80-Foot Mall Tower Frame Is Erected

The remake of the Buenaventura Mall was brought one step closer to completion Monday when the frame for an 80-foot tower was erected on the mall’s south entrance.

A 300-ton crane hoisted the steel framework for the mall tower into place. After scaffolding is put up around the tower, crews will finish the exterior with stucco and add 13 windows.

The second floor of a new food court will empty onto the balcony of the tower, offering a view of the ocean. The shopping mall, on East Main Street and Mills Road, will be renamed Pacific View when the $100-million conversion is completed.

In addition to new anchor stores Robinsons-May and Sears, both which are relocating from the Esplanade in Oxnard, mall manager Cayse Osterlund said new stores will include the Disney Store, Ann Taylor Loft, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, the Gap, Gap Kids, Body Gap, the Limited Too, Abercrombie and Fitch, Old Navy Clothing Co., Hot Topic, Gymboree, the Walking Co. and Whitehall Jewelers.

When the 1.1-million-square-foot mall is completed in November, it will contain between 125 and 150 stores, with additional merchants opening through spring 2000.

The JC Penney department store, a longtime mall fixture, was renovated earlier this year, as were Miller’s Outpost, Leathertown, Lenscrafters, Claire’s Boutique, John T’s and Payless Stores.

A 1,100-space, three-level parking structure was also constructed and opened in May.