There are several piles of rubble piled up on the asphalt lot of the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills mall; a security staff approaches and directs me to not cross the tarp-draped barriers. I asked her why this is happening. She responded that there are a number of causes: retail theft, covid, and a lack of loyal customers.
I believe the security was referring to the exit of the major traditional anchors, which resulted in a significant loss of foot traffic for the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The site is undergoing a massive redevelopment to transform the 42-acre footprint into
a mixed-use residential and commercial hub. Developers have broken ground on the first phase, which involves demolishing the former Sears building to construct new housing and retail spaces.
Inventory Shrinkage and the Fall of the Anchor Store
A longtime Crenshaw resident, Regina Crutchfield complained that the inventory found at the Baldwin Hills Mall was so limited she would drive the extra distance to Fox Hills or the South Bay to shop. They had a better quality of inventory. She believes this caused less foot traffic and eventually the selling of the mall, which allowed outside investors to change the landscape and soul of our community.
According to former Los Angeles Detective Robert Perez, theft over a long period of time will impact inventory quality at a store; this is due to retailers deciding to place high-value goods in stores based on zip codes. The amount of inventory shrinkage associated with that store’s zip code will impact the quality of inventory. Low-grade inventory creates decreased foot traffic in anchor stores. Retailers will solely limit high-value stock in an anchor store that has suffered shoplifting and smash-and-grab thefts, forcing shoppers to travel out of their community for quality.
Perez states that in 2009, the LAPD and local retailers formed the Los Angeles Area Organized Retail Crimes Association (LAAORCA) to combat professional boosters and crime gangs. It did not make a big difference. In addition to outsiders stealing anchor stores, Baldwin Hills also experienced internal employee theft. Unfortunately, LAAORCA was unable to prevent devastating losses, and stores like May Co., Broadway, Walmart, Sears, and Macy’s pulled out.
Frank Blakey, a software engineer at Three Logic focusing on security and inventory theft, believes e-commerce and COVID also affected Baldwin Hills anchor stores. He states, “Security systems using AI and enhanced optics allow retailers to be able to decrease inventory loss by recording every move in a store from the time you enter the door and eventually leave.” The AI associated with the video recording reads body language, lingering walking patterns, and other characteristics that it will not discuss. Blakey, your receipt is assigned to a number that is printed on your receipt, and your video footage is recorded and stored in their database under that number. Blakey believes this will give retail stores more security; sadly, the technology is too late to impact Baldwin Hills Mall.
He also wonders if the opening of the Crenshaw/LAX rail line and the massive redevelopment plans could have saved the mall if Walmart and Sears had remained. He states, “That’s a fascinating ‘what if’ in South Los Angeles history.” When anchor stores leave, smaller retail outlets have to close due to limited customers, and eventually, malls close.
Structural Strategies and Its Byproduct, Gentrification
To many, it looks like a pile of rocks, according to heavy equipment operator Marcus Sanders; however, according to him, we are looking at a textbook example of demolition and re-zoning: Flattening a specific wing of the mall that once was Sears to build residential towers, apartments, a hotel, office space, and townhouses. If you notice, it was a surgical demolition, preserving the smaller units that house the mom-and-pop retail outlets and the Magic Johnson Theatre, demolishing the former anchor store Sears, and following an area Baldwin Hills mall staff refer to as restaurant row, consisting of detached restaurants.
Urban planner Roland Martinez believes that often developers who purchase large parcels of land, similar to the 42-acre mall, have already strategized the game plan, which usually will result indirectly in further gentrifying the area. They will convert retail space to living space and create a live, work, play format.
This newly created living space is a more viable choice as opposed to retail. Property developers and urban planners view residential conversions differently than retailers because residents and shoppers interact with a neighborhood in entirely distinct ways; retail exposes you to theft.
Martinez points out a byproduct and harsh reality of property development: a large number of African Americans shopping for a new home will not be able to compete with the market, get priced out, and will have to look elsewhere for home ownership, thus creating indirect gentrification.
We were unable to reach developer David Schwartzman, who supports multiple philanthropic organizations, and in regards to further impacting an African American community, who will be eventually priced out. According to a spokesperson, Haldin Jenkins, ten percent of the development will be set aside for affordable living.
