This L.A. mall was dead longer than it was alive. Then Taylor Swift and Beyonce discovered it
- Posted on September 1, 2026
- By Los Angeles Times
- 11 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Hawthorne Plaza, a Southern California shopping destination that stood abandoned for decades, is undergoing demolition after experiencing a surprising cultural revival. The mall gained unexpected attention when major celebrities including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé utilized its iconic architecture for creative projects, sparking renewed interest in the deteriorating property. Property developers have now initiated the redevelopment process, marking the end of an era for this once-thriving retail hub that spent more years empty than operational.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
This L.A. mall was dead longer than it was alive. Then Taylor Swift and Beyonce discovered it
Property owners of the long-abandoned Hawthorne Plaza mall are in the beginnings of tearing it down.
