The dramatic move by Rick Caruso to buy the Nordstrom site at the Glendale Galleria and move the high-end retailer to what will be an expanded Americana at Brand could mean more than just a major reshuffle.
For roughly two years, the massive “black hole” at the former Mervyn’s site on Brand Boulevard and Broadway, which served as a major customer entrance point for the Galleria, has sat empty — a major waste of space.
With Caruso extending his reach to the Nordstom site, the Galleria will hopefully benefit from his publicly-stated desires to have the two retail malls mesh in a mutually beneficial way. Whatever the public thinks of those statements, it can’t be denied that the billionaire’s business acumen is firmly rooted in the offensive playbook, whereas General Growth Properties — whether it’s through preoccupation with a recent Chapter 11 reorganization or a flat response to the recession — has appeared less the nimble in keeping the Galleria relevant.
