The decision by Macy's Inc., to introduce Bloomingdale's atSanta Monica Place "reflects the interests of the community,"according to Randy Brant, EVP of real estate for Macerich. He saysthat the decision to locate the Bloomingdale's at the repositionedmall shows that the parent company "listened to local shoppers, whoconsistently voiced their interest in a different, morefashion-forward shopping experience at Santa Monica Place."

The new Santa Monica Place location brings Bloomingdale's closerto customers west of the 405 Freeway, a barrier that—as Macerichpoints out in its statement about the Bloomingdale's decision—often"keeps freeway-weary shoppers in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades,Brentwood and other Westside communities at home rather than at thestores." The Macy's at Santa Monica Place will close in February tomake room for the Bloomingdale's.

[IMGCAP(2)]Santa Monica Place is a 1980s-era enclosed shoppingcenter that Macerich is converting into a three-level, open-airretail venue that will include a signature rooftop dining deck.Macerich announced last month that it had signed Nordstrom Inc. toopen a 122,000-sf, three-level store in 2010 at Santa Monica Place,which is scheduled for its reopening in the fall of 2009. Nordstromsaid that one of its reasons for locating in the redesignedshopping center is that many of the Seattle-based retailer'scustomers already live or work near Santa Monica Place.