2017 ushered in what many have dubbed a “retail apocalypse,” with big-box stores like Macy’s, JC Penney, and Sears closing hundreds of sites and companies like Payless filing for bankruptcy. By April 2018, Business Insider determined that more than 3,800 stores would close in the United States by the end of the year.
None of this seems to have fazed City Center Bishop Ranch — the brainchild of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and BAR Architects — which welcomed its first round of visitors in November. At 300,000 square feet, the mall includes 70 stores and restaurants, along with a luxury cinema and outdoor areas for performances and art exhibits.