Huntington Surf and Sport (HSS) joined the ranks of stores and restaurants at Huntington Beach's newest shopping attraction, Bella Terra mall (formerly Huntington Beach Center). Aaron Pai, owner of HSS, said his company will launch its largest shop to date, featuring more than 7,000 square feet of floor space. It is accessible from the main plaza near Century Theaters. HSS owner Aaron Pai decided to open a store at Bella Terra to provide customers easier access to the the store's extensive inventory of merchandise that includes surfboards, surf wear and fashion apparel targeting youth, teens and those seeking contemporary fashion styles. This new outlet will become the fourth store for Huntington Surf & Sport, a company that's been in business since 1978.

Pictured above are scenes in the development of Bella Terra Huntington Beach Mall. Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce President Joyce Riddell joins hands with mall  management director Pat Rogers, California Pizza Kitchen manager Jesse, Huntington Beach City Council members Cathy Green, Dave Sullivan and more. Also pictured are Kohl's , Islands and the new 6-story parking structure at the mall. 

The mall also recently secured a deal with the Cheesecake Factory to lease a 10,000-square-foot space adjacent to the movie theater.

Recent grand openings of new businesses at the mall include Jos A. Banks men's clothiers, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Century Theaters and a massive, 4-story parking structure.

With a 1,540-space parking structure completed on the former site of the Huntington Beach Center, Bella Terra, the 800,000-sq.-ft. entertainment-retail village is open for business. It includes a 20-screen Century Theatres complex and when finished, will have 71 shops and restaurants.

The recent trend of converting indoor shopping malls to open-air, retail-entertainment districts in Southern California has reached the beach.

Bella Terra, a $170 million development of J.H. Snyder Co., Ezralow Co. and the city of Huntington Beach, officially broke ground on April 22, 2004, occupying the footprint of the mostly shuttered Huntington Beach Center, an enclosed mall that opened in 1966.

Similar re-use projects have been completed this decade in Pasadena'the $225 million Paseo Colorado'and in Sherman Oaks'the $100 million Galleria. The open-air centers take advantage of Southern California's mild year-round climate and an opportunity to engage thoughtful landscape architecture with themed, outdoor retail.

Triple A Demolition performed selective demolition of the former indoor shops at the 63-acre Huntington Beach Center site, which is bordered by busy Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue.

Wisconsin-based Kohl's opened a store in March 2003 in the two-story shell of the former Broadway department store. Existing tenants Burlington Coat Factory and Mervyn's will remain open during construction of the new center.

Bella Terra is comprised of 800,000 sq. ft. of retail'including a 20-screen, 80,000-sq.-ft. Century Theatres complex'and a 1,540-space parking structure.

Bella Terra had been on the drawing board for several years, but a soft retail leasing market and the complexities of programming a public parking structure with a major private development delayed the start of construction for nearly two years.

Venice-based Jerde Partnership was the master plan architect. Long Beach-based Perkowitz + Ruth is the executive architect; LA. Group is the landscape architect. Dolan Construction is the general contractor for retail core-and-shell work.

Rendering of Bella Terra retail and restaurant village in Huntington Beach. The open-air complex replaces the former Huntington Beach Center, an enclosed mall that opened in 1966. Bella Terra is a $170 million development of J.H. Snyder Co., Ezralow Co. and the city of Huntington Beach. The mall's demise began in earnest when major tenant Montgomery Ward went out of business in the past decade. Burlington Coat Factory took over the building vacated by May Co. and will initiate its own re-design this year.

Triple A recycled as much concrete and steel as possible from the old mall. Pettigrew said that salvaged Class 2 concrete can be used under roads and buildings.

A Tuscan village-inspired Bella Terra (the name means "beautiful earth" in Italian) will have 71 shops and restaurants, including California Pizza Kitchen, Pomodoro Cucina Italiana, Islands and La Salsa.

Romano's Macaroni Grill is a current tenant. Bed, Bath & Beyond and REI have been added to the center's existing stores, a roster that includes Circuit City, Staples and Barnes & Noble.

Fifteen restaurants encircle an outdoor amphitheater that showcases a variety of entertainment. "The amphitheater has a 75-ft. radius with a cascading water display as a backdrop for performances," Snyder said.

Seventy trees planted in 1966 have been potted and replanted on site.

Limestone, tile and other materials in natural colors have been used on the facades of the new and existing buildings, in a facelift to fit with the new Tuscan Village motif.

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Bella Terra Groundbreaking ' J.H. Snyder and the Ezralow Company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, April 22, 2004 for the initiation of the next phase of the redevelopment of Huntington Center into Bella Terra. The ceremony featured donations to the Therapeutic Riding Center and the Orange County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Mayor Cathy Green and City Administrator Ray Silver participated in the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Site work is already underway, with the parking areas being demolished to make room for the staging of the work.