Shopping Center Looks to Have More in Stores

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Beefed-up retail offerings are on their way to Cerritos, where the Best Plaza shopping center is being renovated and rebranded as Plaza 183.

Owner CenterCal Properties, which bought the 30-acre property more than a year ago, is spending $45 million on renovations to the shopping center, located off 183rd Street across from Los Cerritos Center.

The project, which will bring in retailers such as Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th and Old Navy, among others, was approved by the Cerritos City Council in January. Work is expected to wrap up later this year.

Visitor traffic had slowed at the center, whose tenants include discount retailer Burlington Coat Factory and a slew of restaurants, including BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden and El Torito.

Much of the center’s lackluster performance of late can be credited to upgrades at the Los Cerritos Center next door. That mall has been undergoing extensive renovations over the last two years, updating exterior facades and bringing in a mix of new tenants such as Michael Kors, Zara, Uniqlo and Kiehl’s.

But Plaza 183 is expected to also bring in a range of new tenants once it’s open. The center will be home to restaurants such as Blaze Pizza, Luna Grill and Habit Burger. There are also plans to open a 24 Hour Fitness gym.

Business Blemish

El Segundo skin care company Murad Inc. filed a lawsuit last week against pharmacy chain CVS Health Corp. for unfair business practices.

The suit alleges that CVS, headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I., has been selling at least 41 of the skin care firm’s products, including cleansers, creams and treatments, on CVS.com and in some brick-and-mortar stores across the country – without Murad’s permission.

Richard Murad, general manager of Murad and nephew of its founder, said the company takes steps to ensure its products are carried only at authorized retailers, such as Nordstrom, Ulta and Sephora, that meets the brand’s quality-control procedures.

“We will continue to take unrelenting legal action against anyone who threatens Murad’s brand integrity or otherwise poses a risk to the public by defacing the quality-control features we put on our products,” he said in a statement.

Those quality-control measures include tracking features such as identification numbers and holographic seals, which help identify distributors who sold those units to customers should there be a recall, for example.

Murad said in its suit that CVS was able to purchase inventory through an authorized dealer or one or more middlemen who have purchased from an authorized distributor, then removed the tracking markers, keeping CVS’ sources a secret.

A CVS spokesman declined to comment.

Murad was founded in 1989 by dermatologist Howard Murad, who serves as chief executive.

Revolving Doors

Beauty retailer Sephora will be opening at the Grove in L.A.’s Fairfax District this fall. … Luxury eyewear brand Cutler & Gross will be opening its first West Coast flagship this summer in a 1,350-square-foot space in West Hollywood. … Chef Ilan Hall is expected to open a yet-to-be-named vegan ramen and pho restaurant at downtown L.A.’s Grand Central Market this summer. … Italian luxury leather goods company Serapian opened its first U.S. store in Beverly Hills this month. … Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opened its first location in Japan last month. … Confession, a new lounge and restaurant from Sunset Entertainment Group and promoter Robert Kennedy, opened this month in Hollywood. … Gourmet shop Blue Star Donuts will be opening a 1,000-square-foot location in Venice this summer. … Indian-inspired eatery Sambar from chef Akasha Richmond opened this month in Culver City. … Chef Brian Malarkey will be opening up his ocean-to-table concept Herringbone in Santa Monica this summer. … Lifestyle brand Serena & Lily signed a lease last month for its third location on Melrose Avenue. An opening date has yet to be announced. … Swedish retailer H&M is expected to open a location at the Pike Outlets center in downtown Long Beach this week. Forever 21 and Nike are also slated to open at the center later this year.

At Your Service

Los Angeles Convention Center has named Jeff Leidy director of operations for Taste of L.A. by Levy Restaurants. Leidy previously served as regional executive chef for the San Diego Convention Center and Qualcomm Stadium.

Staff reporter Subrina Hudson can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 251.

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