Valley Plaza

In the mid-1950s it was reported to be the largest shopping center on the West Coast of the United States and the third-largest in the country.

[4] Urbanism analyst Richard Longstreth wrote that Symonds was the first developer in Southern California to recognize the importance of the new, ever-expanding freeway system to shopping centers, as they would attract large numbers of shoppers who would find it convenient to visit by car,[5] avoiding problems with existing shopping areas, almost all of which required navigating streets choked with traffic, either in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, or the central business districts of the surrounding towns, and which provided limited parking some distance from the stores.

The shopping center opened August 12, 1951,[1] with parking for 4000 cars, and having cost between $20,000,000 and $40,000,000 (depending on the source) to build.

Early anchors included (from north to south): Valley Plaza would later extend along Victory Boulevard to cover 100 acres (40 ha).

[3] On February 5, 1959, a third major department store anchor, a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2), two-level J. C. Penney opened on the north side of Victory Blvd.

It became a Robinsons-May in 1993, then Macy’s in 2006 which operated until 2016, after the property was sold for redevelopment,[29] and is now a mixed-use development called NOHO West, home to Trader Joe's, L.A.

Shortly after 2000, J. H. Snyder acquired the core Valley Plaza property from lender iStar, and announced plans for a $300 million renovation.