Americana at Brand in Glendale is revving it’s motor as opening day – May 2– is fast approaching. Like the Indy 500, it’s rip-roaring to get off the line and start opening doors — and I mean lots of doors — to stores that haven’t been seen in a mall meets residential center. Think of The Grove meets South Coast Plaza meets residential all in one location which is what Rick Caruso, Owner/developer/destination genius of The Americana at Brand development has done– and wants you to experience it for yourself. Shoppers are eagerly anticipating what this new center will offer and eager to hit the storse.
This super-mall with retailers ranging from Barneys Co-op, Tiffanys, Kiehls, a slew of expected mall stores like Barnes & Noble bookstore, Forever 21’s XXI, . Other stores will include BCBG Max Azria, Calvin Klein, Chico’s, Cole Haan, Michael Stars, Planet Funk plus the addition of H&M and other eclectic stores like True Religion, Juicy Couture, Custo Barcelona and Peter Alexander added to mix is sure to spice up the fashion and retail business sectors. Hopefully this activity will spread outward and jumpstart the Glendale Galleria and the Glendale downtown section in an upscale San Fernando Valley section that was woefully underserved by it’s retail landscape.
Add in the entertainment of Pacific multi-plex theaters, events and several restaurants for flavor and you have yourself a city within a city– just you have to go outside the complex to get the basics of life.
Spirit of Youth Statue in “green area” at Americana at Brand. Courtesy of Apparel News
Here’s the residential part that makes walking to anything and virtually everything you need (except the supermarket, gas stattions, dry cleaners and other requisite daily life stores that are frequented on a daily or weekly basis). With over 200 apartments and 100 condos built entirely above the ground floor retail spaces, the residents become part and parcel of the entire lifestyle of this combination of retail + lifestyle + living space location. The Green, nearly a two-acre central common area is a athering spot with children’s play area, animated fountain and detailed landscaping. While Caruso has provided on-site services for residents, you have to wonder at what price people will pay for grocery delivery and babysitting?
This 15.5 acre location is woven into the established Glendal downtown retail landscape and is akin to dropping maybe DisneyWorld right from the sky akin to Dorothy’s house in the land of Oz. 
Photo by Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times.
While luxury is the key in the stores and spaces for all to participate in, what will it be like to live there and have the throngs of shoppers and people going to restaurants be part of the visual panorama. Think living at Disneyland with all the crowds what it might be like day and night and you might be realize the point I am making. What this will do for locals living within the complex and outside the complex is a shorter drive or a eco-friendly walk to do retail shopping and stimulate the local economy in a way that’s akin to a double shot of expresso. In these times, this kind of expansion shows a serious commitment on the part of Rick Caruso in the future of the So. California retail and real estate landscape– both of which underscore the vitality of the region and should provide some reassurance that all is well in LA-LA land.
Stevie Wilson
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