The Oaks renovation begins to take shape

A new development in the planned expansion and renovation of The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks will only improve the project, according to representatives for Macerich, the Santa Monica-based company that owns the mall.

Macerich announced last week that it's acquiring two of its anchor department store buildings, the Macy's women's store and the former Robinsons-May men's store. Both are part of a group of 11 store sites Macerich is purchasing from Federated Department Stores, Inc. Six of those stores are in Southern California.

Federated, owner of Macy's, is selling the stores after acquiring May Department stores, which owned Robinsons-May. Federated has been closing and selling off stores in areas that had competing Macy's and Robinsons-May stores.

The sale is expected to close in July. Mall property manager Julia Ladd declined to reveal the sale price.

Macerich plans to tear down the Robinsons-May men's store to make way for an outdoor expansion of the shopping center, according to Ladd. An open-air entertainment component will include two levels of small stores, four restaurants and a 14-screen movie-theater complex.

"Everything outside will continue the style of the indoor center," Ladd said.

The Macy's women's south store will be torn down to make way for a Nordstrom department store. This summer, the Macy's women's store will be relocated to the former Robinsons-May women's store, which is similar in size. Federated may expand the store at some point, Ladd said. The mall will continue to have two Macy's stores.

"We're very excited because what it does. It lets us expand the shopping center with new opportunities and create a more convenient and better shopping experience for our customers," Ladd said.

The overall mall upgrade plan is currently being designed. Ladd hopes the plan will come before the city's planning commission in September, with construction beginning next January.

The mall's interior will be renovated at the same time as the construction. Ladd anticipates that the project will take two years in several phases. The original renovation plans

have been delayed for more than a year after Federated announced plans to acquire May Department Stores. The design has since been scaled down.

"We're delighted our company is taking control of an important element of our shopping center by purchasing the Robinsons-May men and Macy's women spaces," Ladd said. "This means we'll be able to determine the best use of this significant square footage to meet the shopping preferences of people in our community."