Ala Moana Center

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Ala Moana Center


image_width = 200
caption = Interior promenade of Ala Moana Center
location = Honolulu, Hawaiokinai
opening_date = August 1959
developer =
manager =
owner =
number_of_stores =
number_of_anchors =
floor_area =
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website = [http://www.alamoanacenter.com alamoanacenter.com]

Ala Moana Center in Honolulu is the largest shopping mall in Hawaii and the fourteenth largest shopping mall in the United States. It currently holds the distinction of being the largest open-air shopping center in the world. [ [http://www.alamoanacenter.com/091907.htm 19 September 2007 press release] ] [ [http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=A11788_0_1_0_M 27 June 2007 travelvideo.tv article] ] [ [http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Oahu/shopping-malls/Ala-Moana-Center.html tripcart.com article about Ala Moana] ] [ [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Dec/13/br/br7640358921.html Press release in the 13 December 2006 edition of the "Honolulu Advertiser"] ]

Located at 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, Ala Moana Center is part of the commercial, retail, and residential district of Ala Moana, south of Makiki, east of Kakaokinaako, west of Waikīkī and across from Ala Moana Beach Park.

In 1959, Ala Moana Center became the largest shopping mall in the United States, only to be overshadowed years later by new retail developments across the nation. General Growth Properties of Chicago, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange as GGP, currently owns and operates Ala Moana Center. The company uses photographs of Ala Moana Center as its flagship banner image on the properties page of its company website. [ [http://www.ggp.com/Properties/Default.aspx 2 May 2007 company website] ] Over 56 million people visit Ala Moana Center annually.

Though there are a few stores (such as Longs Drugs and Sears) which offer products to local residents, many of the Center's stores target the tourist economy on which it so heavily relies. The shopping center focuses its marketing on tourism, providing brochures in Japanese, one of its major clientele. There are more than 290 shops and restaurants, including boutique stores of leading international fashion designers. Its current anchor tenants are Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Sears, and Nordstrom. [ [http://www.alamoanacenter.com/042605.htm Ala Moana Center - April 26, 2005 ] ] The Center boasts one of the world's largest food courts, featuring cuisines from around the globe. Fact|date=May 2007 Designer stores, such as Juicy Couture, Prada, Armani Exchange, Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Hermès, and the like have heavily influenced the atmosphere of Ala Moana, reportedly making it a hotspot for visitors and locals alike.

History

Previous to its construction, the land was a swamp. Dredging projects nearby spearheaded by Walter F. Dillingham created excess coral which filled the swamp, purchased by Dillingham in 1912 from the estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Land reclaimed, son and successor Lowell Dillingham initiated the Ala Moana Center project in 1948 and broke ground in 1957 [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jun/30/ln/FP606300357.html 30 June 2006 "Honolulu Advertiser"] ] .

Heralded as the largest shopping mall in the country when it opened in 1966, its original tenants included Sears, Roebuck and Company, F. W. Woolworth Company, Foodland, Longs Drugs and Shirokiya, among other local shops. Ala Moana Center's earlier expansions including the 1966 addition of J. C. Penney and Liberty House in a new Diamond Head wing. The Makai Market food court was built in 1987. A 1999 expansion created a berth for Neiman Marcus and creation of more upper level retail spaces [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jun/30/ln/FP606300357.html 30 June 2006 "Honolulu Advertiser"] ] . A shopping complex and parking spaces were demolished just north of the shopping mall in 2006 to make way for General Growth's latest expansion project. Ala Moana Center's newest addition is the mauka wing, completed on March 7, 2008 and anchored by Nordstrom.

In 1982, Ala Moana Center was purchased by a partnership of Japanese corporation, Daiei, and an insurance company. In 1995, Daiei became the sole owner. Once a mere management vendor for Daiei, General Growth Properties purchased Ala Moana Center in 1999 [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jun/30/ln/FP606300357.html 30 June 2006 "Honolulu Advertiser"] ] .

On January 5, 2008, Tim "Youngblood" Chapman was found fondling himself outside in the Macy's parking lot. Charges are pending.

Anchors

*Sears (341,199 sq ft (31,698 m²))
*Macy's (326,680 sq ft (30,350 m²))
*Neiman Marcus (161,055 sq ft (14,962 m²))
*Nordstrom (200,000 sq ft (20,000 m²))
*Shirokiya (53,512 sq ft (4,971 m²))
*Old Navy (33,221 sq ft (3,086 m²))
*Barnes & Noble (30,758 sq ft (2,858 m²))
*Longs Drugs (21,609 sq ft (2,008 m²))
*Foodland (18,517 sq ft (1,720 m²))

Other Major Stores

*Louis Vuitton (11,125 sq ft (1,034 m²))
*Gucci
*Prada
*Fendi
*Chanel
*J. Crew
*Radioshack
*Apple Store
*Hilo Hattie
*Tsukiji Fish Market & Restaurant (13,880 sq ft (1,289 m²))
*Foot Locker (14,364 sq ft (1,334 m²))
*Gap (20,200 sq ft (1,880 m²))
*Hollister
*American Eagle Outfitters
*Abercrombie & Fitch (10,422 sq ft (968 m²))
*RUEHL No.925 - Brand from Abercrombie & Fitch
*Banana Republic (17,553 sq ft (1,631 m²))
*Christian Dior
*Bebe
*Guess
*Hot Topic
*Ann Taylor
*Armani Exchange

Architecture

Costing USD $25 Million, in 1959, Ala Moana Center had eighty-seven stores and four thousand parking spaces. Ala Moana Center was remodeled extensively in various phases. New designs reflected modern Hawaiian architectural principles, emphasizing the importance of the symbolism of various natural phenomena found in Hawaiokinai. Asian Pacific Rim motifs have been adopted reflecting the large Asian population of residents in Hawaiokinai. For decades, a centerpiece of Ala Moana Center was its koi ponds. In the Japanese culture, koi represents happiness and tranquility. Despite these enhancements, the design of the Center has been criticized for its over-built appearance and hodge-podge architecture, the result of years of modifications and expansions under different owners. Still, Ala Moana Center architecture and layouts inspired owners General Growth Properties in 2004 to invest over USD $1 Billion in remodeling various other shopping centers across Canada and the United States using Ala Moana Center as a template.

Centerstage

Ala Moana Centerstage is one of the most popular public amphitheaters in Hawaiokinai. On a stage in the center of the shopping complex, local talents are showcased for visitors to enjoy. Hula dances are a staple for Ala Moana Centerstage as well as performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band, the oldest municipal band in the United States. Schools throughout the country, as well as the world, travel to Honolulu just to be able to perform at Ala Moana Centerstage.

In addition, episodes of a local TV show called "Hawaii Stars", an "American Idol"-esque singing competition, are usually filmed on this stage. Onlookers can usually be seen crowding the second- and third-story balconies overlooking the stage during taping.

Recreation

Traditionally, Honolulu residents have frequented Ala Moana Center as a social gathering place. However, with the expansion of the center in the 90s, the loss of many local vendors (for example, Villa Roma, Sato's Clothiers, The Ritz), and the introduction of pricey stores targeted towards Japanese tourists only, this recreational function has diminished in recent years.

Transit hub

Ala Moana Center is a major public transportation hub for TheBus, Honolulu's nationally recognized mass transit system which was twice honored as "America's Best Transit System" by the American Public Transportation Association. Ala Moana Center is the center of Honolulu's public transportation system and can be accessed by routes from all points on O'ahu. Ala Moana Center is accessed daily by numerous city and tour buses.

ee also

* List of the world's largest shopping malls
* List of largest shopping malls in the United States

References

External links

* [http://www.alamoanacenter.com Ala Moana Center Official Site]
* [http://www.vthawaii.com/OAHU/alamoana/alamoana.html Ala Moana Center Virtual Tour]