LA HABRA : Final Clearance at Former Bullock’s

The old Bullock’s Department Store at Idaho Street and Imperial Highway was demolished Friday, an important step in a downtown redevelopment plan that city officials hope will be a big boost for business--and tax revenue.

Tearing down Bullock’s, which once anchored La Habra Fashion Square Shopping Center, “marks a dramatic transformation for the revitalization of the commercial core of La Habra,” Councilman James Flora said.

The three-story, 270,000-square-foot store, a landmark for 30 years, had stood empty since 1992, casting a pall over the once-bustling 15-acre shopping center.

But M&H; Realty Partners, based in San Diego, now owns the property and plans to make it the centerpiece of a revitalized commercial area.

Renamed La Habra MarketPlace, the center will have a contemporary Spanish-style string of 25 small shops and three larger stores. On the Bullock’s site will be an 8,000-square-foot restaurant and additional parking.

The $25-million project is to be completed next summer, said Bradley A. Geier of M&H.; Sporting goods, office supply, home improvement and book stores have already expressed interest in leasing space, he said.

Flora said the city expects the MarketPlace to generate $200,000 to $300,000 annually in sales tax revenue and to provide hundreds of jobs.