Demolition Day

Construction crews began razing the Robinsons-May Home Store at the Northridge Fashion Center on Wednesday to make room for a 10-screen movie theater complex scheduled to open next summer.

Two cranes work tearing down the old shop, above, and a demolition worker makes his way down a stairway of what used to be the store’s second level. Machinery is reflected in the sunglasses of truck driver Edmund Marrufo, below.

Since 1993, when the May Co. and Robinson’s department stores combined, they’ve had two venues in the mall. Now, all merchandise will be in one store, which is scheduled to be expanded.

The demolition is the first phase of the Northridge Fashion Center’s renovation project. Along with the theaters, restaurants, specialty retail shops and a bookstore are also expected to be added to the mall’s north wing.