the city $280,000 in sales tax revenue.