"The Courtyard" as it was to be named, would launch with a Bullocks Wilshire and the May Company California as its department store anchors, plus 75 additional shops.

The ice skating rink was well patronized, but it proved difficult to attract shoppers from the immediate area who had already become accustomed to driving to what is now Del Amo Fashion Center which had a far wider selection of department and specialty stores.

The Hahn Company began an $11 million project to upgrade the mall and its tenants to become more attractive to the most upscale shoppers, and renamed it The Shops at Palos Verdes.

The roof was removed and a more upscale selection of specialty shops was achieved, with new department store anchor Saks Fifth Avenue as well as Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Abercrombie & Fitch opening in 1999 and 2000.

In November 2006, Cousins sold the mall to Stoltz Real Estate Partners of Pennsylvania for $95.7 million.